- Security guard scheduling tools side by side
- Nine security guard scheduling tools to try
- Which tool fits your security business
- The licence check that belongs in your scheduler
- Guard management system, patrol app or shift scheduler?
- Seven questions to ask a security scheduling vendor
- Signs your guard rota has outgrown its spreadsheet
- My plain advice on security guard scheduling software
- Frequently asked questions
Security guard scheduling software builds guard rotas, assigns officers to sites and posts, and tracks attendance, patrols and reports in one place. Some are full guard management systems with payroll and billing, some focus on patrol checkpoints, and a few are general shift apps with a security edition. Nine options follow in no particular order.
A security rota has a problem most rotas don't: a gap isn't just inconvenient, it can leave a site unguarded. Add licences, client contracts, night work and last-minute call-offs, and a spreadsheet starts to crack.
The nine tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're tightening security across the business more widely, my guide on how to improve your business security covers the basics.
Security guard scheduling tools side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site says the tool, or a plan or version of it, is free or open source. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfry | Security guard management software | Scheduling with payroll and billing | Not stated |
| Camelo | Employee scheduling and time clock app | Small guard teams starting out | Yes |
| CommandHub | Field service software with a security edition | Security staff scheduling for small firms | Not stated |
| GuardsPro | Security guard management system | Patrol operations and accountability | Trial only |
| OfficerReports | Security guard software | Reports, guard tours and time in one app | Trial only |
| Opspot | Security guard scheduling software | Shifts with checkpoints and tours | Not stated |
| Patrol Points | Mobile guard tour system | Proving every patrol happened | Not stated |
| Rentman | Crew and equipment scheduling platform | Event security crews | Trial only |
| TEAM Software | Workforce management for service contractors | Large contract security operations | Not stated |
Nine security guard scheduling tools to try
Belfry
Best for: Guard companies that want smart shift matching, overtime control, timekeeping, payroll and billing in one product.
Camelo
Best for: Small security firms that want simple scheduling, a time clock and team messaging for guards on their phones.
CommandHub
Best for: Owner-run security businesses that want a dedicated security edition of a field service scheduling platform.
GuardsPro
Best for: Private patrol operators that want guard productivity, accountability and back-office tools in one security platform.
OfficerReports
Best for: Security contractors who want electronic reporting, guard tour tracking and time and attendance together.
Opspot
Best for: Security teams that want shifts built with activities, checkpoints and tours so guards always know what's expected.
Patrol Points
Best for: Site managers who want a checkpoint system that proves each patrol took place on the property.
Rentman
Best for: Event security providers that schedule crews alongside equipment and productions on the same platform.
TEAM Software
Best for: Larger security contractors that want workforce management built for cleaning and security service businesses.
Which tool fits your security business
- Scheduling with payroll and billing: Belfry.
- Small guard teams starting out: Camelo or CommandHub.
- Private patrol operations: GuardsPro.
- Reports, guard tours and time in one app: OfficerReports.
- Shifts with checkpoints and tours: Opspot or Patrol Points.
- Event security crews: Rentman.
- Large contract security operations: TEAM Software.
The licence check that belongs in your scheduler
GOV.UK says you must check if someone has the correct security licence before hiring them for private security work. The SIA lists security guarding, door supervision and close protection among the front line licences that need a licence-linked qualification.
Licences also expire and come in different types. A rota that only knows names and availability can put a guard onto a post their licence doesn't cover. Store each officer's licence type and expiry date in the scheduler, and set it to flag anyone due for renewal before you build the coming rota. It's a small setup job that saves an awkward call from a client later.
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Guard management system, patrol app or shift scheduler?
A guard management system runs the whole operation: scheduling, timekeeping, incident reports, payroll and client billing. It suits companies with several sites and contracts.
A patrol app proves the work happened. Guards scan checkpoints on their rounds, and clients see a record of every patrol.
A general shift scheduler with a security edition is the lighter option. It covers rotas, a time clock and messaging without the full back office, and it's often the easiest place for a small firm to start before it grows into a bigger system.
Seven questions to ask a security scheduling vendor
- Can it store licence types and expiry dates for each officer?
- Will it stop you assigning an unlicensed guard to a post?
- Does it support patrol checkpoints or guard tours?
- Can guards clock in from the site on their phone?
- Can clients see reports for their own sites only?
- Does it handle call-offs and fill open shifts quickly?
- Does it connect to your payroll and billing?
Signs your guard rota has outgrown its spreadsheet
- Call-offs leave sites uncovered. Post open shifts.
- Licence dates live in a drawer. Put them in the system.
- Clients ask for patrol proof. Add checkpoints.
- Timesheets get typed up weekly. Use a time clock.
Do you make security guard scheduling software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on security guard scheduling software
Put your licence data in before anything else. Load every officer's licence type and expiry date on day one, and only then start building rotas. The scheduling features all look similar in a demo; the licence check is the one that protects your contracts.
If you run event security, my guide on securing events with ID cards covers another simple layer of control.
Frequently asked questions
What is security guard scheduling software?
It's software that builds guard rotas, assigns officers to sites and posts, and tracks attendance, patrols and reports.
Is there free security guard scheduling software?
One tool above says it's free and three name a free trial. Check the free plan column and confirm on each vendor's site.
Do security guards need a licence in the UK?
GOV.UK says you must check someone has the correct security licence before hiring them for private security work.
What is a guard tour system?
It's a system where guards scan checkpoints during patrols, creating a record that each round was completed.
Can guards clock in on their phone?
Many tools include a mobile time clock so officers can clock in and out from the site.
Can clients see patrol reports?
Some systems give clients access to reports for their own sites, which helps prove the service you're delivering.
