Sling
Sling is a comprehensive employee scheduling and time tracking software designed to help businesses manage shift-based workforces through integrated communication, task management, and labor cost optimization tools.
Planday
Planday is a workforce management platform that simplifies employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication for shift-based businesses to improve operational efficiency and reduce labor costs.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Sling | Planday |
|---|---|---|
| Website | getsling.com | planday.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $2.99/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 15 days free trial | ✓ 30 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 | 2015 | 2004 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA | Copenhagen, Denmark |
Overview
Sling
Sling is a specialized scheduling and workforce management platform built specifically for businesses with shift-based employees. You can move away from messy spreadsheets and paper schedules by using a drag-and-drop interface that accounts for employee availability, time-off requests, and labor costs in real-time. It helps you eliminate scheduling conflicts and ensures you always have the right people on the clock.
Beyond simple scheduling, you can track attendance with a built-in time clock, manage tasks, and communicate with your entire team through integrated messaging. Whether you run a single restaurant or manage multiple retail locations, the platform helps you stay under budget by alerting you to potential overtime. It simplifies the entire lifecycle of shift management from the moment you post a schedule to the final payroll export.
Planday
Planday is a flexible workforce management solution designed to take the headache out of managing shift-based teams. Whether you run a single restaurant or a multi-location retail chain, you can build schedules in minutes using templates that account for employee availability, labor costs, and compliance rules. It replaces messy spreadsheets and paper sign-in sheets with a centralized digital hub accessible from any device.
You can track hours accurately with a GPS-verified mobile punch clock and sync that data directly to your payroll provider. The platform also serves as your team's communication center, allowing you to send updates or swap shifts instantly. By giving your staff more transparency and control over their schedules through the mobile app, you reduce administrative friction and keep your labor costs aligned with your actual revenue.
Overview
Sling Features
- Shift Scheduling Create and publish schedules in minutes using drag-and-drop tools that automatically flag overlapping shifts and double-bookings.
- Mobile Time Clock Turn any smartphone or tablet into a digital punch-in station with GPS geofencing to ensure staff are on-site.
- Labor Cost Tracking Monitor your labor spend as you build schedules to avoid costly overtime and stay within your weekly budget.
- Internal Messaging Chat with individuals or specific groups without sharing phone numbers, keeping all professional communication in one secure place.
- Task Management Assign specific to-do lists to shifts and track completion in real-time to ensure your standards are met.
- Time-Off Management Review and approve leave requests directly within the app, which then automatically updates your scheduling availability.
Planday Features
- Smart Scheduling. Create schedules in minutes using templates and drag-and-drop tools that factor in staff availability and labor costs.
- Mobile Punch Clock. Track exactly when and where your team starts work with GPS-verified clock-ins directly from their smartphones.
- Shift Swapping. Empower your team to trade shifts or claim open slots with manager approval, reducing your administrative workload.
- Labor Cost Tracking. Monitor your wage spend against your budget in real-time to ensure every shift stays profitable.
- Team Messaging. Send instant updates to individuals or entire departments through the built-in chat without sharing personal phone numbers.
- Payroll Integration. Export verified hours to your favorite payroll software with a few clicks to ensure fast, accurate payments.
Pricing Comparison
Sling Pricing
- Unlimited employees
- Unlimited locations
- Shift scheduling
- Time-off requests
- Long-term scheduling
- Mobile apps
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Mobile time clock
- GPS geofencing
- Labor cost monitoring
- Overtime alerts
- Timesheet exports
Planday Pricing
- Employee scheduling
- Mobile app access
- Shift swapping
- Availability management
- Basic reporting
- In-app messaging
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Punch clock time tracking
- Contracted hours tracking
- Advanced payroll exports
- Revenue data integration
- Overtime rules and alerts
Pros & Cons
Sling
Pros
- Extremely generous free tier for basic scheduling
- Intuitive mobile app for employees to check shifts
- Easy shift swapping and coverage requests
- Effective labor cost warnings during schedule creation
Cons
- Mobile time clock occasionally has GPS lag
- Reporting features can feel limited for large enterprises
- Notification settings require manual tuning to avoid spam
Planday
Pros
- Intuitive mobile app for employees to manage shifts
- Significantly reduces time spent on weekly schedule creation
- GPS-verified clock-in prevents time theft and errors
- Seamless integration with popular POS and payroll systems
Cons
- Initial setup of complex pay rules takes time
- Reporting interface can feel cluttered for new users
- Occasional sync delays with certain third-party integrations