How we did this
We make PinkLinq, so don't take this as neutral. What we can offer is transparency: we read each company's public pricing page on November 6, 2026, wrote down what it said, and did the arithmetic in the open. You can check every number from the links at the bottom.
We priced one common need: schedules, a time clock and group chat at one location. For each app, we picked the cheapest plan where its pricing page confirmed all three. Where a page was unclear, we've said so.
What it costs per month
| App | 8 people | 25 people | 60 people | How it charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PinkLinq | Free | $29.00 | $48.50 | Per hub, first 30 people included |
| Connecteam | Free | $58.00 | $97.00 | Per hub, first 30 included |
| Homebase | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 | Per location |
| 7shifts | $39.99 | $39.99 | $79.99 | Per location, with people limits |
| Sling | $13.60 | $42.50 | $102.00 | Per user |
| When I Work | $20.00 + time tracking | $62.50 + time tracking | $150.00 + time tracking | Per user |
| Deputy | $52.00 | $162.50 | $390.00 | Per user |
Some notes on those figures:
- PinkLinq and Connecteam are on Basic for Operations and Communications, billed yearly. Under 10 people, both are free.
- Homebase is on Essentials, where team communication starts.
- 7shifts is on Essentials up to 30 people, then Pro.
- Sling is on Premium, billed yearly.
- When I Work has a switch that adds time tracking, and its page didn't show the price.
- Deputy is on Core. Its page didn't make clear whether Lite includes everything here, so we went up one.
The cheapest at 60 people is Homebase, and it isn't close. If you've got one big location, that's a real point in its favor.
Who each one suits
PinkLinq suits small and mid-size teams who want schedules, the clock, chat, training and HR in one app without add-ons. Multi-location groups do well here because we don't charge per address. It's new, and there's no Android release yet.
Connecteam has the same model at twice our price, along with a much longer track record. Pick it if you want a known name and a broad feature set, and the extra cost doesn't bother you.
Homebase is the pick for a single location with a big team and for anyone who wants payroll run in the same product. Costs climb with several locations, and some tools are add-ons.
7shifts is for restaurants. Tips, a manager log book and restaurant labor tools make it the specialist. Most of that sits on higher plans or as add-ons.
Sling suits teams up to 30 who only want a free shared schedule. Its free plan is very generous. Once you need group chat and a kiosk, you're paying per person.
When I Work suits someone who wants a focused scheduling tool with simple per-person pricing, and doesn't need HR or training in the same place.
Deputy fits larger shift businesses that want a long-standing product, a biometric kiosk and payroll under one roof. It's the most expensive per person here.
When another app is the better choice
We'd rather you pick the right tool than switch away in six months. Choose Homebase if you've got one large location. Choose 7shifts if tips run through your day. Choose Sling if you've got up to 30 people and won't pay for anything. Choose Connecteam or Deputy if you need a long track record, or most of your staff carry Android phones and want a store app today.
Questions worth asking before you choose
How many people do you really have? Count everyone who'd need a login, including part-timers and managers. Per-user plans charge the same for someone working eight hours a week as for someone working forty.
How many locations will you have in two years? A per-location price that looks low today can triple when you open two more shops.
What will you buy on top? Add up payroll, tasks, hiring, tips and training. Two apps with the same headline price can end up far apart.
Will your team actually open it? This matters more than any feature on this page. Run a free trial with a few people on the floor before you commit. Ask them what confused them.
How do you get your data out? Ask how to export people and hours before you sign up, and not when you're leaving.
A way to test any of these in a week
- Sign up for the two apps that look best on paper.
- Build one real week in each, using your actual team.
- Ask three employees to clock in, swap a shift and send a message.
- Run one pay period's hours through the export.
- Pick whichever one your team complained about least.
Sources
All read November 6, 2026:
- PinkLinq pricing
- Connecteam pricing
- Homebase pricing
- 7shifts pricing
- Sling pricing
- When I Work pricing
- Deputy pricing
These companies change their prices often. If you find a mistake or an old number, tell us using the form below and we'll fix it.