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.
Shiftboard
Shiftboard provides automated workforce scheduling software designed to help you manage complex staffing needs, ensure compliance, and improve employee engagement through data-driven scheduling solutions.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | MakeShift | Shiftboard |
|---|---|---|
| Website | makeshift.ca | shiftboard.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Custom |
| Starting Price | $2.75/month | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No 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 | 2013 | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Calgary, Canada | Seattle, USA |
Overview
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.
Shiftboard
Shiftboard is a specialized scheduling platform built to handle the headaches of complex, 24/7 workforce management. Whether you are managing a manufacturing plant, a healthcare facility, or a large-scale event, you can automate your entire scheduling process while staying compliant with labor laws and union rules. It moves you away from messy spreadsheets and manual tracking into a centralized system that balances your operational needs with your employees' preferences.
You can reduce costly overtime and fill open shifts faster by using automated communication tools that reach your team instantly. The platform offers two distinct solutions—Schedules360 for healthcare and SchedulePro for high-stakes industrial environments—ensuring you get the specific tools required for your industry. By integrating your time and attendance data, you gain a clear view of your labor costs and workforce productivity in real-time.
Overview
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.
Shiftboard Features
- Automated Scheduling. Generate optimized schedules automatically based on your specific business rules, employee qualifications, and current staffing demands.
- Compliance Engine. Configure complex labor laws, union contracts, and fatigue management rules to ensure every shift stays fully compliant.
- Mobile Self-Service. Give your employees the power to view schedules, swap shifts, and request time off directly from their smartphones.
- Real-Time Communication. Broadcast open shift notifications via SMS or email to fill gaps in your schedule within minutes instead of hours.
- Overtime Management. Track and control your labor costs by identifying potential overtime issues before they happen with proactive system alerts.
- Reporting and Analytics. Access detailed insights into your workforce trends and labor utilization to make smarter, data-driven staffing decisions.
Pricing Comparison
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
Shiftboard Pricing
Pros & Cons
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
Shiftboard
Pros
- Handles highly complex scheduling rules with ease
- Significantly reduces time spent on manual data entry
- Excellent customer support during the implementation phase
- Mobile app improves communication with frontline workers
Cons
- Initial setup requires significant time and effort
- User interface can feel dated in some areas
- Learning curve for administrators managing complex rules