Restaurant scheduling & workforce management comparison
Updated Sept 2025 · 7–9 min read
We compare 7shifts and HotSchedules across scheduling speed, labor forecasting, attendance, team comms, and scale. Quick picks:
| Category | 7shifts | HotSchedules |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fast scheduling, modern app, single–multi unit | Rule-driven scheduling, multi-location control |
| Scheduling speed | Excellent (drag-drop, templates) | Strong (templates + coverage targets) |
| Labor forecasting | Very good w/ POS sales | Strong w/ POS + labor rules |
| Time & attendance | Solid (rules, alerts, exports) | Solid (approvals, auditability) |
| Team comms | Built-in chat, announcements, logbook | Announcements, swaps, availability |
| Ease of setup | Fast & friendly | Heavier config for scale |
| Pricing | From ~ $29/mo (tiered) | Custom (by modules/locations) |
Fast drag-drop builder, reusable templates, availability surfaced as you plan. Mobile publish & swap approvals keep churn low.
Coverage targets and labor rules help standardize schedules across locations. More upfront setup; scales well for franchises.
7shifts: POS-driven hourly forecasts, flags over-staffing vs targets.
HotSchedules: POS + historical demand with rules to enforce labor goals by daypart/location.
7shifts: Clock rules, alerts, automatic timesheets, exports to payroll.
Announcements, chat, manager logbook with read receipts.
HotSchedules: Approvals, variance alerts, useful audit history for compliance.
Announcements, swaps, availability in the app; manager notes.
| Product | Typical Pricing | Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| 7shifts | From ~ $29/mo (tiered) | Review · Visit |
| HotSchedules | Custom (modules & locations) | Review · Visit |
7shifts wins for speed and everyday usability; HotSchedules wins for control and scale. Both integrate with major POS/payroll. Decide based on your complexity vs. speed needs.
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