Employee scheduling software · ranked #1 of 11
Deputy: review, pricing and alternatives
Takes first place because rosters, a time clock and published per-user prices from $5 come together in one product sold in the US, UK and Australia.
Deputy at a glance
- Rank
- #1 of 11 in Employee scheduling software
- Best for
- Hourly teams in US, UK, Australia
- Pricing
- Per user / month
- Free option
- Free trial
- Headquarters
- Sydney, Australia
- Key features
- Shift scheduling, Time clock and timesheets, Analytics+ add-on, Messaging+ add-on, HR add-on
- Last checked
- 2026-11-11
Where Deputy wins
- Deputy is the product we would shortlist first for a retailer, clinic group or hospitality chain with 100 to 800 hourly staff.
- Core scheduling and time tracking sit in every tier, so managers build rosters and collect timesheets without a second tool.
- Prices are public, which lets a buyer model a year of cost before talking to sales.
- Billing follows the account country, in US dollars, pounds or Australian dollars.
Where it falls short
- The three tiers hide real gaps: analytics and messaging sit behind Pro or paid add-ons, HR is a separate $2 per user charge, and Deputy Payroll is limited to US customers on annual plans.
- Annual contracts cannot be changed mid-term, and the SMS charges for texting staff are billed per message on top.
- Choosing among tiers, add-ons and billing options takes a little homework.
- Offices with salaried staff on fixed hours gain little from a roster engine.
Our verdict on Deputy
Deputy is the product we would shortlist first for a retailer, clinic group or hospitality chain with 100 to 800 hourly staff. Core scheduling and time tracking sit in every tier, so managers build rosters and collect timesheets without a second tool. Prices are public, which lets a buyer model a year of cost before talking to sales.
Billing follows the account country, in US dollars, pounds or Australian dollars. That mix of breadth and clear pricing puts it ahead of the field.
For a buyer with several sites and no appetite for a long sales cycle, it is the shortest path from spreadsheet to live roster.
Where Deputy falls short
The three tiers hide real gaps: analytics and messaging sit behind Pro or paid add-ons, HR is a separate $2 per user charge, and Deputy Payroll is limited to US customers on annual plans. Annual contracts cannot be changed mid-term, and the SMS charges for texting staff are billed per message on top. Choosing among tiers, add-ons and billing options takes a little homework.
Who should look elsewhere
Offices with salaried staff on fixed hours gain little from a roster engine. Companies that want one suite covering recruiting, performance and payroll in many countries should look at a core HR system instead.
Deputy pricing
Per user per month in three published tiers (Lite $5, Core $6.50, Pro $9), with a $30 monthly minimum spend per invoice.
Pricing as published by the vendor on the date above; check the vendor's pricing page before you buy.
Deputy fact sheet
| Rank | #1 of 11 in Employee scheduling software |
|---|---|
| Category | Employee scheduling software |
| Best for | Hourly teams in US, UK, Australia |
| Pricing model | Per user / month |
| Free option | Free trial |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
| Company | Deputechnologies Pty Ltd |
| Address | Sydney, Australia |
| Vendor size | Independent or mid-sized vendor |
| Website | www.deputy.com |
| Last checked | 2026-11-11 |
Key features
- Shift scheduling
- Time clock and timesheets
- Analytics+ add-on
- Messaging+ add-on
- HR add-on
- US payroll add-on
- Deputy AI
- Local-currency billing
Alternatives to Deputy
ConnecteamMobile-first scheduling, communication and HR for deskless teams. Per hub + per user / month.
ShiftbaseScheduling, time tracking and leave for shift teams. Base fee + per employee / month.
PlandayEmployee scheduling and time tracking, owned by Xero. Per user / month.Also ranked in
- #1 of 11 in Employee scheduling software
- #11 of 12 in Time tracking software
Sources checked
- Pricing page: Lite $5, Core $6.50, Pro $9 per user per month; $30 minimum monthly spend per invoice; payroll add-on US only Source
- About page: Sydney named as HQ, US office in San Francisco; Deputy launched 2008 Source
- Footer: Deputy and Spark Device are trademarks of Deputechnologies Pty Ltd Source
Deputy: common questions
What is Deputy?
Deputy is shift scheduling and time tracking for hourly teams. Takes first place because rosters, a time clock and published per-user prices from $5 come together in one product sold in the US, UK and Australia.
How much does Deputy cost?
Per user per month in three published tiers (Lite $5, Core $6.50, Pro $9), with a $30 monthly minimum spend per invoice.
Does Deputy have a free plan?
Free trial. Per user per month in three published tiers (Lite $5, Core $6.50, Pro $9), with a $30 monthly minimum spend per invoice.
What is Deputy best for?
Deputy is best for hourly teams in US, UK, Australia. Takes first place because rosters, a time clock and published per-user prices from $5 come together in one product sold in the US, UK and Australia.
Where is Deputy based?
Deputy is published by Deputechnologies Pty Ltd, headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
Who should not use Deputy?
Offices with salaried staff on fixed hours gain little from a roster engine. Companies that want one suite covering recruiting, performance and payroll in many countries should look at a core HR system instead.
What are the best alternatives to Deputy?
In our Employee scheduling software ranking the closest alternatives are Connecteam, Shiftbase, Planday. See the full ranking for the other options.