Free Schedule Makers (2026): 10 Tools Compared

A schedule is only useful if people can read it in a glance and trust that it's current. A fridge timetable, a semester plan and a cafe rota all fail the same way: someone changes a slot and the old version keeps circulating.

The ten tools below cover home, school and work. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're scheduling a whole team, my guide to the best employee scheduling software goes deeper into shift planning.

Schedule makers compared

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
Canva	Online design tool with a schedule maker	A schedule that looks good printed	Yes
Connecteam	Employee management app	Shifts plus checklists and chat	Yes
Homebase	Employee scheduling and payroll app	Scheduling, time tracking and payroll together	Not stated
Microsoft Excel	Schedule templates in Excel	Weekly routines and shift sheets	Yes
MyStudyLife	Free student planner	Classes, homework and exams together	Yes
ScheduleBuilder	Online weekly schedule maker	A weekly plan with no account	Yes
Sling	Employee scheduling app	Hourly teams on a free plan	Yes
Timetable Maker	Online timetable maker	School, tutoring or workout timetables	Yes
Visme	Online design tool with a schedule maker	Event and content schedules for teams	Yes
ZoomShift	Work schedule maker and time clock	Small hourly teams up to 20	Yes

Ten schedule makers to try

Canva

Best for: People who want a clear, visual schedule designed from a template, then downloaded or shared with the family or team.

Connecteam

Best for: Deskless teams in cleaning, construction or retail that want scheduling, time clock, checklists and chat in one app.

Homebase

Best for: Small shops and restaurants that want payroll, scheduling, time tracking and HR in one easy app.

Microsoft Excel

Best for: Anyone comfortable in a spreadsheet who wants free templates for daily tasks, weekly routines or work shifts.

MyStudyLife

Best for: Students who want classes, homework, exams and revision planned in one place, with reminders on their phone.

ScheduleBuilder

Best for: People who want to drag, drop and export a weekly schedule from the browser without creating an account first.

Sling

Best for: Managers of hourly staff who want to build shifts and message employees in one place, starting for free.

Timetable Maker

Best for: Learners and tutors who want a weekly timetable they can print, share and subscribe to so their calendar stays updated.

Visme

Best for: Marketing and events teams that want a schedule designed inside the same tool as their presentations and reports.

ZoomShift

Best for: Hourly businesses that want a work schedule maker with time-off requests and a time clock for a small team.

Which schedule maker fits your week

• A schedule that looks good printed: Canva or Visme.
• Deskless teams with checklists and chat: Connecteam.
• Shifts, time tracking and payroll together: Homebase.
• Spreadsheet routines and shift sheets: Microsoft Excel.
• Students juggling classes and homework: MyStudyLife or Timetable Maker.
• A weekly plan with no account: ScheduleBuilder.
• Hourly teams starting for free: Sling or ZoomShift.

The rest rules your rota has to respect

GOV.UK says workers have the right to one uninterrupted 20 minute rest break during the working day if they work more than 6 hours a day. They also have the right to 11 hours rest between working days.

The second rule is the one rotas break. A closing shift that ends at 11pm followed by an opening shift at 7am leaves only 8 hours, and most schedule makers won't flag it. Check every late finish against the next day's start before you publish the rota, and build the 20 minute break into any shift longer than 6 hours rather than leaving it to chance.

Design template, planner app or shift scheduler?

A design template suits a schedule that rarely changes, like a weekly family plan or an event programme. It looks good on a wall or in a newsletter.

A planner app suits students and busy households. Classes, deadlines and reminders sit in one place and sync to a phone.

A shift scheduler suits employers. Staff see their shifts in an app, swap them with approval and get notified when something changes.

Six questions before you share a schedule

1. Who needs to see it, and on what device?
2. How often will it change?
3. Can people request changes without messaging you?
4. Does every long shift include a break?
5. Is there enough rest between a late finish and an early start?
6. Where does the one current version live?

Signs your schedule isn't working

• People ask when they're on every week. Share a live link.
• There are three versions in circulation. Keep one.
• Closers keep opening the next day. Check the rest gap.
• Changes happen by group chat. Use a request process.

Do you make a schedule maker? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on schedules people trust

Keep one version and kill the rest. The moment a schedule exists as a printout, a screenshot and a spreadsheet, people turn up at the wrong time. Pick one place, share a link to it, and when you print a copy, put the date it was printed at the top so everyone can see if it's out of date.

If you're choosing a tool for a team, my guide on how to choose an online scheduling tool for your team covers the questions to ask.

Frequently asked questions

What is a schedule maker?

It's a tool that lays out a day, week or term in a clear grid that you can share, print and update.

Are schedule makers free?

Many design tools, planners and scheduling apps have a free version. Check the free plan column above, then confirm on each site.

How long a break must UK workers get?

GOV.UK says one uninterrupted 20 minute break if they work more than 6 hours a day, and 11 hours rest between working days.

Can I make a class schedule online?

Yes. Student planners and timetable makers let you add classes, rooms and times, then view the week on your phone.

What's the difference between a schedule and a rota?

A rota is a schedule of who works when. Schedule is the broader word for any planned timetable.

How do I stop people using an old schedule?

Keep one shared version online and date any printed copy, so people can tell when it's out of date.