- Sling alternatives at a glance
- Ten Sling alternatives for staff scheduling
- What's changed at Sling, and what it still offers free
- The rest break rule your rota has to respect
- Switching scheduling apps without chaos
- Building a fair rota
- Scheduling features worth paying attention to
- Getting staff to use a new scheduling app
- My plain advice on choosing a Sling alternative
- Frequently asked questions
A good Sling alternative builds staff schedules quickly, lets employees swap shifts and request time off from their phones, and often adds a time clock and team messaging. Check the free plan's team size, mobile app, labour forecasting, payroll connections and how it handles breaks. This page lists ten options in no particular order.
Sling is a popular free scheduling app for restaurants, shops and other shift-based teams. It's now part of Toast, the restaurant platform, which suits some businesses well and prompts others to look at independent options or tools built for their industry.
Below are ten Sling alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from free schedulers for small teams to workforce platforms. Each description comes from the tool's own website, re-checked today. For a wider view of the category, see my guide to the best employee scheduling software for small businesses.
Sling alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial without an ongoing free tier, and No means the site doesn't state either.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7shifts | Restaurant scheduling | Restaurants with POS connections | Yes |
| Bizimply | Workforce management | Hospitality and retail groups | No |
| Camelo | Scheduling app | Simple scheduling for small teams | Trial only |
| Deputy | Workforce platform | Scheduling with payroll links | Trial only |
| Findmyshift | Online rota planner | Small teams starting free | Yes |
| Homebase | Team management app | Hourly teams with hiring needs | Yes |
| Shiftbase | Workforce software | European shift businesses | Trial only |
| When I Work | Scheduling app | Team messaging plus scheduling | Trial only |
| Zoho Shifts | Scheduling software | Zoho users and growing teams | Yes |
| ZoomShift | Scheduling and time clock | Shift swaps and timesheets | Yes |
Ten Sling alternatives for staff scheduling
7shifts
Best for: Restaurants that want scheduling connected to their point of sale and payroll, with a free starter plan.
Bizimply
Best for: Hospitality and retail groups that want rotas, attendance and HR in one system.
Camelo
Best for: Small teams that want straightforward scheduling and a time clock, after a trial.
Deputy
Best for: Shift-based businesses that want scheduling, time tracking and payroll connections, after a trial.
Findmyshift
Best for: Small teams that want a drag-and-drop rota and time clock that the site says is always free for small teams.
Homebase
Best for: Hourly teams that want scheduling, time tracking and hiring tools, with a free basic plan.
Shiftbase
Best for: Shift-based businesses that want scheduling, time tracking and absence management, after a trial.
When I Work
Best for: Teams that want scheduling, a time clock and team messaging in one app, after a trial.
Zoho Shifts
Best for: Businesses already using Zoho apps that want shift scheduling with a free plan.
ZoomShift
Best for: Small teams that want shift swaps, time clocks and timesheets on a limited free tier.
What's changed at Sling, and what it still offers free
Here's the context worth knowing. Sling's own site now introduces itself as Sling by Toast, and its plans page says shift scheduling with Sling is free for up to 30 users. That's a generous free tier, so if you're leaving, be clear about why: industry fit, payroll connections, features or simply wanting a tool outside the Toast family.
The rest break rule your rota has to respect
Here's a rule scheduling apps can help you keep. GOV.UK says workers have the right to 11 hours' rest between working days, so if someone finishes at 8pm they shouldn't start again until 7am. Closing-then-opening shifts break that rule all the time. Look for a tool that warns you about short turnarounds, and check the rules where you operate if you're outside the UK.
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Switching scheduling apps without chaos
- Export staff details, availability and recurring shifts from your current tool.
- Set up the new tool for one location or team first.
- Run both side by side for two weeks.
- Train managers before staff, so questions get answered.
- Switch on the time clock last, once schedules are settled.
Building a fair rota
- Publish early: two weeks' notice helps staff plan their lives.
- Share the hard shifts: rotate weekends and closes fairly.
- Respect availability: ask for it in the app and use it.
- Watch overtime: spread hours before they pile up on a few people.
A fair rota keeps good staff. The app just makes it easier to see when it isn't fair.
Scheduling features worth paying attention to
If you're also thinking about wider people support, my guide to finding the right HR support for a small business covers contracts, policies and the help that sits alongside scheduling.
Shift swaps with manager approval, time-off requests, availability, labour forecasts and clock-in from a phone are the features small teams use most. Fancy AI scheduling is useful once you have many locations; for one site, a clear weekly view matters more.
Getting staff to use a new scheduling app
The best scheduling app fails if staff don't open it. Show people how to see their shifts, request time off and swap a shift in the first week, and stop sending rotas by group message once the app is live. When the app is the only place the rota exists, people use it.
Ask for feedback after a month. Staff will tell you quickly whether notifications are useful or annoying, and small settings changes make a big difference to how they feel about the app and the rota.
Do you make employee scheduling software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a Sling alternative
If Sling's free tier covers your team and your POS, there may be no reason to move. If you do switch, choose the tool your managers can build a week's rota in fastest, and make sure it flags short rest breaks between shifts.
Staff will judge any new app by its phone experience, so test that before anything else.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sling?
An employee scheduling app for shift-based teams, now part of Toast.
Is Sling free?
Sling's plans page says shift scheduling is free for up to 30 users.
Which Sling alternatives have a free plan?
Several do, usually for small teams. The table shows each tool's status.
How much rest do UK workers need between shifts?
GOV.UK says workers have the right to 11 hours' rest between working days.
Can scheduling apps connect to payroll?
Many connect to payroll software or include payroll on higher plans.
What's the best scheduling app for restaurants?
Restaurant-focused tools with POS connections suit them best. Test with a real week's rota.
