Best Schedule Manager App | Top 10 Options

Want to have the best work schedule manager app for your employees? Here’s a list of our top 10 picks below 👇

Best Schedule Manager Apps | Top 10 Picks 💡
Buddy Punch | Best Scheduling App	Full Review
Connecteam | Best for Remote Scheduling	Full Review
ADP Workforce Now | Best for HR	Full Review
Homebase | Best for Hourly Scheduling	Full Review
TimeClock Plus | Best for Automatic Scheduling	Full Review
Zoho People | Best for HR Scheduling Operations	Full Review
When I Work | Best for Scheduling & Communication	Full Review
Skedulo | Best for Remote Scheduling	Full Review
Shiftboard | Best for Healthcare Scheduling	Full Review
7shifts | Best for Restaurants	Full Review

The schedule manager app improves employee scheduling, saving you time and hassle. With just a few clicks, you can create, edit, and distribute schedules, ensuring that your team stays organized.

Work scheduling apps help team leaders and managers make tasks more manageable, like moving shifts around, sending automatic messages, and connecting with other tools (i.e., integration). 

Schedule management apps come in different sizes and shapes to fit various businesses and their team management needs. They offer solutions that can change as a company grows, with features that can be adjusted to suit.

What is the Schedule Manager App?

The schedule manager app is designed to streamline and optimize employee scheduling shifts. 

Its simple interface allows managers to create, change, and share schedules easily. They can assign shifts and handle employee availability using features like drag-and-drop scheduling and customizable templates. 

Additionally, employees can request time off and swap shifts directly, which helps managers with administrative tasks.

Why Use a Schedule Manager App?

The schedule manager app has multiple features that help minimize employers’ workloads and maximize work rates. Below are a few benefits.

Streamlined Scheduling

A schedule manager app automates creating and managing employee work schedules, saving time and reducing the risk of errors.

Improved Communication

With built-in messaging systems, these apps facilitate clear and direct communication between managers and employees, ensuring everyone stays informed about shift changes and updates.

Enhanced Flexibility

Employees can easily swap shifts and request time off through the app, providing them with greater control over their work-life balance and reducing scheduling conflicts.

Real-Time Updates

Receive instant notifications about schedule changes, ensuring that all team members are promptly informed, regardless of their location.

Cost Savings

By optimizing staffing levels based on demand, schedule manager apps help businesses reduce overstaffing and understaffing, leading to significant cost savings in labor expenses.

Customization and Scalability

Many schedule manager apps offer customizable features and scalability options, allowing businesses to modify the software to their specific needs and accommodate growth over time.

How Do Employee Schedule Manager Apps Work?

Employee schedule manager apps automate the process of creating and managing work schedules, allowing businesses to streamline their work hours effectively. They utilize processes to consider factors such as employee availability, skills, and workload requirements to generate optimal shift schedules. 

These apps also come equipped with time management tools such as time tracker and time tracking app, which help in monitoring work hours and ensuring productivity.

Managers can easily input scheduling preferences and confines, while employees can request time off and swap shifts with minimal intervention. Real-time updates and notifications ensure that all employees stay informed about any schedule changes, regardless of location and time zones. 

By integrating with time-tracking software, scheduling solutions, project management software, and task management apps, these platforms provide comprehensive support for efficient work hours management.

How to Choose Employee Shift Scheduling Software?

To choose an employee shift schedule software, make sure to follow the below-given proces.

1. Identify the Problem

Start by understanding what’s not working well with your current scheduling system. Are there too many conflicts or difficulties communicating about shifts? Identifying these issues will help determine what features the scheduling software needs to address to simplify scheduling.

2. Who will Use

Consider who will use the scheduling software. Will it mainly be HR and managers, or everyone has access to the schedule? Knowing this helps decide how many licenses or user accounts are needed and which features are essential for each user group.

3. What Else You Need Other Than Scheduling

Think about what else you need besides scheduling shifts. This could include tracking clock-in and clock-out times, integrating with payroll systems, facilitating team collaboration, and monitoring performance. 

Considering these factors ensures the software aligns with all your workforce management needs.

4. Review Your Outcomes

Decide what you want to accomplish with the shift scheduling software. Do you aim to reduce scheduling errors, increase employee satisfaction, maintain optimal staffing levels, or streamline operations? Knowing your goals guides the selection process.

5. Drag and Drop Options

Look for scheduling software that lets you move shifts around quickly by dragging and dropping them. This makes creating and changing schedules simpler so managers can see and manage shifts without much trouble.

6. Flexible Shift Swapping

Choose a scheduling app that lets employees swap shifts easily. This lets them manage their schedules by asking for and giving away shifts to their coworkers. It also means less work for managers, even if things change at the last minute.

7. Time Off Management

Pick software that can handle requests for time off well. Employees should be able to ask for time off using the app, and managers should be able to say yes or no. The app should also send reminders and track who’s off and when. 

8. In Chat Option

Consider getting scheduling software that includes a chat feature. This lets team members talk in real time about shift changes, time off requests, and other scheduling issues.

9. Shift Templates

Find software that lets you make templates for shifts so you don’t have to start from scratch every time. This saves time and makes sure shifts are consistent, especially if they happen regularly or follow a set pattern. It makes managing schedules easier overall.

Best Schedule Manager Apps | Top 10 Picks

Following are the best schedule manager apps that can help businesses to create and maintain schedules.

1. Buddy Punch | Best Employee Scheduling App

Buddy Punch is a scheduling tool designed for businesses of all sizes and across various industries, such as retail, healthcare, and hospitality. It simplifies scheduling tasks with its easy-to-use interface and a wide range of features.

Unlike traditional scheduling methods using spreadsheets, Buddy Punch automates the process, reducing errors and scheduling conflicts. It saves time by eliminating manual data entry.

With Buddy Punch, businesses can easily create schedules, track employee hours, and manage timesheets. Its auto-scheduling feature helps in optimizing schedules, taking into account factors like employee availability and labor laws.

Moreover, Buddy Punch offers mobile compatibility, allowing employees to access their schedules and punch in/out using their mobile devices. The system also supports push notifications and SMS punch-in, keeping both employees and managers informed about schedule changes.

For businesses using POS systems like QuickBooks, Buddy Punch seamlessly integrates, simplifying the payroll process. 

Additionally, it offers scheduling templates and features for employee management, permissions, and compliance with labor laws.

1. Scheduling Made Easy

Buddy Punch makes scheduling easy by offering a user-friendly interface and reflexive features. Businesses can streamline the scheduling process, ensuring adequate coverage and effective management of employee shifts.

2. Create Schedules Quickly

Using our schedule manager app, making schedules is super easy. Just drag and drop shifts for fast and efficient scheduling. Customize schedules to suit employee availability, preferences, and business needs in minutes.

The platform provides customizable templates and drag-and-drop functionality, allowing managers to generate schedules according to availability, preferences, and business needs in minutes rather than hours. 

3. Employee Shift Scheduling Option

Buddy Punch offers flexible options for employee shift scheduling. Managers can easily assign shifts, adjust schedules, and track employee availability. This flexibility enables businesses to adapt to changing needs and maintain optimal staffing.

4. Drag and Drop Functionality

The drag-and-drop functionality of Buddy Punch simplifies shift management. 

Managers can easily adjust schedules by clicking and dragging shifts to new time slots. This feature makes it easy to accommodate changes and ensure smooth operations.

5. Advanced Notifications

Advanced notifications keep everyone informed and on track. Buddy Punch allows managers to send notifications to employees about schedule changes, shift reminders, and other important updates. 

This proactive communication ensures that employees know their responsibilities and reduces scheduling conflicts.

6. Manage Through Automation Features

Buddy Punch offers automation features that streamline schedule management. From geofencing to punch limiting, these features help managers enforce policies, ensure compliance, minimize conflicts, and reduce manual work. 

By automating repetitive tasks, businesses can improve efficiency and reduce administrative burden.

7. Shift Coverage Made Easy

Buddy Punch simplifies shift coverage. Employees can easily pick up open shifts or trade shifts with coworkers, ensuring that staffing needs are met. This flexibility empowers employees to manage their schedules effectively, resulting in smoother operations.

8. Shift Trading Option

The shift trading option allows employees to swap shifts with coworkers smoothly. This feature facilitates communication and collaboration among team members, ensuring that scheduling changes are handled.

9. Employee Time Tracking

Employee time tracking is accurate and reliable with Buddy Punch. The platform allows employees to clock in and out easily, track breaks, and monitor their hours worked. 

This transparency promotes accountability and ensures accurate payroll processing.

10. Reporting and Analytics

Reporting and analytics provide valuable insights into workforce management. Buddy Punch offers customizable reports that allow managers to track attendance, monitor labor costs, and identify trends. 

These analytics empower businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize scheduling processes.

11. Payroll Option

Buddy Punch integrates seamlessly with payroll systems, simplifying the payroll process. 

By syncing employee time data with payroll software, businesses can ensure accurate and timely payroll processing. This integration saves time and reduces the risk of errors.

12. Integration Option

Integration options expand the capabilities of Buddy Punch. 

The platform integrates with a variety of third-party applications, including accounting software, HR systems, and time tracking tools. This flexibility allows businesses to customize their workflow.

Buddy Punch’s Online Reviews

As of the writing date, Buddy Punch has 4.8 out of 5 stars and 971 reviews on Capterra.

Below, we’ll list just a few reviews that speak to Buddy Punch’s ease of use and great customer support service. (Click here to explore the full list of reviews.)

“We needed a new solution for timekeeping and Buddy Punch came through! Onboarding and integration was so easy. Once I figured out all the setting options, it’s really easy to customize exactly what you need. Employees love using it because it’s so straightforward to use.“

Click here to read the full review.

“Overall this platform has been a time saver and wonderful addition to our payroll and time management. Staff can clearly see their hours and submit for approval after they review. It allows for accuracy and transparency.“

Click here to read the full review.

“BuddyPunch has been very helpful and I am glad my organization made the switch from our previous tracker to BuddyPunch. As mentioned earlier, the ease of use of BuddyPunch is what separates it from a lot of competitors.“

Click here to read the full review.

“We have only been using this software since 1-1-2022 and for the most part it has been very useful for everything that I have needed it to do for me. If we need help or have a question [SENSITIVE CONTENT] has been able to reach out to our contact person and they have been very helpful.”

Click here to read the full review.

“My staff loves that the software works seamlessly and I love the easy payroll reporting process. BEST of all, when I have a question, Buddy Punch really LISTENS and always walks me through the answer or offers to help themselves.”

Click here to read the full review.

Try Buddy Punch for Free

If you feel that Buddy Punch might be the right fit for your business, sign up for a 14 day free trial (no credit card needed). You can also book a one-on-one demo, or view a pre-recorded demo video.

2. Connecteam

Connecteam helps teams who don’t work at desks manage their work more easily. It helps them organize tasks, communicate better, and make their workflow smoother.

Key features

1. Scheduling & Time Tracking
2. Team Scheduling
3. Time Clock
4. Geofence
5. One-click Payroll
6. Daily Operations
7. Mobile Checklists
8. Task Management
9. Form Templates
10. Internal Communications

Presently, Connecteam has 326 reviews and 4.8 out of 5 reviews on Capterra.

“ I love Connecteam and their Customer support is fantastic. I brag about them to all my friends and clients. They can’t believe how easy my office runs with this app. I have referred three other people (companies) to connecteam, one of which has already signed up and the other two are busy looking into it at present.”

Click here for a full review.

3. ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is a software that assists businesses with HR tasks such as hiring, payroll, and employee benefits management.

Key features

1. Recruitment
2. Payroll Management
3. Time and Attendance Tracking
4. Benefits Administration
5. Employee Self-Service
6. Compliance Management
7. Performance Management
8. Reporting and Analytics
9. Mobile Access
10. Integration with other HR systems

Currently, ADP Workforce Now has 6435 reviews and 4.4 out of 5 stars on Capterra.

“The need for staff to go to their supervisor to get their PTO balance has been eliminated with the use of the self service portal. the staff feels more empowered to take control of their profiles with any updates they need to make.”

Click here for a full review.

4. Homebase

Homebase is an app for small businesses to organize their hourly teams better. It makes scheduling, tracking time, handling payroll, and team communication easier.

Key features

1. Time clocks
2. Employee scheduling
3. Payroll processing
4. Team messaging
5. Hiring tools
6. Onboarding support
7. Time-off management
8. Early wage access
9. Performance tracking
10. HR compliance assistance

At present, Homebase has 1002 reviews and 4.6 out of 5 stars on Capterra.

“Our Staff is very satisfied with how easy this app is. They can put in their availability or request a shift off which makes it super easier for me to write the schedule. The app immediately sends updates on schedules, so I don’t have to send notifications about schedule at all.”

Click here for a full review.

5. TimeClock Plus (TCP)

TimeClock Plus is a tool that helps businesses keep track of when employees arrive and leave, make schedules automatically, and follow work rules.

Key features

1. Automated timekeeping
2. Leave and accrual management
3. Labor tracking
4. Employee scheduling
5. Automated communications
6. Sector-specific customization
7. Cost control
8. Compliance management
9. Integration with payroll systems
10. Employee satisfaction enhancement.

At this time, TimeClock Plus has 197 reviews and 4.4 out of 5 stars on Capterra.

“From a user standpoint, the configurable system to suit our company’s needs is something that makes it very efficient, which helps us in increasing our productivity.”

Click here for a full review.

6. Zoho People

Zoho People is an online tool for managing HR tasks. It makes HR operations easier for businesses and focuses on making employees’ experiences better.

Key features:

1. Core HR management
2. Employee database
3. Smart HR workflows
4. Time and attendance tracking
5. Shift scheduling
6. Performance management
7. Learning and development
8. Industry-specific solutions
9. Data security and privacy
10. Integration with other tools

Presently, Zoho People has 248 reviews and 4.4 out of 5 stars on Capterra.

“It includes all the sections and forms you would expect/require for general HR as well as linking to other Zoho software for recruitment, time management, learning, etc so it is a good platform to collate all data within.”

Click here for a full review.

7. When I Work

When I Work is a tool for planning and talking at work. It has easy scheduling, tracking time on your phone, messaging your team, linking with payroll, and extra features.

Key features

1. Scheduling for shift-based workplaces
2. Employee scheduling software
3. Employee time tracking
4. Team messaging
5. Payroll processing
6. Mobile scheduling and time clock apps
7. Team management
8. Team accountability
9. Team communication
10. Team empowerment

Currently, When I Work has 1082 reviews and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Capterra.

“I’ve been using this software for 5 years, first as an employee then as an employer. Ease of use for both parties is fantastic and it’s well worth paying for to save time. When I change places of business, if I have a choice, I will choose When I Work again and again.”

Click here for a full review.

8. Skedulo

Skedulo helps companies handle employees who work outside offices. It assists in scheduling, managing, and analyzing these workers efficiently. Its main features include:

Key features

1. One place for scheduling
2. Customized solutions
3. Ability to work from anywhere
4. Measure the impact easily
5. Instant updates
6. Can grow with your company
7. Works with what you already use
8. Easy for employees to use on their phones
9. See everything clearly
10. Increase efficiency

Now, Skedulo has 11 reviews and 4.4 out of 5 stars on Capterra.

“Overall, Skedulo has been a pleasure to use and has greatly enhanced me and my team’s responsiveness to scheduling changes, being able to pivot with any changes needed in real-time, and allowed for better planning and insights to trends with scheduling. Highly recommended for managing teams semi-remotely in a multi-unit retail channel.”

Click here for a full review.

9. Shiftboard

Shiftboard is software for organizing employee schedules, especially in industries like manufacturing and healthcare. It makes scheduling easy, boosts worker happiness, and covers shifts well.

Key features

1. Automated scheduling
2. Workers can manage their schedules
3. Handling changes
4. Making sure all shifts are covered
5. Planning for how much work is needed
6. Keeping track of hours worked
7. Clear scheduling
8. Schedules that can adapt
9. Customized solutions for different industries
10. Accessible online.

10. 7shifts

7shifts is a platform for managing restaurants. It handles scheduling, talking with your team, paying them, and other tasks.

Key features

1. Making schedules
2. Hiring and training
3. Paying and managing tips
4. Keeping employees happy
5. Following work rules
6. Organizing tasks
7. Clocking in and out
8. Storing documents
9. Tracking performance
10. Working with cash registers and payroll systems

At present, 7shifts has 1166 reviews and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Capterra.

“I am very impressed with how easy it is to use and all of the features it has. It makes scheduling pretty manageable. It is great for the team to use for trades and communication.”

Click here for a full review.

Benefits of Schedule Manager App

Schedule manager apps are important because they offer many benefits. Here are some key benefits to know.

1. More Flexibility

The app makes it easy for managers to adjust schedules and for employees to request shift swaps or time off. This reduces paperwork and makes scheduling more flexible.

2. Better Team Communication

Managers and employees can easily communicate through the app, reducing confusion and fostering teamwork.

3. Improved Employee Satisfaction

The app allows employees to manage their availability and preferences, leading to happier employees and a more engaged workforce.

4. Legal Compliance

The app helps ensure schedules follow the law and company rules, reducing the risk of fines and legal issues.

5. Controlled Labor Expenses

Managers can use the app to smartly handle staffing and expenses, avoiding unnecessary spending and overtime costs.

6. Accurate Time Tracking

The app includes a simple time clock for accurate attendance tracking, reducing conflicts and helping managers monitor performance.

7. Streamlined Payroll

With payroll integration, the app makes paying employees easier, reducing mistakes and saving time.

8. Real-Time Updates

Instant notifications keep everyone informed of shift changes and time-off requests, helping teams stay organized and prepared.

9. Integration Options

The app easily integrates with other software, making work smoother and eliminating manual tasks.

Should I Pay For A Schedule Manager App, Or Are There Any Free Employee Scheduling App Options?

Free schedule manager apps allow you to create shifts and request time off without any cost. These apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. If you’re a freelancer or a small business owner with a limited budget, a free app might be the right choice for you.

However, paid schedule manager apps offer more features like automated scheduling, real-time updates, and advanced analytics. They are suitable for larger businesses and enterprises that require more advanced functionalities. 

These apps usually offer both free and paid plans, giving you the flexibility to choose according to your needs and budget.

When deciding between a free and a paid app, consider your business needs and how much you value the extra features that paid apps offer. If you need features like recurring tasks, subtasks, and time tracking, a paid app might be worth the investment.

For example, let’s say you have a small design studio with freelancers working remotely. In this case, a free app with basic features might suffice. 

However, if you need more advanced features like time blocking, an intuitive interface, and the ability to track time spent on specific tasks, you might want to consider investing in a paid app.

Do I Need A Schedule Manager App If I Have A Calendar App?

A schedule manager app does more than just a regular calendar app. While a calendar app helps with dates and appointments, a schedule manager app goes further. It makes staff scheduling easy by helping you create and share work schedules.

With this app, your staff can easily swap shifts, and it saves you time. Majority of them, like Buddy Punch, send reminders automatically, offer ready-to-use shift plans, and connect with other tools like payroll software.

So, if you run a small business or lead a team, using a Schedule Manager App can improve your management.

With its free version mobile app, due date reminders, and calendar view, it’s an excellent project management tool. You can create task lists, track time, and even reschedule tasks. 

The widget feature allows you to see your tasks right from your cell phone (iPhone or Android) home screen. It’s a productivity app that many providers offer, allowing you to organize your workspace efficiently. 

The app is also available as a Chrome extension, allowing for easy access from your browser. With its color-coded interface, you can manage your tasks and projects effortlessly.

Do The Best Time Management Apps Offer Employee Scheduling & Project Management?

Yes, the best time management apps often include features for employee scheduling and project management. 

These apps help users organize their tasks, assign them to team members, and track project progress. They offer features like time tracking, prioritizing tasks, collaborating with team members, and generating reports. 

By combining employee scheduling and project management in one platform, these apps help businesses make the most of their time, resources, and productivity. 

Some popular time management apps that offer these features include Trello, Asana, Monday.com, and ClickUp.

Furthermore, with a to-do list app like Todoist or a platform like Trello, you can easily create, organize, and prioritize your tasks. These apps help you stay on top of your workload by ensuring you don’t forget important tasks and deadlines. 

Additionally, note-taking apps like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Gmail can help you keep track of meetings, appointments, and important emails. With features like reminders and notifications, these apps ensure you never miss an important event or deadline.

For better team collaboration and communication, platforms like Slack offer real-time messaging, file sharing, and integration with other tools like Trello and Google Calendar. This makes it easy for teams to stay connected and work together seamlessly. 

Moreover, free employee scheduling apps like Sling help businesses efficiently manage their workforce by creating schedules, tracking employee hours, and managing time-off requests—all in one place.