Squadra

Squadra is web-based workforce software for businesses managing staff shifts, particularly store managers in retail and other service industries. It is a strong fit for small teams that value quick weekly scheduling and optional attendance controls, but its free plan stops at 10 employees and one location.

Overview

Schedules are built on a weekly grid, can be copied from the previous week in one click, and can be shared by link. Employees can view shifts without an account or app, which keeps access simple for casual or deskless staff. The trade-off is that staff access is web-only, not through native mobile apps.

Availability and time-off management support the scheduling workflow. Time tracking is optional: staff can clock in and out on a phone or tablet, with hours totaled automatically. PIN clock-in, random verification photos, GPS checks at clock-in, and lunch-break management add a more controlled attendance layer. That breadth is useful when shift attendance matters, but teams seeking only a rota need not use it.

Key features

• Recurring schedules: The weekly grid and one-click copying reduce repetitive work when shifts follow familiar patterns. Link sharing avoids account setup for employees, though it does not provide native mobile access.
• Time and attendance: Phone or tablet clock-ins and automatic hour totals cover basic timekeeping. PINs, photos, GPS checks, and lunch management add oversight for employers that need it.
• HR connections and API: Native live connectors are available for BambooHR, HiBob, Personio, Factorial HR, PayFit, and Lucca. Pro also includes a read-only, scoped OpenAPI REST API, with permission-scoped keys, immediate revocation, and a limit of 1,000 calls per hour. It is useful for controlled data access, not a general write-enabled integration.
• Migration and support: Assisted moves from When I Work, 7shifts, and Deputy are described as completing within 24 hours and carrying 12 months of history. Human support responds in under four hours on business days, a useful commitment for shift managers facing operational questions.
• Data handling: Squadra says data is hosted in Europe, can be fully exported at any time, remains for 30 days after cancellation, and is handled under a GDPR-native approach. The export and retention terms help businesses plan for exit as well as adoption.

Pricing

Squadra uses a freemium model, with a 14-day trial. The Free plan costs $0 forever and supports up to 10 employees at one location. It includes weekly scheduling in two clicks, phone and tablet clock-in, schedule sharing by link, and email support. That is a genuinely practical starting point for a small, single-site operation; the employee and location caps are the key reason to budget for an upgrade as the team grows.

Pro costs $29/month, or $289/year with annual billing, a stated 17% saving. Both Pro options allow unlimited employees and locations and include priority email support. Pro is the straightforward choice for a growing operator that needs to escape the free plan's caps; annual billing lowers the effective cost but commits payment by the year.

Enterprise has custom pricing and is aimed at organizations with 200+ employees. It adds SSO / SAML, a contractual SLA, advanced audit logs, dedicated onboarding, priority support, and custom integrations. Those controls make it the relevant tier for larger organizations with identity, audit, or service requirements, rather than a small team simply needing more seats.

Platforms

Squadra is web-based. Employees can view shifts from a shared link without downloading an app or creating an account, while clock-ins are supported from a phone or tablet. Teams requiring native iOS or Android staff apps should weigh that web-only model carefully.

Who it's for

Squadra describes itself as retail workforce management for store managers, and its stated industries include retail, restaurants, salons, pharmacies, and hotels. The free plan best suits a small single-location business; Pro fits teams expanding across locations or beyond 10 employees. Its founder, Jérémie Encaoua, started the company in 2024 after running Le Petit Lunetier's 18 stores and more than 80 employees, a background aligned with multi-site retail scheduling.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Link-based schedule viewing requires neither an app nor an employee account, reducing friction for staff.
• Pro: Optional clock-ins, automatic totals, and attendance checks let employers add timekeeping without making it mandatory for scheduling.
• Pro: The free plan includes scheduling and clock-in for up to 10 employees at one location, rather than limiting the free tier to a brief evaluation.
• Con: Free users are capped at one location and 10 employees, so even modest growth can require a paid plan.
• Con: Staff access is web-only, which may not suit teams that expect dedicated native mobile apps.
• Con: The Pro API is read-only, so it does not suit workflows that need to write data back through the API.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison of tools aimed at salons, browse Salon Staff Scheduling Software.

• Salonist is a better fit when native Android or iOS access matters, or when a salon wants its free plan's 50 monthly appointments alongside online booking and staff shift management.
• Zoho Shifts is worth considering for teams needing native mobile apps, API access, or a free allowance of up to 25 users with multiple locations, messaging, and break scheduling.
• Salonized is a paid alternative with a €21 a month Appointments plan and native mobile options; consider it if those platforms matter more than having a free plan.
• Kitomba is another paid alternative.
• Altegio is a paid alternative with a free trial and a monthly subscription option.
• Boulevard is a paid alternative with Android, iOS, and web platforms.
• Calendall is a paid alternative with a free trial and monthly or annual billing.
• Rosy is a paid alternative with a free trial and an option for one service provider calendar.

Verdict

Squadra is a sound choice for small and growing shift-based businesses that want weekly schedules staff can open by link, with time tracking and attendance checks available when needed. Its free plan gives a small single-site team room to start, and Pro removes the employee and location limits. Look elsewhere if native staff apps are essential, or if your workflow requires a write-enabled API.