DeskTime
DeskTime is a fully automated time tracking and productivity software designed to help you manage teams, track project progress, and eliminate manual data entry for improved operational efficiency.
MakeShift
MakeShift is a cloud-based employee scheduling software that helps you create rotas faster, track time accurately, and communicate with your team through a simple mobile-first interface.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | DeskTime | MakeShift |
|---|---|---|
| Website | desktime.com | makeshift.ca |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $2.75/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Riga, Latvia | Calgary, Canada |
Overview
DeskTime
DeskTime is an automated time tracking platform that helps you understand how your team spends their workday without manual timers. It automatically records the apps and websites you use, categorizing them into productive, unproductive, or neutral categories based on your specific business needs. This gives you a clear picture of where time goes and helps you identify bottlenecks in your daily workflows.
You can manage employee shifts, track project costs, and generate detailed reports for client billing all in one place. Whether you are a freelancer or managing a large remote team, the software provides the data you need to boost accountability and optimize performance. It eliminates the guesswork of manual timesheets, allowing you to focus on high-value tasks while the background app handles the documentation.
MakeShift
MakeShift is a people-first scheduling platform designed to eliminate the headaches of manual shift management. You can build complex schedules in minutes using a drag-and-drop interface that accounts for employee availability, qualifications, and labor costs. By moving your rotas to the cloud, you ensure your team always has the most up-to-date information right on their phones.
The platform bridges the gap between management and staff by allowing you to approve time-off requests, manage shift swaps, and track attendance in real-time. It specifically targets industries with fluctuating shifts like healthcare, retail, and hospitality. You can reduce HERO (unnecessary overtime) and ensure your business stays compliant with labor laws while keeping your employees engaged and informed.
Overview
DeskTime Features
- Automatic Time Tracking Track your work hours automatically from the moment you turn on your computer without clicking start or stop.
- URL and App Tracking See exactly which websites and applications you use throughout the day to identify your biggest productivity killers.
- Document Title Tracking Record the specific names of documents or files you work on to accurately allocate time to different projects.
- Project Tracking Assign your time to specific projects and tasks to see how much effort each client or job requires.
- Shift Scheduling Plan and manage your team's shifts in a visual calendar to ensure you always have the right coverage.
- Invoicing and Billing Convert your tracked project hours into professional invoices automatically to get paid faster by your clients.
- Private Time Option Pause tracking with a single click when you need to handle personal matters to maintain your privacy.
- Offline Time Logging Log time spent away from your computer, like meetings or brainstorming sessions, to keep your records complete.
MakeShift Features
- Drag-and-Drop Scheduling. Create and adjust weekly schedules in seconds by dragging shifts across your screen to the right team members.
- Mobile App for Staff. Give your team the power to view schedules, request time off, and swap shifts directly from their smartphones.
- Photo Radar Time Clock. Prevent buddy punching by having your employees clock in via a tablet that captures a photo for verification.
- Availability Management. Let your employees set their own preferred working hours so you only schedule people who are actually available.
- Shift Exchange. Enable your staff to trade shifts with qualified colleagues, which you can then approve or deny with one click.
- Real-Time Notifications. Send instant alerts to your team's phones whenever a schedule is published or a shift change occurs.
- Labor Cost Tracking. Monitor your labor spend as you build schedules to ensure you stay within budget and avoid costly overtime.
- Automated Reminders. Reduce no-shows by automatically sending your employees reminders before their scheduled shifts begin.
Pricing Comparison
DeskTime Pricing
- 1 User only
- Automatic time tracking
- URL & App tracking
- Mobile app access
- Basic productivity stats
- Everything in Lite, plus:
- Unlimited users
- Project tracking
- Productivity calculations
- Idle time tracking
- User integrations
MakeShift Pricing
- Drag-and-drop scheduling
- Employee mobile app
- Availability management
- Shift exchange & swaps
- Time off requests
- In-app messaging
- Everything in Essentials, plus:
- Photo Radar time clock
- GPS-enabled clock-in
- Payroll exports
- Advanced labor reporting
- Department-level permissions
Pros & Cons
DeskTime
Pros
- Automatic tracking eliminates the need for manual start/stop buttons
- Detailed reports make client billing and auditing much faster
- Visual dashboard provides an immediate overview of team productivity
- Private time mode ensures employee trust and personal privacy
Cons
- Desktop app must be installed for full tracking capabilities
- Learning curve for setting up custom productivity categories
- Mobile app features are limited compared to the desktop version
MakeShift
Pros
- Extremely intuitive interface for both managers and employees
- Significantly reduces the time spent on weekly schedule creation
- Mobile app is highly reliable for remote shift management
- Excellent customer support team that responds quickly to issues
Cons
- Limited customization options for very complex labor rules
- Reporting tools could be more robust for enterprise needs
- Occasional sync delays between the web and mobile apps