MakeShift vs TimeTrex 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

TimeTrex

0.0 (0 reviews)

TimeTrex is a comprehensive workforce management software providing automated payroll, time and attendance tracking, and employee scheduling to help you streamline human resources and labor cost management.

Starting at Free
Free Trial 30 days

Quick Comparison

Feature MakeShift TimeTrex
Website makeshift.ca timetrex.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 saas on-premise mobile desktop
Integrations ADP QuickBooks Sage BambooHR Ceridian Dayforce TSheets Xero Microsoft Teams QuickBooks Sage AccountEdge Xero Microsoft Dynamics ADP Paychex Ceridian
Target Users small-business mid-market enterprise small-business mid-market enterprise
Target Industries healthcare hospitality retail manufacturing healthcare retail
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2013 2003
Headquarters Calgary, Canada West Kelowna, Canada

Overview

M

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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TimeTrex

TimeTrex is an all-in-one workforce management platform designed to handle your most tedious HR tasks. You can automate everything from employee scheduling and time tracking to complex payroll processing and tax calculations. It eliminates the need for manual data entry by syncing your team's hours directly with your payroll system, ensuring your staff is paid accurately and on time every single cycle.

You can manage your entire workforce through a single interface, whether you have five employees or five thousand. The platform helps you stay compliant with local labor laws by automatically calculating overtime and tracking leave entitlements. It is particularly effective for businesses in manufacturing, healthcare, and retail where shift management and precise labor costing are critical to maintaining your bottom line.

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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TimeTrex Features

  • Automated Payroll. Calculate federal, state, and local taxes automatically so you can process payroll in minutes instead of hours.
  • Employee Scheduling. Create complex shift schedules with drag-and-drop ease and notify your team of changes instantly via email or text.
  • Time & Attendance. Track employee hours accurately using web browsers, mobile apps, or physical biometric hardware to eliminate buddy punching.
  • Leave Management. Manage vacation requests and sick leave through an automated approval workflow that updates your accruals in real-time.
  • Labor Costing. Track labor expenses across different projects or departments to see exactly where your budget is going every day.
  • Recruitment Tracking. Post job openings and manage your entire hiring pipeline from application to onboarding within a single system.
  • Expense Tracking. Review and approve employee business expenses and mileage claims directly through the integrated self-service portal.
  • Document Management. Store and organize your employee records, certifications, and contracts in a secure, centralized digital filing cabinet.

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
T

TimeTrex Pricing

Community Edition
$0
  • On-premise installation
  • Unlimited employees
  • Time & Attendance tracking
  • Employee Scheduling
  • Basic Payroll processing
  • Employee Self-Service

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
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TimeTrex

Pros

  • Extremely flexible configuration for complex union rules
  • Community edition is free for unlimited users
  • Comprehensive all-in-one suite reduces software bloat
  • Robust reporting provides deep insights into labor costs

Cons

  • Interface feels dated compared to modern apps
  • Initial setup requires significant time and effort
  • Steep learning curve for non-technical administrators
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