Planday vs When I Work 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

Planday

0.0 (0 reviews)

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.

Starting at $2.99/mo
Free Trial 30 days
VS

When I Work

0.0 (0 reviews)

When I Work is a complete employee scheduling and time tracking solution designed to help you manage hourly teams, reduce labor costs, and improve workplace communication through a centralized mobile-first platform.

Starting at $2.5/mo
Free Trial 14 days

Quick Comparison

Feature Planday When I Work
Website planday.com wheniwork.com
Pricing Model Subscription Subscription
Starting Price $2.99/month $2.5/month
FREE Trial ✓ 30 days free trial ✓ 14 days free trial
Free Plan ✘ No free plan ✘ No free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment cloud mobile saas mobile
Integrations Xero QuickBooks Lightspeed Square ADP Sage Revel Systems Mews Tanda Deputy ADP QuickBooks Gusto Square Paychex Xero Zapier ClearCompany Workday Zenefits
Target Users small-business mid-market enterprise small-business mid-market
Target Industries hospitality retail healthcare hospitality retail healthcare
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2004 2010
Headquarters Copenhagen, Denmark Minneapolis, USA

Overview

P

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.

strtoupper($product2['name'][0])

When I Work

When I Work is a mobile-first platform that simplifies how you manage hourly employees. Instead of messy spreadsheets and endless phone calls, you get a centralized hub to build schedules in minutes, track attendance, and chat with your team. You can easily handle shift swaps, monitor labor costs against your budget, and ensure everyone knows exactly when and where they need to work.

The software solves the headache of manual scheduling by allowing you to fill open shifts instantly and verify employee locations via GPS geofencing. Whether you run a single coffee shop or manage multiple retail locations, it helps you stay organized and compliant with labor laws while giving your employees the flexibility they crave through a user-friendly mobile app.

Overview

P

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.
strtoupper($product2['name'][0])

When I Work Features

  • One-Click Scheduling. Build and publish your entire weekly schedule in minutes using custom templates and automated shift assignments.
  • Mobile Time Clock. Turn any smartphone or tablet into a precise time clock with GPS verification to ensure your team is on-site.
  • Team Messaging. Communicate with your entire staff or specific groups instantly without sharing private phone numbers or using external apps.
  • Shift Swapping. Empower your employees to trade shifts or find coverage themselves, requiring only your final digital approval.
  • Labor Cost Tracking. Monitor your labor spending in real-time against your sales forecasts to prevent costly overtime before it happens.
  • Auto-Scheduling. Generate optimal schedules automatically based on employee availability, qualifications, and your specific business requirements.

Pricing Comparison

P

Planday Pricing

Starter
$2.99
  • Employee scheduling
  • Mobile app access
  • Shift swapping
  • Availability management
  • Basic reporting
  • In-app messaging
W

When I Work Pricing

Standard
$2.5
  • Standard scheduling tools
  • Team messaging and chat
  • Shift trading and drops
  • Time off management
  • Multiple locations and sites
  • In-app employee training

Pros & Cons

M

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
A

When I Work

Pros

  • Intuitive mobile app makes shift management easy for employees
  • Reduces time spent on scheduling by up to 80 percent
  • GPS geofencing prevents early clock-ins and time theft
  • Seamless integration with popular payroll providers like ADP

Cons

  • Mobile app can occasionally lag during peak usage
  • Advanced reporting is locked behind the higher pricing tier
  • Initial setup of employee availability takes some time
×

Please claim profile in order to edit product details and view analytics. Provide your work email @productdomain to receive a verification link.