Is there a free shift scheduling app?

Shiftrio is free with every feature for up to 10 employees, on iPhone and Android. We leave other apps’ free plans, trials and prices off this page because they change often; the maker’s own page has the current terms. If you are staying with Excel, our shift schedule template is free too.

Which scheduling apps are in Turkish?

In this comparison, Shiftrio, Kolay İK and Microsoft Teams Shifts have a Turkish interface. Turkish is not in Connecteam’s, Deputy’s or Planday’s language lists as of 2026-10.

Aren’t Excel and WhatsApp enough?

They can be for a small team whose schedule rarely changes. As swaps, time off and last-minute changes pile up, keeping the sheet current gets harder. The apps turn those messages into requests and notifications.

Why are there no prices or plans?

Prices, plans and trials change often, and differ by country, currency and team size. Check each maker’s own page for the current terms. Shiftrio’s paid plans show in the app, at the App Store or Google Play price.

Is this comparison neutral?

Shiftrio publishes this page. That is why every fact links to the maker’s own page, and why we list what Shiftrio does not do: a computer dashboard, a location check on the time clock, a payroll link. If you spot a mistake, write to support@shiftrio.com and we will fix it and update the date.

Comparison · October 2026

Shift scheduling apps, side by side

Choosing a scheduling app for your restaurant, café, hotel or shop? We put seven options through the same twelve questions. Every fact comes from the maker’s own pages and links to them.

This page is published by Shiftrio. Shiftrio’s column shows only what the version in the App Store and Google Play (1.8.0) does. We also list the other apps’ strengths and what Shiftrio lacks.

Question by question

As of 2026-10, from each maker’s own pages. The link in a cell is that fact’s source.

Scroll the table sideways →

As of 2026-10, from each maker’s own pages. The link in a cell is that fact’s source.
Question	Excel + WhatsAppmicrosoft.com ↗	Shiftrioapps.apple.com ↗	Kolay İKkolayik.com ↗	Connecteamconnecteam.com ↗	Deputydeputy.com ↗	Plandayplanday.com ↗	Teams Shiftssupport.microsoft.com ↗
Turkish interfaceAs of 2026-10	Yes (Excel + WhatsApp, Turkish interface: source microsoft.com)Both in Turkish	Yes (Shiftrio, Turkish interface: source apps.apple.com)Turkish and English	Yes (Kolay İK, Turkish interface: source apps.apple.com)Turkish and English	No (Connecteam, Turkish interface: source help.connecteam.com)Turkish not in its language list	No (Deputy, Turkish interface: source help.deputy.com)Web in English only; no Turkish on mobile	No (Planday, Turkish interface: source help.planday.com)Turkish not in its language list	Yes (Teams Shifts, Turkish interface: source support.microsoft.com)Teams in Turkish; the app is called Vardiyalar
Phone appAs of 2026-10	Yes (Excel + WhatsApp, Phone app: source microsoft.com)WhatsApp; Excel’s mobile app	Yes (Shiftrio, Phone app: source apps.apple.com)iPhone and Android	Yes (Kolay İK, Phone app: source kolayik.com)iPhone and Android	Yes (Connecteam, Phone app: source connecteam.com)iPhone and Android	Yes (Deputy, Phone app: source deputy.com)iPhone and Android	Yes (Planday, Phone app: source planday.com)iPhone and Android	Yes (Teams Shifts, Phone app: source support.microsoft.com)Inside the Teams app
Manage from a computerAs of 2026-10	Yes (Excel + WhatsApp, Manage from a computer: source microsoft.com)Excel; WhatsApp Web	No (Shiftrio, Manage from a computer: source apps.apple.com)Phone app only	Yes (Kolay İK, Manage from a computer: source destek.kolayik.com)Web app	Yes (Connecteam, Manage from a computer: source help.connecteam.com)Admin dashboard	Yes (Deputy, Manage from a computer: source help.deputy.com)Web app (English)	Yes (Planday, Manage from a computer: source help.planday.com)Web app	Yes (Teams Shifts, Manage from a computer: source support.microsoft.com)Teams desktop and web
Shift swapsAs of 2026-10	By hand (Excel + WhatsApp, Shift swaps: source whatsapp.com)Agreed in the group chat, sheet fixed by hand	Yes (Shiftrio, Shift swaps: source apps.apple.com)The coworker accepts, the manager approves	Not documented (Kolay İK, Shift swaps: source destek.kolayik.com)Not described in its help pages	Yes (Connecteam, Shift swaps: source help.connecteam.com)Manager approval optional	Yes (Deputy, Shift swaps: source help.deputy.com)Manager approval optional	Yes (Planday, Shift swaps: source help.planday.com)Employees agree, then a manager approves	Yes (Teams Shifts, Shift swaps: source support.microsoft.com)The coworker accepts, the manager approves
Open shiftsAs of 2026-10	By hand (Excel + WhatsApp, Open shifts: source whatsapp.com)Asked in the group	Yes (Shiftrio, Open shifts: source apps.apple.com)Opened to the team; the first to ask gets it	Partly (Kolay İK, Open shifts: source destek.kolayik.com)Support shifts between units	Yes (Connecteam, Open shifts: source connecteam.com)Eligible employees claim them	Yes (Deputy, Open shifts: source help.deputy.com)First come, or with approval	Yes (Planday, Open shifts: source help.planday.com)Employees request, a manager approves	Yes (Teams Shifts, Open shifts: source support.microsoft.com)Employees request, a manager approves
Time-off requestsAs of 2026-10	By hand (Excel + WhatsApp, Time-off requests: source whatsapp.com)Asked by message, entered by hand	Yes (Shiftrio, Time-off requests: source apps.apple.com)The manager approves, or rejects with a reason	Yes (Kolay İK, Time-off requests: source kolayik.com)With approval flows	Yes (Connecteam, Time-off requests: source connecteam.com)Requests from the phone, leave balances	Yes (Deputy, Time-off requests: source apps.apple.com)Managers approve from the phone	Yes (Planday, Time-off requests: source planday.com)Requests, approval and leave balances	Yes (Teams Shifts, Time-off requests: source support.microsoft.com)The manager approves
AvailabilityAs of 2026-10	By hand (Excel + WhatsApp, Availability: source whatsapp.com)Sent by message	Yes (Shiftrio, Availability: source apps.apple.com)Employees share it in the app	Yes (Kolay İK, Availability: source destek.kolayik.com)Employees send when they can’t work	Yes (Connecteam, Availability: source help.connecteam.com)Employees enter unavailability	Yes (Deputy, Availability: source help.deputy.com)Shown on the schedule	Yes (Planday, Availability: source help.planday.com)On the web or in the app	Partly (Teams Shifts, Availability: source support.microsoft.com)Set on mobile only
Time clockAs of 2026-10	By hand (Excel + WhatsApp, Time clock: source microsoft.com)Hours typed into the sheet	Yes (Shiftrio, Time clock: source apps.apple.com)Turned on in settings; no location or QR check	Yes (Kolay İK, Time clock: source kolayik.com)QR code and location check (PDKS)	Yes (Connecteam, Time clock: source connecteam.com)GPS and geofence	Yes (Deputy, Time clock: source help.deputy.com)GPS and geofence	Yes (Planday, Time clock: source planday.com)From the phone; can be limited by location	Yes (Teams Shifts, Time clock: source support.microsoft.com)Optional location detection
Several locationsAs of 2026-10	By hand (Excel + WhatsApp, Several locations: source microsoft.com)A file and a group per location	Yes (Shiftrio, Several locations: source apps.apple.com)With branch managers	Yes (Kolay İK, Several locations: source kolayik.com)All branches from one place	Yes (Connecteam, Several locations: source help.connecteam.com)A group per location; managers see their own	Yes (Deputy, Several locations: source deputy.com)As many locations as you like	Yes (Planday, Several locations: source planday.com)A schedule per venue	Yes (Teams Shifts, Several locations: source learn.microsoft.com)One team per location
Announcements and messagesAs of 2026-10	Yes (Excel + WhatsApp, Announcements and messages: source whatsapp.com)Group messages	Partly (Shiftrio, Announcements and messages: source apps.apple.com)Announcements with who read them; no chat	Partly (Kolay İK, Announcements and messages: source kolayik.com)Announcements: email, push, feed	Yes (Connecteam, Announcements and messages: source connecteam.com)Chat, channels, updates feed	Yes (Deputy, Announcements and messages: source apps.apple.com)News feed, announcements, messages	Yes (Planday, Announcements and messages: source planday.com)Messages and news feed	Yes (Teams Shifts, Announcements and messages: source learn.microsoft.com)Teams chat and channels
Labour cost on the scheduleAs of 2026-10	By hand (Excel + WhatsApp, Labour cost on the schedule: source microsoft.com)Worked out with formulas	Yes (Shiftrio, Labour cost on the schedule: source apps.apple.com)Weekly, from hourly wages	Not documented (Kolay İK, Labour cost on the schedule: source kolayik.com)Not described on its shift pages	Yes (Connecteam, Labour cost on the schedule: source help.connecteam.com)Once pay rates are set	Yes (Deputy, Labour cost on the schedule: source deputy.com)Cost shown before publishing	Yes (Planday, Labour cost on the schedule: source planday.com)Compared with revenue	Not documented (Teams Shifts, Labour cost on the schedule: source support.microsoft.com)Not documented
Payroll and exportAs of 2026-10	Partly (Excel + WhatsApp, Payroll and export: source microsoft.com)The file is Excel already; no payroll link	Partly (Shiftrio, Payroll and export: source apps.apple.com)Shift and hour summary as CSV; no payroll link	Yes (Kolay İK, Payroll and export: source kolayik.com)Time sheet to payroll in one product	Yes (Connecteam, Payroll and export: source connecteam.com)PDF/XLS; payroll integrations	Yes (Deputy, Payroll and export: source help.deputy.com)To a payroll system or a file	Yes (Planday, Payroll and export: source planday.com)Exports; payroll integrations	Partly (Teams Shifts, Payroll and export: source support.microsoft.com)Time sheet report to Excel

Not documented: we did not find it on the maker’s official pages. It may not exist, or it may just not be described.
By hand: no app does it; you or someone on your team does.

Which one suits whom?

Excel + WhatsApp

Small teams whose schedule rarely changes.

Strengths

Everyone already uses them; nothing to set up or learn.
You shape the sheet as you like.

Good to know

Swaps, time off and last-minute changes stay in the group chat; someone has to keep the sheet up to date by hand.

Staying with Excel? Our free shift schedule template →

Source: microsoft.com ↗ · whatsapp.com ↗

Shiftrio

Restaurants, cafés, hotels and shops that plan on the phone.

Strengths

In Turkish; free with every feature for up to 10 employees.
Swaps, open shifts, time off, time clock, tips and the week’s labour cost in one phone app.

Good to know

No computer dashboard. The store version also has no location or QR check on the time clock and no payroll link.

Source: apps.apple.com ↗

Kolay İK

Companies that want shifts, time sheets and payroll in one HR system.

Strengths

One product from clock-in (PDKS) to time sheet to payroll.
Time sheets follow Turkish Labour Law No. 4857 and export in the format accountants expect.

Good to know

Swaps and labour cost on the schedule are not described on its official pages.

Source: kolayik.com ↗ · kolayik.com ↗

Connecteam

Teams that want scheduling, time clock, chat and training in one app.

Strengths

Labour cost in real time, by job or location.
AI auto-scheduling that weighs availability, roles and costs.

Good to know

No Turkish interface.

Source: connecteam.com ↗ · connecteam.com ↗

Deputy

Businesses that schedule to sales and want integrations.

Strengths

Auto-scheduling by lowest cost or an even spread of hours; shows the cost before you publish.
Over 300 integrations, including POS, payroll and accounting.

Good to know

The manager screens are English only, and the mobile app has no Turkish.

Source: deputy.com ↗ · apps.apple.com ↗

Planday

Multi-site businesses that track labour cost against revenue.

Strengths

Labour cost on the schedule, compared with revenue.
Ready integrations with payroll, POS and HR systems.

Good to know

No Turkish interface.

Source: planday.com ↗ · planday.com ↗

Teams Shifts

Companies already on Microsoft Teams.

Strengths

No separate app: schedule, chat and files live in Teams.
Rolled out to many teams from the admin center.

Good to know

Everyone on the team needs to use Teams. Availability is set on mobile only; a labour cost view is not documented.

Source: support.microsoft.com ↗ · learn.microsoft.com ↗

Six questions to ask before you choose

Can your team use the app in their language?
Will you schedule on the phone or on a computer?
What will it cost for a team your size?
Do swaps and time off go through your approval?
Do you need a location or QR check at clock-in?
How will hours reach payroll or your accountant?

How we compared

We read only the makers’ own pages: their website, help center, App Store and Google Play pages.
Checked on 13 October 2026. Products change; follow the link for the current page.
Shiftrio’s column covers only the store version (1.8.0); features on the way are left out.
We leave out other apps’ prices, plans, trials and free tiers: they change often, so check the maker’s page for the current terms.

Shiftrio

Publish the week from your phone

Shifts by department, swap and time-off requests, open shifts, a time clock and the week’s labour cost in one app. Your team sees their own shifts on their phones.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Free for up to 10 employees; iPhone and Android.

Questions

Is there a free shift scheduling app?: Shiftrio is free with every feature for up to 10 employees, on iPhone and Android. We leave other apps’ free plans, trials and prices off this page because they change often; the maker’s own page has the current terms. If you are staying with Excel, our shift schedule template is free too.
Which scheduling apps are in Turkish?: In this comparison, Shiftrio, Kolay İK and Microsoft Teams Shifts have a Turkish interface. Turkish is not in Connecteam’s, Deputy’s or Planday’s language lists as of 2026-10.
Aren’t Excel and WhatsApp enough?: They can be for a small team whose schedule rarely changes. As swaps, time off and last-minute changes pile up, keeping the sheet current gets harder. The apps turn those messages into requests and notifications.
Why are there no prices or plans?: Prices, plans and trials change often, and differ by country, currency and team size. Check each maker’s own page for the current terms. Shiftrio’s paid plans show in the app, at the App Store or Google Play price.
Is this comparison neutral?: Shiftrio publishes this page. That is why every fact links to the maker’s own page, and why we list what Shiftrio does not do: a computer dashboard, a location check on the time clock, a payroll link. If you spot a mistake, write to support@shiftrio.com and we will fix it and update the date.

Kolay İK, Connecteam, Deputy, Planday, Microsoft Teams, Excel and WhatsApp are trademarks of their owners; Shiftrio is not affiliated with these companies. The facts were gathered from the makers’ public pages on 13 October 2026 and may have changed since.