Restaurant scheduling software helps managers create employee schedules, track labor hours, and communicate with staff more efficiently. Below are some of the most popular scheduling tools used by restaurants today, along with quick comparisons and individual reviews to help you choose the best option for your team.
TOP SCHEDULING PICKS
- Homebase — Best for small restaurant teams
- 7shifts — Best for full-service restaurants
- When I Work — Best for simple scheduling
SCHEDULING SOFTWARE COMPARISON
| Scheduling Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Rating |
| Homebase | Small restaurant teams | Free plan available Paid plans start around $24.95/month per location | 4.6 / 5 |
| 7shifts | Full-service restaurants | Free plan for small teams Starting at $30 / month | 4.6–4.7 / 5 |
| When I Work | Simple scheduling | $2.50 per user | 4.5 / 5 |
Homebase review
Homebase is a popular scheduling and workforce management tool designed for small businesses, including many independent restaurants and cafés. It helps managers create schedules, track employee hours, manage time clocks, and communicate with staff in one simple platform. One of its biggest advantages is a generous free plan that works well for smaller restaurant teams.
HOMEBASE PROS
- Free plan available for small teams
- Very easy schedule creation and editing
- Built-in time clock and shift reminders
- Team messaging and communication tools
- Good fit for independent restaurants
HOMEBASE CONS
- Paid features required for advanced labor tools
- Less powerful for large multi-location restaurants
- Some integrations require higher tier plans
7shifts Review
7shifts is a restaurant-focused scheduling platform built specifically for the needs of hospitality teams. It allows managers to create staff schedules, track labor costs, communicate with employees, and integrate scheduling directly with many popular restaurant POS systems. Because it was designed for restaurants from the start, many operators find it offers deeper labor management tools than general scheduling apps.
7SHIFTS PROS
- Built specifically for restaurant operations
- Strong labor cost tracking and reporting tools
- Integrates with many restaurant POS systems
- Built-in team communication and shift notifications
- Scales well for growing restaurant teams
7SHIFTS CONS
- No permanent free plan like Homebase
- Pricing increases as staff size grows
- Some advanced features only available in higher tiers
When I Work Review
When I Work is a simple and flexible employee scheduling tool used by many small businesses, including restaurants. It focuses on making schedule creation, shift swapping, and team communication easy to manage from both desktop and mobile devices. While it doesn’t include as many restaurant-specific labor tools as platforms like 7shifts, it can be a good option for smaller restaurants that just need a reliable scheduling system without too many extra features.
WHEN I WORK PROS
- Very easy to create and update schedules
- Simple interface that staff can learn quickly
- Mobile-friendly with strong employee app support
- Affordable pricing based on number of employees
- Good for smaller restaurants and cafés
WHEN I WORK CONS
- Fewer restaurant-specific labor management tools
- Limited advanced reporting compared to 7shifts
- Some integrations require higher pricing tiers