7shifts vs When I Work

A detailed comparison of 7shifts and When I Work. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.

At a Glance

7shifts When I Work
Rating 4.7/5 4.5/5
Starting Price $30/mo $2/mo
Free Trial Yes Yes
Free Plan Yes No
Features 14 13
Best For SMB SMB

Key Differences

7shifts and When I Work share 13 features. 7shifts has 1+ unique feature.

Only in 7shifts

  • Geofencing

7shifts

Restaurant-focused workforce management platform with scheduling, time clocking, tip management, and labour compliance tools.

Rating 4.7/5
Best for SMB
Free trial Yes
Free plan Yes
Start Free Trial →

When I Work

Employee scheduling and time tracking app for small businesses with shift-based workforces, known for its simple mobile-first experience.

Rating 4.5/5
Best for SMB
Free trial Yes
Free plan No
Start Free Trial →

Feature Comparison

Feature 7shifts When I Work
Reporting Dashboard
API Access
Mobile App
GPS Tracking
Geofencing
Kiosk Mode
Labour Cost Forecasting
Overtime Alerts
PTO Management
Payroll Export
Shift Scheduling
Shift Swapping
Team Messaging
Time Tracking
Timecard Approval

Pricing Comparison

7shifts

Comp Free
Entrée $30/mo
The Works $70/mo
Gourmet $135/mo

When I Work

Standard $2/mo
Advanced $4/mo

Integrations

Both tools integrate with

ADP Gmail Google Workspace Gusto QuickBooks Slack Square POS Zapier

Only 7shifts

Clover POS Toast POS

Pros & Cons

7shifts

Pros

  • +Purpose-built for restaurants with POS integrations (Toast, Square, Clover)
  • +Free plan for single-location scheduling up to 30 employees
  • +Labour cost forecasting tied to actual sales data
  • +Tip pooling and distribution built directly into the platform

Cons

  • -Only suitable for the restaurant industry — not generalisable
  • -Per-location pricing becomes expensive for multi-unit operators
  • -Free plan is limited to scheduling only — no time clocking
  • -Advanced features like auto-scheduling only available on higher tiers

When I Work

Pros

  • +Extremely simple and intuitive — minimal training needed
  • +One of the most affordable scheduling tools at $2.50/user/month
  • +Mobile app is highly rated and reliable for shift workers
  • +Built-in team messaging reduces need for separate communication tools

Cons

  • -Limited advanced features compared to Deputy or 7shifts
  • -No free plan — competitors like 7shifts offer free tiers
  • -Reporting and analytics are basic
  • -No industry-specific features (unlike 7shifts for restaurants)

Which Should You Choose?

Choose 7shifts if:

  • • Your company is SMB size
  • • You want to start with a free plan
  • • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.7 vs 4.5)
  • • You need a more feature-rich solution (14 vs 13 features)
  • • Purpose-built for restaurants with POS integrations (Toast, Square, Clover)
Try 7shifts Free

Choose When I Work if:

  • • Your company is SMB size
  • • Budget is a priority (starts from $2/mo vs $30/mo)
  • • Extremely simple and intuitive — minimal training needed
Try When I Work Free

How we evaluate tools

Our ratings combine verified user reviews from G2 and Capterra with hands-on feature analysis. Pricing is checked against official sources. We may earn a commission through affiliate links, but this never influences our rankings or recommendations. Read our full methodology.