For a small U.S. business with one location and up to 10 employees, Homebase Basic is the clearest free alternative to Deputy: it includes basic scheduling and time tracking at $0 per location per month. It is not a full replacement for every Deputy workflow. Larger teams, multi-location businesses, and teams needing advanced features should compare paid plans and verify each provider’s current limits.
What is the best free alternative to Deputy?
Homebase Basic is the strongest documented fit when you need both scheduling and time tracking at no cost and your business has just one U.S. location with no more than 10 employees. Homebase’s official pricing page lists the plan at $0 per location per month and includes basic scheduling and basic time tracking.
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That free tier has firm scope limits: one location and up to 10 employees. If your team exceeds either limit or depends on features beyond the basic tools, it will not meet the same needs without considering a paid plan or another service.
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What does Deputy cost in the U.S.?
Deputy’s U.S. pricing page, accessed October 7, 2026, lists monthly per-user prices before applicable taxes. It also states a $30 minimum monthly spend per invoice for monthly Lite, Core, and Pro plans, in effect from September 1, 2025.
#1 Best Overall
- Made in USA - Proudly produced in Ohio by a Veteran-owned business
- 120 page Weekly Shifts Journal 8.5" x 11"
- Wire-O with Stunning Yellow Cover Design
- Pages include spaces for employee name, position, and daily schedule tracking
- Reorder SKU: LOG-120-7CW-PP-(WeeklyShifts)
| Deputy plan | Listed U.S. price | Important pricing detail |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $5 per user per month | $30 minimum monthly spend per invoice on monthly plans |
| Core | $6.50 per user per month | $30 minimum monthly spend per invoice on monthly plans |
| Pro | $9 per user per month | $30 minimum monthly spend per invoice on monthly plans |
These figures are for the U.S. schedule; taxes are excluded. Deputy advertises an introductory free option on the reviewed page, but that page does not establish a permanent free plan. Check the Deputy U.S. pricing page for current terms. The UK pricing page uses pounds and a separate schedule, so U.S. prices should not be applied to other regions.
Which free Deputy alternatives are worth comparing?
Homebase: scheduling and time tracking for a small single-location team
Homebase Basic is the most straightforward starting point if you need a free combination of scheduling and time tracking. The official page lists paid Essentials at $30 per location per month, Plus at $70, and All-in-One at $120; those paid tiers list unlimited employees. Confirm the current billing cadence and any promotions with Homebase before treating a price as a quote.
Connecteam: an option to check for small or deskless teams
A provider comparison output shows Connecteam’s Small Business plan as free in an illustrated 10-user setup. That is comparison data, not a guarantee of current eligibility or included features. Connecteam’s calculator lets you compare providers by team size, locations, billing preference, and selected functions. Its pricing and feature data were reviewed August 30, 2026, and the calculator warns that actual prices and availability can change with promotions, taxes, terms, add-ons, seat counts, regional pricing, plan changes, or custom quotes. Use its calculator as a starting point, then confirm plan details directly with the provider.
Sling: free scheduling, but not a free time clock in the comparison
The comparison lists Sling’s free plan as including scheduling, task lists and checklists, time-off requests, and private messaging for up to 30 users. It says time tracking is not included in that free tier. Sling may therefore suit a team that primarily needs to coordinate shifts, but it is not a like-for-like free replacement if time-clock functionality is essential. Verify current terms with Sling before choosing it.
Rank #3
- Made in USA - Proudly produced in Ohio by a Veteran-owned business
- This BookFactory Schedule log book tracks employee schedules by day and time
- There is a page to write down employee contact information; and the pages have lined sections for each day of the week
- This can even be used by an individual to track your own schedule for work or school
- Wire-O binding; 100 Pages ; Dimensions are 8.5" x 11" Reorder SKU: LOG-110-7CW-PP(Schedule-Log)
7shifts: investigate for restaurant scheduling
Homebase’s 2026 comparison guide describes a 7shifts free Comp plan for one restaurant location and advises checking the current employee cap with 7shifts. Restaurant-specific scheduling needs may make it worth comparing, but confirm its present limits and functions directly. See Homebase’s 7shifts comparison as a discovery source, not as a substitute for current 7shifts terms.
When I Work: compare a matching quote rather than assuming it is free
When I Work appears in the provider-hosted comparison set, but the reviewed material does not establish it as a free option. Compare the quoted plan and any trial terms for the functions and team size you need; do not treat a trial as a permanent free plan.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare plans without mistaking a free tier for a full replacement
Headline prices are not directly comparable when one service charges per employee and another per location, or when a free plan excludes a core function. Compare the same team size, locations, and workflow across providers.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- Employees and locations: Check the headcount and location caps, and whether the price is per user or per location.
- Scheduling: Confirm that the plan includes the schedule creation, shift swaps, and time-off workflow your team uses.
- Time and attendance: Verify that clock-ins, timesheets, and attendance tools are included. Sling’s reported free tier, for example, does not include time tracking.
- How staff use it: If employees work away from a desk, check mobile access and whether GPS or other location features are available on the plan.
- Payroll connections: Confirm that the specific payroll integrations you need are supported at the tier you are considering.
- Billing terms: Check monthly versus annual billing, minimum charges, taxes, promotions, and regional pricing before comparing totals.
Connecteam’s calculator supports comparisons using team size, locations, billing preference, and selected functions, but its displayed figures are estimates and can change. For any vendor, verify the final plan and price on its current official terms.
Best Value
- ♚WEEKLY APPOINTMENT BOOK - January 2027 - December 2027, 2027 weekly hourly planner/appointment book (9" x 11") covers 12 months, hourly plan can help you to keep your life totally organized, perfect for staying focused and hit your goals.
- ♚PLAN YOUR DAY - One week per two page spread features one vertical column for each day. Schedule your day from 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. in 30 minute intervals from Monday to Sunday with ample ruled writing space, and the countdown of days can help you organize your whole year.
- ♚GUIDE YOUR WEEK - Each week has the past and the following month as reference for a easier long-term planning; priorities section help you to keep organized for the whole week with easier planning and tracking.
- ♚FEATURES - 9" x 11" Planning Pages | Reference Information | Yearly Overview | Holidays | 2027 Calendar | Strong Twin-Wire Binding | Julian Date | Premium Paper | Elegant Design | Colorful Monthly Tabs | Two-side Pocket
- ♚MAKES YOUR LIFE PRODUCTIVE - Perfect tool to make your life effective. Utilizing this 2027 weekly appointment book, you can stick down notes, ideas, meetings, appointments, etc. It would help to improve your time management skills and become a better version of yourself.
When should you choose a paid alternative?
If Homebase’s free limits do not fit, compare the paid plan cost against the features you actually need rather than assuming another free tier will cover the gap. A team that only needs shift coordination could consider a scheduling-focused plan; a team replacing both scheduling and attendance should rule out any free tier that lacks time tracking. Businesses operating outside the U.S. should check their local pricing and eligibility, since the U.S. figures above do not establish prices elsewhere.
Quick Recap
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