SimpleStaff

Overview

SimpleStaff is scheduling and timekeeping software for businesses that organize work in shifts. It is a good fit for smaller teams that want employees to handle routine requests themselves; its main trade-off is that managers schedule on the web and employees need internet access to load shifts on mobile.

A free plan makes it possible to start with core scheduling, while the paid tiers add reporting, exports and more advanced scheduling tools. The combination is practical for everyday shift operations, but teams that need offline mobile access or phone-based manager scheduling should look elsewhere.

Key features

Managers build schedules in the web app using drag-and-drop editing, role assignments and reusable templates, then publish shifts. Templates can save repetitive setup for teams with recurring patterns, but the web-only manager workflow is a drawback for anyone who expects to create schedules from a phone.

Employees can request time off, update availability, swap shifts and claim open shifts from the mobile app. This gives staff a direct role in routine schedule changes and coverage, rather than routing every request through a manager. Published shifts can also appear in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook through personal calendar feeds.

The time clock records clock-in and clock-out times, tracks breaks and supports GPS location verification. Managers can approve timesheets before exporting them for ADP, UKG, Dayforce or generic CSV workflows. QuickBooks Online and Wagepoint are coming soon, not current export options. Labor cost reports are included in Team, while auto-fill scheduling and audit logs are reserved for Pro.

Credential tracking and open-shift management broaden the fit for teams coordinating qualified staff and unfilled work. The staff app is included on every plan, but it loads schedules live and needs an internet connection; staff should not count on seeing shifts offline.

Pricing

SimpleStaff uses a freemium model, with a 30-day trial and a free plan. The Free plan costs nothing and supports 15 team members and one team, with scheduling, shift swaps, time-off requests and open-shift pickup. It is a sensible starting point for a small single-team operation, but it omits paid-plan additions such as labor cost reports and exports.

Team costs C$19 a month, billed $19/month. It includes unlimited team members, a manager role, labor cost reports, CSV/PDF export and email support; users beyond the 15 included cost $0.75 / user. It suits teams that need reporting and payroll-file workflows without Pro’s advanced scheduling features.

Pro costs C$29 a month, billed $29/month. It includes unlimited team members, auto-fill scheduling, audit logs and priority support, with $1 / user over 15 included. Choose it when automated schedule filling or an audit trail matters; otherwise Team covers the listed reporting and export needs at a lower base price.

Enterprise has custom pricing, with scope and service levels agreed by contract for large organizations and unionized workplaces. The pricing page also lists an Integrations add-on at $10 / month for connections to POS, reservations and payroll systems.

Platforms

SimpleStaff is available on Android, iOS and the web. Employees use the iPhone and Android app, included with every plan, while managers build and publish schedules on the web. Because mobile schedules load live rather than being stored on the device, a connection is necessary to view them.

Who it's for

SimpleStaff is aimed at small businesses with shift teams, including restaurants, retail stores, clinics, hotels, gyms and salons. It is strongest where employees can manage their availability and shift changes on their phones and managers are comfortable doing schedule work in a browser. Teams that need schedules accessible without internet, or managers who require full mobile scheduling, are a poorer fit.

Its Canadian origin may also matter to organizations considering data location and privacy: schedule data is stored in Canada, and SimpleStaff says it complies with PIPEDA and applicable provincial privacy legislation. Support typically responds within 24 hours on business days, with an average response time under four hours during business hours.

Pros and cons

• Useful employee self-service: Staff can manage availability, time-off requests, swaps and open-shift pickup from the phone app.
• Clear progression from free to paid: Free supports 15 people on one team, while Team adds reporting and exports and Pro adds auto-fill scheduling and audit logs.
• Practical timekeeping and exports: Break tracking, GPS verification and timesheet approval support a more complete workflow through ADP, UKG, Dayforce or CSV exports.
• Web-only manager scheduling: Managers cannot build and publish schedules from the mobile app.
• No offline schedule access: The staff app fetches shifts live, so an internet connection is required.
• Some export connections are not ready: QuickBooks Online and Wagepoint are coming soon rather than current options.

Alternatives

For teams comparing scheduling products, Healthcare Staff Scheduling Software is a relevant category to explore. CronShift is another freemium option on Android, iOS and web, though its feature details are unclear. RosterLab offers a free Digital Rostering plan with manual scheduling, simple rule checks, dynamic statistics, shift colour coding and an employee mobile app; it may suit teams prioritizing those rostering tools.

Synchro has a free hospital beta with every feature included and no department user cap, which makes it worth considering for a hospital department able to use a beta. Infor Workforce Management is a paid alternative for organizations that want to contact Infor for sales information. Lightning Bolt uses per-seat licenses, with additional licenses required when the number of scheduled individuals grows.

Amion offers a Pro plan with up to 10 schedules, self-serve setup, mobile and desktop access, and custom rules; its Enterprise plan allows unlimited schedules. HealthRota uses a usage-based fee model that can start with one department or expand trust-wide. ShiftMed Flex is another paid option, with pricing through a workforce consultation and a routing fee for shifts completed by internal staff.

Verdict

SimpleStaff is a strong choice for a small shift-based business that wants staff self-service, dependable timekeeping steps and straightforward payroll exports, with a free plan for a limited team and paid upgrades as needs grow. Its clearest limitation is the mobile workflow: managers must schedule on the web, and employees cannot load schedules offline. Choose it when those constraints fit the way your team works; look elsewhere if mobile-first management or offline access is essential.