When I Work
wheniwork.comBuild Difficulty: 5/5
Build a working replacement in a weekend with AI tools
Smarter Employee Scheduling Software
How to Replace When I WorkOverview
Features
35 features across 8 categories
Administration(2)
Customize permissions and workflows across multiple sites to maintain standards as you scale
Assign custom role-based permissions to control what different managers and employees can access
Analytics(6)
Calculate staff coverage based on sales and labor budget to prevent overstaffing
Generate custom reports for scheduling, attendance, and labor analytics
Forecast labor needs based on custom units specific to your business (e.g., covers, transactions, units produced)
Get real-time visibility into labor costs to ensure cost-effective shift coverage
Real-time labor forecasting tool that compares scheduled hours against future demand to optimize staffing and protect profit margins
Receive alerts while building schedules and during the week if employees are approaching overtime limits
Communication(2)
Send shift reminders, schedule updates, and announcements directly within the app
Built-in messaging app for shift reminders, announcements, and direct messages without relying on text chains
Integration(4)
API key access for custom integrations and system extensions
Sync attendance and labor data with payroll systems to automate payroll processing
Single Sign-On (SSO) support for enterprise authentication and security
Webhook support for triggering external actions based on When I Work events
Mobile(1)
Full-featured mobile-first app for managers and employees to access schedules, clock in, and communicate on the go
Scheduling(15)
Set advanced scheduling rules to automate shift assignment based on complex business logic
One-click shift assignment that automatically matches shifts with employees based on eligibility, availability, and preferences
Allow staff to report call-outs within 24 hours for better coverage planning
Color code positions and shifts for easy visual identification and organization
Build schedules in minutes with drag-and-drop interface, schedule templates, and multi-week scheduling capabilities
Share labor and resources across multiple locations or departments in real-time
Manage multiple stores, departments, or job sites from a single dashboard with consistent scheduling and labor sharing
Schedule shifts multiple weeks out to provide better visibility and planning
Post open shifts for employees to pick up, filling gaps without manager intervention
Allow multiple overlapping OpenShifts to be posted simultaneously for flexible coverage
Save and reuse custom templates for weekday staffing, weekend rushes, holiday coverage, and other recurring patterns
Allow employees to swap or trade shifts with manager approval through the app
Attach daily checklists or shift-specific tasks so everyone knows what needs to get done and can check off completion
Switch between different time zones with one toggle for distributed teams
Employees submit time-off requests that managers can approve or decline instantly from anywhere
Support(2)
Comprehensive help center with articles and documentation
Live chat support for immediate assistance
Time Tracking(3)
Use geofencing technology to prevent early arrivals and verify staff are in the correct location
Employees clock in using GPS to verify their location and attendance
Built-in time clock with GPS clock-ins and geofencing to track employee attendance and work hours
Pricing
Essentials
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Auto Scheduling
- ✓Multi-week scheduling
- ✓Multi-location scheduling
- ✓Schedule templates
- ✓Forecast tools
- ✓In-app team messaging
- ✓OpenShifts and shift swapping
- ✓Help Center and live chat
- ✓Payroll and POS integrations
- ✓Time Tracking & Attendance (optional add-on)
Pro
- ✓Everything in Essentials
- ✓Advanced scheduling
- ✓Scheduling rules
- ✓Role permissions
- ✓Labor sharing
- ✓Custom Unit Forecasting
- ✓Allow staff to report callouts within 24 hours
- ✓Custom reporting
- ✓Allow overlapping OpenShifts
- ✓Toggle between time zones
- ✓Time Tracking & Attendance (optional add-on)
Premium
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓API key access
- ✓Webhooks
- ✓SAML/SSO
- ✓Time Tracking & Attendance (optional add-on)
Cost Calculator
Keep Paying When I Work
Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 35 features at very easy complexity.
Build vs Buy
Should you build a When I Work alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 35 features.
Buy When I Work
Better ValueBuild Your Own
Buying When I Work saves ~$36,060 over 3 years vs building.
Estimates based on 35 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.
Integrations
4 known integrations