Deputy
Shift scheduling, time tracking, and workforce management platform for hourly and shift-based teams across retail, hospitality, and healthcare.
Deputy is a workforce management platform designed for businesses with hourly and shift-based employees. Core features include drag-and-drop shift scheduling, time and attendance tracking via mobile clock-in, leave management, and demand-based auto-scheduling. Integrates with major payroll providers including ADP, Gusto, and QuickBooks. Pricing starts at $4.50/user/month for scheduling only or $6/user/month for the full platform. Best for retail, hospitality, healthcare, and any business managing shift workers. Competes with When I Work, 7shifts, and Homebase.
Last updated: 2026-03-18
Deputy is the all-round workforce management platform, founded in 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Covering scheduling, time tracking, labour cost forecasting, and team communication, it is the strongest generalist WFM tool for SMBs that need more than just a scheduling app but aren't ready for enterprise-grade solutions.
Our Honest Take
Deputy's main strength is breadth without excessive complexity. The platform handles demand-based auto-scheduling (factoring in sales forecasts, weather, and historical patterns), labour cost forecasting, time and attendance tracking, and team messaging — all in a single product. Most competitors at this price point only cover one or two of those functions well. The mobile app is solid and well-reviewed, which matters for industries where managers and staff are rarely at a desk.
Pricing is straightforward and competitive: $4.50 to $6 per user per month with no base fee, plus a free trial to evaluate. The per-user-only model means small teams pay proportionally less, which is fairer than platforms that charge a base fee regardless of team size. For a business with 20 employees, you're looking at roughly $90 to $120 per month for full WFM capability.
The limitations are sector-specific depth and geographic reach. Deputy is a generalist — it works across retail, hospitality, healthcare, and other shift-based industries, but it doesn't have the deep vertical integrations that specialists offer. For restaurants specifically, 7shifts connects directly to POS systems (Toast, Square, Clover) and handles tip pooling, which Deputy does not. When I Work undercuts Deputy on price ($2.50-$4/user) and is arguably simpler for teams that only need scheduling and basic time tracking. Buddy Punch is stronger if time tracking and punch-clock accuracy is the primary concern.
Deputy is the best choice when you need the full WFM stack — scheduling, time tracking, forecasting, and communication — in one platform at an accessible price point.
Who This Is Best For
- SMBs with shift-based workforces (20-500 employees) across retail, hospitality, healthcare, or services that need scheduling, time tracking, and communication in one tool
- Managers who need demand-based auto-scheduling that factors in labour costs, sales forecasts, and compliance rules automatically
- Multi-location businesses that need consistent scheduling and labour cost visibility across sites
- Companies stepping up from spreadsheets or basic scheduling that want a comprehensive WFM platform without enterprise pricing
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Restaurants specifically — 7shifts offers POS integrations (Toast, Square, Clover), tip pooling, and labour-to-sales analytics that Deputy lacks; it's purpose-built for food service
- Teams that only need simple scheduling — When I Work is cheaper ($2.50-$4/user/mo) and simpler for basic schedule creation and shift swaps
- Companies where time tracking accuracy is the top priority — Buddy Punch focuses specifically on time and attendance with more granular punch-clock controls
Overview
Deputy is a cloud-based workforce management platform designed for businesses with hourly and shift-based employees. Founded in 2008 in Sydney, Australia, the platform has grown into one of the most complete WFM solutions for SMBs, covering shift scheduling, time and attendance tracking, leave management, and demand-based auto-scheduling. With a 4.6/5 rating on G2 and no base fee on any plan, Deputy positions itself as the full-featured middle ground between simpler time clocks (Buddy Punch, When I Work) and complex enterprise workforce systems.
What distinguishes Deputy from simpler time tracking tools is its scheduling intelligence. The platform includes demand-based auto-scheduling — it can use sales data, foot traffic, or custom demand signals to recommend optimal shift coverage automatically. Labour cost forecasting shows managers the financial impact of schedule changes before they're published. These features move Deputy beyond basic time tracking into operational workforce optimisation, which is genuinely useful for retail, hospitality, and healthcare businesses where labour is the largest controllable cost.
Pricing is transparent and competitive: $4.50/user/month for scheduling only or time tracking only, $6/user/month for the full Premium plan combining both. There is no base fee, which makes Deputy particularly affordable for small teams. A 14-day free trial is available. The platform integrates with major payroll providers including ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, and Xero, plus POS systems like Square.
Who Should Use Deputy?
- Retail and hospitality businesses with variable customer demand that need scheduling tied to sales forecasts rather than static shift patterns
- Multi-location businesses that need consistent time tracking and scheduling rules across sites with location-specific managers
- Companies that want one platform for scheduling, time tracking, PTO, and team messaging without paying for separate tools
- Businesses with 20-500 hourly employees where labour cost forecasting and demand-based scheduling provide meaningful operational value
The Bottom Line
Deputy is the most complete general-purpose WFM platform in the SMB market. Its scheduling intelligence features — auto-scheduling, labour forecasting, and demand integration — set it apart from simpler time clock tools. At $4.50-$6/user/month with no base fee, the pricing is competitive and transparent. The main limitations are a lack of built-in payroll (it exports to providers) and the absence of anti-fraud features like facial recognition or webcam verification that tools like Buddy Punch offer. For businesses where scheduling optimisation matters more than clock-in verification, Deputy is the strongest option in this category. For a full comparison of tools, see our best time tracking software guide.
Deputy Pricing
Scheduling
$4.50/user/month for scheduling only.
Time & Attendance
$4.50/user/month for time tracking only.
Premium
$6/user/month for scheduling + time tracking + performance.
Contact vendor for current pricing.
UnverifiedDeputy Features
Analytics
Integrations
Mobile
Workforce Management
Deputy Pros & Cons
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)
- + Works across multiple industries — retail, hospitality, healthcare
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
- - Task management features are basic compared to dedicated tools
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Deputy cost?
Deputy charges $4.50 to $6 per user per month with no base fee. A free trial is available. The per-user-only pricing means a 20-person team pays roughly $90-$120/month. This is competitive for a full WFM platform, though When I Work is cheaper for basic scheduling.
How does Deputy compare to When I Work?
Deputy is the more comprehensive platform — it includes demand-based auto-scheduling, labour cost forecasting, and deeper workforce management features. When I Work is simpler, cheaper ($2.50-$4/user/mo), and has what many consider the best mobile app in the category. Choose Deputy if you need full WFM; choose When I Work if you primarily need scheduling and basic time tracking.
Can Deputy work for restaurants?
Deputy works for restaurants at a functional level, but 7shifts is purpose-built for food service with POS integrations (Toast, Square, Clover), tip pooling, and labour cost analysis tied directly to sales data. Restaurants will generally get more value from 7shifts unless they also operate non-restaurant locations and want a single platform across all sites.
Deputy Integrations
Deputy connects with 10 tools and platforms.
Communication
Productivity
Payroll
Point of Sale
Company Info
- Company
- Deputy
- Founded
- 2008
- Headquarters
- Sydney, Australia
- Deployment
- Cloud
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