Deputy Review
Shift-scheduling software with AI demand forecasting, priced transparently per user
Starting at
$5/user/mo
Best for
Shift-based businesses (retail, hospitality, healthcare, food service) needing scheduling with real labor-cost control
Quick verdict: Deputy is best for shift-based businesses (retail, hospitality, healthcare, food service) needing scheduling with real labor-cost control — we'd recommend it without reservation for the profile below.
$5/user/mo
The rating shown is a third-party rating from G2 (663 reviews), not an AI HR Atlas score — we have not independently tested this product. Our verdict below is based on publicly available research, not first-hand evaluation.
Deputy is shift-scheduling software built for hourly, shift-based workforces — retail, hospitality, healthcare, and food service, specifically. It publishes real per-user pricing across all three tiers, a genuinely transparent starting point in a category where many competitors quote custom pricing, and holds a 4.6/5 rating from 660+ G2 reviews. Its AI-driven demand forecasting and labor optimization are available from the Core tier upward, not on the entry-level Lite plan. AI HR Atlas has not independently tested this product.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Real, published per-user pricing across all three tiers ($5/$6.50/$9 per user/month) — genuinely transparent for a scheduling category where many competitors quote custom
- 4.6/5 rating from 660+ G2 reviews
- AI-driven demand forecasting and labor optimization (Core tier and above), not just manual shift-building
Cons
- Core scheduling/timesheet features are split across tiers — auto-scheduling and forecasting require the mid-tier Core plan, not the entry Lite plan
- Built specifically for shift-based, hourly workforces — not a fit for salaried-only HR teams
Key Features
- AI-driven auto-scheduling and demand forecasting (Core tier+)
- Shift swapping and leave requests
- Geofenced time clocking
- Team messaging and shift-change notifications
AI Capabilities
The specific AI-driven capabilities we found in our research on Deputy.
- AI-driven auto-scheduling and demand forecasting (Core tier+)
Pricing
Lite
$5/user/mo
Basic scheduling, timesheets, and payroll integration
- Scheduling
- Time clocking
Core
$6.50/user/mo
Auto-scheduling and labor optimization
- Demand forecasting
- Wage budgeting
Pro
$9/user/mo
Larger, multi-location shift operations
- SSO
- Analytics+
- 24/7 live chat
Screenshots
Deputy product screenshot 1 — placeholder
Deputy product screenshot 2 — placeholder
Real screenshots pending direct testing access — replaced before publishing per our Methodology.
Integrations
Integration list reflects what we found in vendor documentation at time of research — always confirm current integration depth directly with Deputy before purchasing.
Customer Support
We haven't independently verified Deputy's specific support channels, hours, or SLA tiers yet. Confirm current support details directly on Deputy's website before purchasing.
Security & Compliance
We haven't independently verified specific security certifications (SOC 2, GDPR, etc.) for Deputy yet. If handling sensitive HR or payroll data is a requirement, confirm current certifications directly with the vendor before signing a contract.
Ready to try Deputy?
Visit the official site to see current pricing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Both serve shift-based, hourly workforces with real published pricing. Deputy's tiered structure specifically separates basic scheduling (Lite) from AI-driven demand forecasting and labor optimization (Core and above), while Homebase's free tier covers core scheduling for a single location before paid tiers add AI scheduling assistance.
No — demand forecasting and labor optimization require the Core plan ($6.50/user/month) or higher; the entry Lite plan ($5/user/month) covers basic scheduling and time clocking only.
Our Verdict
RecommendedDeputy looks like a fit for shift-based businesses (retail, hospitality, healthcare, food service) needing scheduling with real labor-cost control. Based on our research, it's a strong option for that profile — see the Pros & Cons above for the specific trade-offs.
This verdict is based on publicly available research — vendor documentation, pricing pages, and third-party reviews — not first-hand, hands-on testing.