Deputy vs When I Work

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

At a Glance

Deputy When I Work
Rating 4.6/5 4.5/5
Starting Price $4/mo $2/mo
Free Trial Yes Yes
Free Plan No No
Features 15 13
Best For SMB SMB

Key Differences

Deputy and When I Work share 13 features. Deputy has 2+ unique features.

Only in Deputy

  • Geofencing
  • Kiosk Mode

Deputy

Shift scheduling, time tracking, and workforce management platform for hourly and shift-based teams across retail, hospitality, and healthcare.

Rating 4.6/5
Best for SMB
Free trial Yes
Free plan No
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 Deputy 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

Deputy

Scheduling $4/mo
Time & Attendance $4/mo
Premium $6/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 Deputy

Outlook Xero

Pros & Cons

Deputy

Pros

  • +Intuitive drag-and-drop shift scheduling with auto-scheduling capability
  • +Strong mobile app for clock-in, shift swaps, and availability management
  • +Demand-based scheduling uses sales and foot traffic data
  • +Broad payroll integrations (ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, Xero)

Cons

  • -Per-user pricing adds up quickly for larger hourly workforces
  • -Payroll features are limited — relies on integration with external payroll
  • -Advanced reporting requires the Premium plan
  • -Geofencing and GPS tracking can drain mobile battery

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 Deputy if:

  • • Your company is SMB size
  • • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.6 vs 4.5)
  • • You need a more feature-rich solution (15 vs 13 features)
  • • Intuitive drag-and-drop shift scheduling with auto-scheduling capability
Try Deputy Free

Choose When I Work if:

  • • Your company is SMB size
  • • Budget is a priority (starts from $2/mo vs $4/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.