Best Scheduling Tools for 1-10 Employees Companies
Three scheduling tools in our directory serve the smallest teams — Homebase, Deputy, and When I Work — and all three publish real, transparent pricing. This is the only bracket where a genuinely free tier (Homebase's Basic plan) sits alongside paid options, and the same three tools serve the 11-50 bracket identically, so this page covers both.
How to Choose at This Size
Homebase is the clearest fit if cost is the deciding factor — its free tier covers real scheduling and time-clock features for a single location. Deputy adds tighter labor-cost controls (real-time cost tracking against a wage budget) at $5/user/month, while When I Work is the lowest-cost paid option at $2.50/user/month, bundling scheduling with basic time tracking.
Quick Comparison
Homebase
Small businesses with hourly, shift-based teams
Deputy
Shift-based businesses (retail, hospitality, healthcare, food service) needing scheduling with real labor-cost control
When I Work
Small businesses with hourly teams wanting affordable scheduling plus time tracking
| Feature | Homebase | Deputy | When I Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shift scheduling with conflict detection | |||
| Time clock with GPS/photo verification | |||
| Built-in team messaging | |||
| Basic payroll integration | |||
| AI-driven auto-scheduling and demand forecasting (Core tier+) | |||
| Shift swapping and leave requests | |||
| Geofenced time clocking | |||
| Team messaging and shift-change notifications | |||
| Shift scheduling | |||
| Time clock and attendance tracking | |||
| Team messaging | |||
| Labor forecasting (multi-location tier) |