7shifts Review (2025)
Scheduling & team comms purpose-built for restaurants
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ 4.6/5 · Updated Sept 2025 · 7–9 min read
Hands-on look at 7shifts: scheduling, labor forecasting, time & attendance, and team comms—where it shines, where it doesn’t, and whether it fits your venue.
- Faster schedules: drag-drop, templates, availability rules
- Lower labor %: forecasts when connected to POS
- Happier teams: mobile swaps, announcements, logbook
✅ Editor’s Choice · 🔌 POS integrations · 🏪 Multi-location ready
Quick Verdict
7shifts is one of the best purpose-built scheduling platforms for restaurants. It’s quick to roll out, managers like the drag-and-drop UI, and staff adoption is high via the mobile app. Labor forecasting is strong with POS sales connected. If you need deep payroll/benefits or multi-country compliance, pair it with a full HR suite.
Pros
- Excellent shift builder & templates
- Mobile app for swaps, availability, messages
- Labor forecast vs sales reduces over-staffing
- Manager logbook & task lists
- Great adoption in QSR & casual dining
Cons
- Payroll/benefits lighter than full HR suites
- Analytics quality depends on POS data
- Global compliance may need add-ons
30–60%
Fewer scheduling conflicts
1–3 hrs/wk
Manager time saved
2–5%
Labor % reduction (with POS)
Who It’s Best For
Great fit: cafes, QSR, casual dining, food halls, and multi-unit groups needing fast scheduling & strong comms.
Maybe not: operators prioritizing complex payroll/benefits in multiple countries—pair with a full HR/payroll suite.
Deep Dive: Key Features
Scheduling & Shift Templates
Create schedules by role or station, reuse templates for busy days, and publish to the app with one click. Availability & time-off requests surface as you build.
Labor Forecasting (with POS)
Connect POS sales to forecast labor per hour. The system flags over-staffing vs targets and helps set labor % goals by daypart.
Time & Attendance
Clock-in rules, early/late alerts, and automatic timesheets reduce manual cleanup. Tip prompts and breaks can be enforced per policy.
Team Communication & Logbook
Announcements, shift chats, and manager logbook centralize daily notes. Read receipts keep accountability high; mute controls help avoid noise.
Onboarding & Tasks
New-hire checklists and document acknowledgement keep ramp-up consistent. Pair with opening/closing templates to standardize across locations.
Integrations & Ecosystem
7shifts integrates with major POS systems for sales & labor forecasting. Time data can export to payroll platforms. Connect your primary POS early and validate mappings (roles, wage rates, locations).
Pricing (Overview)
Plans typically start around $29/month for core scheduling; higher tiers add attendance, advanced forecasting, and analytics. Confirm current pricing on the vendor site.
ROI Snapshot
| Area | Baseline | With 7shifts | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager scheduling time | 3 hrs/wk | 1–1.5 hrs/wk | ~1.5–2 hrs saved |
| Labor overspend | +3–5% | +1–2% | 1–3% improvement |
| No-shows / conflicts | Frequent | 30–60% fewer | Stability & morale |
Our Verdict
If scheduling and day-to-day comms are your biggest headaches, 7shifts is a top pick. Pair with your POS for forecasting; add payroll integrations if you need exports to your payroll provider.
7shifts FAQ
Does 7shifts replace my payroll provider?
No—7shifts focuses on scheduling, attendance, and team comms. Export timesheets or integrate to supported payroll tools for processing.
Is the mobile app required?
Optional but highly recommended—adoption of swaps, availability, and messages is much higher via mobile.
Can I use it across multiple locations?
Yes. Roles, locations, and permissions are supported; templates and tasks help standardize operations across units.
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