MakeShift vs OnTheClock Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated Apr 2026 8 min read

MakeShift

0.0 (0 reviews)

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.

Starting at $2.75/mo
Free Trial 14 days
VS

OnTheClock

0.0 (0 reviews)

OnTheClock is a cloud-based time tracking software providing small businesses with GPS-enabled employee punching, automated payroll integration, and shift scheduling to simplify workforce management and ensure accurate labor reporting.

Starting at Free
Free Trial 30 days

Quick Comparison

Feature MakeShift OnTheClock
Website makeshift.ca ontheclock.com
Pricing Model Subscription Freemium
Starting Price $2.75/month Free
FREE Trial ✓ 14 days free trial ✓ 30 days free trial
Free Plan ✘ No free plan ✓ Has free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment saas mobile cloud mobile desktop
Integrations ADP QuickBooks Sage BambooHR Ceridian Dayforce TSheets Xero Microsoft Teams QuickBooks Gusto ADP Paychex Xero Square Thomson Reuters Millennium SurePayroll
Target Users small-business mid-market enterprise small-business mid-market
Target Industries healthcare hospitality retail construction retail healthcare
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2013 2004
Headquarters Calgary, Canada Clinton Township, USA

Overview

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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.

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OnTheClock

OnTheClock is a versatile time tracking solution designed to take the headache out of managing your workforce. You can track employee hours from any device, whether your team is in the office, on a construction site, or working remotely. By using GPS geofencing and fingerprint biometrics, you ensure that your staff is punching in from the right location at the right time, eliminating time theft and manual entry errors.

The platform streamlines your entire back-office workflow by automatically calculating PTO, tracking breaks, and generating audit-ready reports. You can seamlessly sync this data with popular payroll providers like QuickBooks or Gusto, cutting down the time you spend on administrative tasks. It is built specifically for small to mid-sized businesses that need a reliable, easy-to-use system to manage attendance without the high costs of enterprise infrastructure.

Overview

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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.
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OnTheClock Features

  • GPS Geofencing. Set specific geographic boundaries so you can ensure your employees are at the actual job site before they can punch in.
  • Biometric Fingerprint. Prevent buddy punching by requiring a fingerprint scan, giving you peace of mind that the right person is on the clock.
  • Payroll Integrations. Connect your time data directly to Gusto, QuickBooks, or ADP to process your payroll in just a few clicks.
  • PTO Tracking. Manage vacation time and sick leave requests within the app so you can keep your staffing levels balanced automatically.
  • Shift Scheduling. Create and publish employee schedules online so your team can view their upcoming shifts from their own mobile devices.
  • Mobile Punching. Allow your remote or mobile teams to clock in and out using the native iOS or Android apps from anywhere.

Pricing Comparison

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MakeShift Pricing

Essentials
$2.75
  • Drag-and-drop scheduling
  • Employee mobile app
  • Availability management
  • Shift exchange & swaps
  • Time off requests
  • In-app messaging
O

OnTheClock Pricing

Free
$0
  • Up to 2 employees
  • Mobile app access
  • GPS tracking
  • Payroll exports
  • PTO management

Pros & Cons

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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
A

OnTheClock

Pros

  • Extremely easy for employees to learn and use
  • Highly accurate GPS tracking for mobile workforces
  • Seamless integration with major payroll software providers
  • Excellent value for money for small teams

Cons

  • Mobile app interface feels slightly dated
  • Limited customization for complex overtime rules
  • Occasional lag when syncing large data sets
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