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.
Sling
Sling is a comprehensive employee scheduling and shift planning software designed to help businesses manage hourly workforces through integrated time tracking, team messaging, and labor cost management tools.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Planday | Sling |
|---|---|---|
| Website | planday.com | sling.is |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $2.99/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2004 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Copenhagen, Denmark | New York, USA |
Overview
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.
Sling
Sling is a specialized scheduling and workforce management platform built to handle the complexities of shift-based work. You can create clear, conflict-free schedules in minutes using drag-and-drop tools and templates that account for employee availability and time-off requests. It helps you eliminate the chaos of paper schedules and endless group texts by centralizing all shift communication and coordination in one mobile-friendly hub.
Beyond simple scheduling, you can track actual hours worked with a built-in time clock and monitor labor costs in real-time to stay within your budget. The platform is designed for businesses of all sizes, from single-location cafes to large enterprise retail chains. By using Sling, you reduce absenteeism, prevent double-booking, and ensure your team always knows exactly when and where they are supposed to work.
Overview
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.
Sling Features
- Shift Scheduling. Create and distribute schedules quickly using drag-and-drop tools that flag overlapping shifts and double-bookings automatically.
- Mobile Time Clock. Turn any smartphone or tablet into a digital time clock so your employees can clock in and out with GPS verification.
- Labor Cost Tracking. Set budgets and view real-time labor expenses as you schedule to ensure you never exceed your weekly or monthly targets.
- Internal Messaging. Communicate with individuals or specific groups without sharing phone numbers, keeping all work-related conversations in one professional place.
- Task Management. Assign specific to-do lists to shifts so your team knows exactly what needs to be accomplished during their working hours.
- Shift Exchange. Empower your team to swap shifts or find coverage among themselves, subject to your final approval, reducing your administrative burden.
Pricing Comparison
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
Sling Pricing
- Unlimited employees
- Unlimited locations
- Shift scheduling
- Time off requests
- Internal messaging
- Mobile apps
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Mobile time clock
- Geofencing capabilities
- Labor cost monitoring
- Shift templates
- Auto-scheduling tools
Pros & Cons
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
Sling
Pros
- Extremely user-friendly interface for both managers and staff
- Robust free version offers more value than most competitors
- Mobile app notifications significantly reduce missed shifts
- Easy to set up and learn without technical expertise
Cons
- Mobile GPS clock-in can occasionally be glitchy
- Reporting features could be more customizable for large data sets
- Limited integration options compared to enterprise-only platforms