Deputy

Overview

Deputy is workforce management software for businesses that need to coordinate employee shifts and record attendance. It suits teams that want scheduling and time tracking in one system, particularly when mobile clock-ins and connections to payroll or point-of-sale tools matter.

Its strongest case is the breadth of scheduling and attendance functions across the three plans. The trade-off is that even its lowest monthly tier comes with a minimum invoice spend, and taxes are extra.

Key features

• Scheduling: Deputy can build and fill shifts around business needs and staff availability. Availability collection, time-off management, open shifts, shift swaps, and auto-scheduling give managers several ways to handle routine coverage; auto-scheduling starts with Core.
• Time and attendance: Clock-in apps, geofencing, biometric clocking, and timesheet auto-approvals connect attendance workflows with scheduling. Biometric clocking and automatic approvals are Core features, so Lite is a more basic fit for businesses that need those controls.
• Deputy AI: Included in every plan, it can assist with schedules, workforce questions, and everyday task automation. Its inclusion at the entry tier is useful, though the core scheduling and time-clock capabilities still differ by plan.
• Integrations and API: Integrations span payroll, point of sale, HR, and other categories, including ADP, BambooHR, QuickBooks, Xero, and Zapier. API documentation is available for organizations building their own connections.
• Security: Deputy states that it supports multifactor authentication on every account and single sign-on for corporate customers. It cites ISO 27001, UK Cyber Essentials, SOC 2 Type II, and TX-RAMP Level 2 compliance credentials.

Pricing

Deputy has no free plan, but offers a free trial of up to 31 days without requiring a credit card. Monthly Lite, Core, and Pro plans carry a minimum spend of USD $30 per invoice. Prices are in USD, per user per month, exclude applicable taxes, and can be billed upfront or in monthly installments.

• Lite — $5 a month: Basic scheduling, timesheets and time clocking, labor-law compliance, shift swaps and replacements, leave and availability management, basic reporting, and messaging. It is the entry point for teams that can work with basic scheduling and attendance rather than advanced controls.
• Core — $6.50 a month: Adds advanced scheduling, timesheet auto-approval, biometric clocking, advanced labor-law compliance, micro-scheduling, auto-scheduling, and demand forecasting to Lite. It is the more capable choice for managers who want scheduling automation or stronger attendance workflows.
• Pro — $9 a month: Adds custom access levels, advanced timesheets, location hierarchies, pay centers, single sign-on, a sandbox environment, analytics, messaging features, and 24/7 live chat to Core. Its controls and support are better suited to organizations with more complex access or location needs.

Platforms

Deputy is available on Android, iOS, and the web. Mobile apps support teams that need access to workforce tools away from a desktop.

Who it's for

Deputy is a fit for businesses that need both shift coverage and attendance tracking, with integrations into other workplace systems. Lite suits simpler operations; Core is the practical step up when auto-scheduling, demand forecasting, or biometric clocking matter; Pro is aimed at organizations needing single sign-on, location hierarchies, or priority support. Teams should account for the USD $30 monthly minimum invoice spend even when per-user charges are low.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Scheduling, attendance, availability, leave, open shifts, and swaps are brought together, reducing the need to split these tasks across separate tools.
• Pros: Deputy AI is included across all plans, and integrations include recognizable payroll and business tools such as ADP, QuickBooks, and Xero.
• Pros: A trial of up to 31 days requires no credit card, giving prospective customers time to assess fit before subscribing.
• Cons: There is no free plan, and monthly Lite, Core, and Pro invoices have a USD $30 minimum before applicable taxes.
• Cons: The cheapest tier lacks several advanced scheduling and attendance functions, including auto-scheduling, biometric clocking, and timesheet auto-approval.

Alternatives

• 7shifts is worth considering for a small team seeking a free starting tier: its Comp plan costs nothing and caps usage at 15 employees and one location. Deputy is the stronger fit when those caps are too restrictive or a broader paid plan is preferred.
• Workforce.com is another paid option for teams comparing scheduling with HR and payroll; its All-in-One plan combines those areas with advanced implementation support.
• Sling suits teams that want a free plan for up to 30 users with shift scheduling, time-off requests, available shifts, and messaging. Deputy is preferable when its more extensive attendance and scheduling controls justify a paid subscription.
• Crunchtime Labor & Scheduling is a paid option to consider for restaurant operators with 10 or more locations, who are directed to contact the company through its demo process.
• HotSchedules is a paid scheduling and team-management alternative with a one-year offer on us; pricing is handled through sales.
• Restaurant365 Workforce Management is another paid option for readers comparing workforce-management software.
• Push Scheduling is a paid alternative with team scheduling, POS integrations, labor forecasting, shift swapping, and real-time compliance alerts on its Signature plan.
• Planday is a paid option with a Starter plan at £2.99 a month, billed per user/month, with a five-user minimum. It may suit teams comparing a lower per-user starting price, while Deputy offers AI in every plan.

Readers focused on a particular use case can also compare Restaurant Scheduling Software, Gym Staff Scheduling Software, Restaurant Labor Management Software, Employee Scheduling Software, Time and Attendance Software, and Attendance Tracking Software.

Verdict

Deputy is a strong choice for businesses that want scheduling and time tracking together, with mobile access, integrations, and tools that scale from basic coverage to more controlled multi-location operations. Choose it if those combined workflows and its AI assistance justify a paid plan; look elsewhere if a free tier or avoiding the monthly minimum invoice spend is essential.