There is a huge number of software tools for personnel scheduling on the market. And all of them seem to offer the same or similar core functions. This makes it difficult to find the right fit for your company. Plus, researching them is further complicated by all the different pricing models and subtle differences when it comes to the provided functionalities.
We have compared 10 shift planning and scheduling tools and listed their pros and cons. Since we know how important it is to feel in good hands when there is a problem, we have looked at each tool's customer support as a separate category. In addition, we provide you with a streamlined table at the end of the article. It shows how these 10 tools compare in all aspects which are important (to us) when looking for a software tool for personnel scheduling.
Quick links:
Table: Personnel Scheduling Tools 2026 - The Great Software Comparison
Staffcloud is more than a shift planner. The tool also offers project-based scheduling and allows users to seamlessly switch between both planning types. Its strength lies particularly in catering to the needs of businesses who work with flexible staff (such as skill matching, time constraints and minimum wage). Staffcloud provides several time-tracking methods, an employee app with extensive self-service options and has integrated electronic signatures (SES) in its document management system. As a whole, the tool is very customisable and can be adapted to a wide variety of business and working models.
Customers can call or write support tickets, with the in-house customer support team replying by email or phone call within a short time frame. Due to the highly customisable nature of the tool, onboarding sessions are payable, but offer very personalised and dedicated guidance.
In SummaryStaffcloud is a true allrounder - from recruitment to project and shift planning to contract creation and management. The tool is particularly suited to businesses who work with flexible staff members as well as permanent employees. With the free version not being time-limited, it is also a good option to try out. |
Papershift is designed for businesses with regular rotas and focusses on shift planning, time tracking and holiday planning. Its automated shift matching - available after setting a few rules - is seen as particularly practical and time-saving by its users. The employee app lets staff members manage documents, add their absences and see their shifts. Thus, the tool effectively caters to essential personnel scheduling needs. However, it is not designed for scheduling more than 200 people. Due to its lack of recruitment features, it is also less suitable to personnel servide providers or event operators.
Papershift offers several chargeable support tiers. The better the tier, the quicker and more personal the support service offered. Customers can also pay for an introductory session to get to know the software tool.
In SummaryPapershift is a solid shift planning tool. Automated features save time and the employee app offers staff members several self-service options. However, Papershift is not designed for larger employee pools and does not provide any recruitment features. |
Shiftbase is another traditional shift planner. Businesses who work with freelancers or need project planning may therefore not find it suited to their daily needs. However, the tool is good at what it does. Users find it practical that staff members can swap shifts when necessary without having to talk to planners first. Plus, the shift planning function is intuitive and user-friendly. Perhaps one thing to be aware of is that the software was originally developed in the Netherlands, which, according to some users, has led to some unusual wording.
Customers can call Shiftbase during office hours or send an email, while the chat function can be used for shorter queries. When more complex problems appear, Shiftbase performs remote maintenance. The provider offers a tailored onboarding model after an assessment of the customer's needs.
In SummaryIt is particularly the useful shift templates that make Shiftbase a solid and practical tool for shift planning. However, since rest periods and time constraints are not automatically taken into account, users might spend a lot of time checking these manually. |
In its simplest version, Aplano is a very reasonably priced, but also very plain shift planner. This makes it particularly suitable to smaller businesses who are simply looking for a tool to manage time tracking and scheduling. As such, data exports, conflicts and availabilities are add-ons which are only included in the most expensive product tier. This costs £4.50 per employee/month, making it rather pricey for larger employee pools.
Customers can submit support requests via chat, contact form or phone call. While a free demo can be booked before committing, there is no option for a more personal and individually-tailored onboarding session.
In SummaryAplano is a straightforward shift planner and is best suited to businesses with regularly repeating shifts. However, before committing, customers should check exactly which features are add-ons. For smaller teams, the software tool is very budget-friendly, while it can work out as expensive for larger staff numbers. |
Planday is another shift planner – though one that provides more customisation options than tools such as Aplano or Papershift. This makes setup a little bit more intensive - but once everything is adapted to a business's needs, Planday can be used for a wide variety of scenarios. Its starter plan includes only shift planning and time tracking, while leave and absence management, payroll reporting and API are included from the plus plan onwards (available for £3.99 per user/month + £30/month subscription fee).
Depending on your chosen plan, Planday offers different support tiers. The starter plan only includes support via chat and access to the help centre, while the plus plan also provides email support. Customers who have signed up for the pro plan have access to a personal call back service.
In SummaryPlanday is very customisable, but mostly focusses on shift planning as its core function. This makes it ideal for businesses with individual requirements, but whose rotas are not too complex. |
FindMyShift is a good example of a personnel scheduling software which is free for teams of up to 5 employees. It does everything you could expect from a simple scheduling tool, namely time tracking, staff planning, leave management and payroll reporting. However, it does not go beyond the basics, which for small teams, is absolutely fine. If you require more individual data fields, or need more comprehensive employee data management, FindMyShift will likely not be a good fit. Also, if your needs expand beyond scheduling into recruiting, document management or an employee app that offers self-service features, you are better to look for a more comprehensive software tool.
In SummaryFindMyShift makes a great tool for those who are just getting started with personnel scheduling or want to move away from Excel and try a scheduling tool instead. However, as opposed to other tools in this list, its functionality is rather basic. |
Shiftjuggler is another tool which was primarily designed for shift planning. As such, it offers time tracking, personnel management, as well as leave and absence management. An employee app is also included in the price. However, users say that its personnel management is very simplified and offers few customisation options. Businesses should therefore check exactly what they need in this area before committing to the software tool. Pricing is based on staff numbers, which makes Shiftjuggler a good option for smaller companies with not too many customisation needs.
The support team can be reached via phone or email during office hours, and Shiftjuggler seems to have a personal approach to customer queries. As such, the provider also encourages new cusomters to reach out if they are having issues getting started with the tool.
In SummaryShiftjuggler is well-suited to shift planning and its functionalities can automate processes if your rotas repeat regularly. It also offers leave management, work time management and time tracking. However, its personnel management features are on the more basic side. |
Workday is an HR software suite. Originally developed in the US, the tool seems to offer endless functionalities. It provides time tracking and scheduling, mirrors all HR processes, flags staffing gaps and even helps staff members in their career development. However, its focus is on long-term resource management and this is where it offers the most (partially AI-based) features. This means that Workday is more of a holistic HR solution, which makes it interesting for very large and international businesses. The provider does offer solutions for SMEs as well, but given its intransparent pricing and reported complexity, Workday might not be such a good fit for them.
Workday offers 24/7 support. However, this requires a payable SLA. Otherwise, acces is given to community-based solutions and a resource centre for smaller queries.
In SummaryWorkday is particularly suited to multinational corporations and can support them in their HR processes, including time tracking and scheduling. However, its focus is on long-term resource management and analyses. If you are 'only' looking for a staff planning tool, it might therefore be too comprehensive for you. |
Teamhero provides a breadth of functionalities and is well-suited to a variety of personnel scheduling needs. However, if you mainly work in shifts, it can be challenging to use, as planning is done in projects. This makes Teamhero a good fit for promotion agencies or event operators. To match individual needs, there are several time tracking options, and customisation is possible in many areas. While the HR and payroll functionalities are somewhat basic, the core features are solid.
Like many other providers in this field, Teamhero offers a paid onboarding service. In case of queries, support is given largely via email, with users reporting that customer service can solve their problems quickly in a majority of cases.
In SummaryTeamhero is very customisable and can align with a variety of scenarios. However, it is more suited to project planning than shift planning. In addition, there are some areas such as contract management, time tracking options and document management, where the software could offer more features. |
Deputy is predominantly a shift planning tool, and most of its functionalities are shift-based, with shift swap being notable here. The tool also offers solid time tracking, personnel management, recruitment and document management. Deputy is very budget-friendly, since its pricing model is based on users rather than employees. However, it is also very simple. For example, the employee app is very basic compared to other providers, and there are few customisation options overall. Potential customers should also check thoroughly what they need in terms of API.
Deputy support has mixed reviews. Since Deputy uses an outsourced customer support centre, it can take a long time to solve more specific issues. Some users also report having difficulties communicating with customer support agents.
In SummaryDeputy is a solid solution for companies with a small employee pool, who are simply looking for a shift planning tool. Businesses who manage more staff, or who also work with freelancers, might not find what they need here. |
Too small to read? Download our software comparison table 2026 here.