Last updated: January 2026
If you're still building staff rotas in a spreadsheet and texting shift changes to a WhatsApp group, Shiftie is the upgrade you need. Built in the UK for hospitality, healthcare, and retail, it handles scheduling, time tracking, availability, shift swaps, and team communication in one app. At $1.30/user/month to start, it's hard to argue against at least trying it.
Start Your Free Shiftie TrialBuilding Schedules
The drag-and-drop schedule builder overlays staff availability so you see who's actually free before assigning shifts. Templates save common patterns (the Monday lunch crew, the Saturday evening rotation) so you're not rebuilding from scratch every week. Conflicts flag automatically.
Staff submit their availability through the mobile app. No more chasing people for their hours. When coverage gaps appear, you can post open shifts that available staff claim, or enable shift swapping with manager approval. Both features cut the "can someone cover for me?" phone calls down significantly.
Time Tracking and Compliance
Staff clock in and out through the app or a designated device. Shiftie compares actual times against scheduled shifts, flagging late arrivals, early departures, and overtime. Time data exports for payroll processing.
The compliance layer is where the UK focus shows. Configure Working Time Directive rules, break requirements, and rest period constraints. Shiftie warns you before you schedule something that violates regulations, which saves headaches for care homes, NHS contractors, and hospitality businesses with underage staff.
Built-in messaging keeps schedule-related communication in one place. Announce changes, message the team or individuals, and stop relying on personal WhatsApp groups for work coordination.
Pricing
Starter: $1.30/user/month (about £1). Core scheduling, time tracking, and communication.
Professional: $3.25/user/month (about £2.50). Adds advanced scheduling features, integrations, and priority support.
Enterprise: Custom pricing for multi-location operations.
For a 20-person team, the Starter plan costs about $26/month. Even Professional is just $65/month. That's cheaper than any comparable scheduling tool I've seen.
Try Shiftie FreeWhat Works / What's Missing
Works:
- Dead cheap. At £1-2.50 per user, price is never the objection.
- The availability and shift-swap features genuinely reduce manager workload
- UK compliance baked in (Working Time Directive, break rules, rest periods)
- Mobile-first. Staff live in the app.
Missing:
- Newer platform with less market presence. You won't find thousands of reviews or a huge knowledge base.
- Integration options are limited compared to Deputy or When I Work
- UK-centric compliance. If you're outside the UK, the regulatory features may not apply.
- Advanced features (labor forecasting, demand-based scheduling) that larger operations need aren't here yet
Shiftie vs. Deputy vs. Rotacloud
Deputy ($4.50+/user) has more features, more integrations, and works globally. But it costs 3-4x more. If you're a 15-person pub in Manchester, that difference matters.
Rotacloud is the closest competitor: also UK-based, similar features, similar price point. Slightly more established but Shiftie's interface feels more modern.
When I Work dominates the US market. Solid product, but the compliance features are built for American labor law, not UK regulations.
FAQ
Can staff request time off through the app?
Yes. Staff submit requests, managers approve or deny, and approved time off automatically updates availability for scheduling.
Does it integrate with payroll?
Time data can be exported for payroll processing. Direct integrations are limited and depend on your payroll provider. CSV export covers most cases.
Shiftie does one thing well: making shift scheduling less painful for UK small businesses. It won't replace Deputy for a 500-person operation, and it won't help if you need deep integrations with American payroll systems. But for a restaurant, care home, or retail shop that's currently managing rotas on paper or in Excel, Shiftie is the easiest and cheapest step up. Build next week's schedule in the free trial. You'll know in an hour.
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