7shifts vs When I Work
Scheduling & Staffing · Features checked on the official websites, Oct 2026.
Verdict
Pick 7shifts if you run a restaurant or bar and want restaurant-specific labor compliance and tip management, priced per location rather than per head, plus a free Comp plan for one location and up to 15 employees. Pick When I Work if you want simple per-user pricing with no contract: $2.50 per user per month for a single-location team, $5 for multi-location, unlimited users and team messaging on every plan. It suits hotels and multi-department teams. Price it for your headcount: When I Work gets more expensive as your roster grows, while 7shifts charges per location.
Who it's for
7shifts
Restaurants and bars that want restaurant-specific scheduling, compliance and tip tools, and a free plan for small single-location teams.
When I Work
Hotels, resorts and multi-department teams that want per-user pricing, unlimited users and no contract.
Feature comparison
| Feature | 7shifts | When I Work |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model (checked Oct 2026) | Per location: Comp free; Essentials, Pro and Premium are priced per location per month (our check showed CAD, so see vendor pricing for USD) | Per user: Essentials $2.50, Pro $5, Premium $8 /user/mo |
| Free plan | Y (Comp: single location, up to 15 employees) | N (no free tier) |
| Free trial | 14-day trial, no credit card | Two-week free trial, no credit card |
| Team size limits | Essentials up to 30, Pro up to 60, Premium unlimited employees | Unlimited users on every plan (billed per user) |
| Multi-location | Priced per location | Pricing page says $2.50/user for single-location teams and $5/user for multi-location businesses |
| Shift scheduling | Yes | Y (auto scheduling, schedule templates, multi-week scheduling) |
| Time clock | Y (Essentials and up) | Time Tracking & Attendance is a toggle you add to each plan |
| Team messaging | One-way announcements on Comp; messaging on Essentials and up | Y (in-app team messaging on every plan) |
| Shift swaps / open shifts | Yes | Y (OpenShifts and shift swapping on every plan) |
| Labor cost vs sales | Y (Essentials and up) | Forecast tools on every plan; custom unit forecasting on Pro |
| Labor compliance | Y (Pro and up) | Scheduling rules on Pro and up |
| Tip management | Y (Premium, or paid add-on) | Not highlighted |
| Contract | See vendor terms | No contracts; switch plans or cancel anytime |
| Restaurant-specific focus | Yes | Multi-industry (restaurant, retail, healthcare, hospitality and more) |
✓ Yes = advertised on the vendor's official website (checked Oct 2026). "Not highlighted" means we didn't see it on the main product page. It may exist, so confirm with the vendor. Prices shown were read on each vendor's official pricing page (checked Oct 2026) and change often, so confirm current pricing with the vendor before you buy.
Sources
FAQ
Is 7shifts or When I Work better?
Pick 7shifts if you run a restaurant or bar and want restaurant-specific labor compliance and tip management, priced per location rather than per head, plus a free Comp plan for one location and up to 15 employees. Pick When I Work if you want simple per-user pricing with no contract: $2.50 per user per month for a single-location team, $5 for multi-location, unlimited users and team messaging on every plan. It suits hotels and multi-department teams. Price it for your headcount: When I Work gets more expensive as your roster grows, while 7shifts charges per location.
Who should choose 7shifts?
Restaurants and bars that want restaurant-specific scheduling, compliance and tip tools, and a free plan for small single-location teams.
Who should choose When I Work?
Hotels, resorts and multi-department teams that want per-user pricing, unlimited users and no contract.
How much do 7shifts and When I Work cost?
The pricing rows in the table above were read on the official 7shifts and When I Work pricing pages (checked Oct 2026). Prices change often and some plans are quote-based, so confirm on each vendor's official pricing page before you buy.
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