HotSchedules vs MakeShift

ClockShark

When I Work

7shifts

Deputy

adam.ai

Coolfire Core

Compare HotSchedules and MakeShift based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

7shifts is a comprehensive team management platform designed specifically for the restaurant industry. The solution offers a suite of features to streamline operations and enhance efficiency across various restaurant types, from independent establishments to enterprise-level groups and franchises. The platform's scheduling capabilities allow managers to create schedules that align with the team's availability and the restaurant's staffing needs.

Deputy is an all-in-one employee scheduling, time & attendance, tasking and communication platform, with mobile apps which allow users to manage teams on the go.

ClockShark is a comprehensive field service and construction time tracking solution designed to streamline operations and enhance productivity. The platform offers a set of features to address the unique challenges faced by businesses in these industries. At the core of ClockShark is its mobile time tracking functionality, which allows employees to clock in and out with a tap, ensuring accurate timesheets and labor cost recording.

#1 Restaurant Scheduling App.
HotSchedules is an hourly employee scheduling tool for managing & communicating with workforces, as well as forecasting sales, generating reports & sourcing new staff for restauranteurs, hoteliers, and retail operators.


Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Approval Process Control

Attendance Management

Attendance Tracking

Automated Scheduling

Availability Management

Budgeting/Forecasting

Calendar Management

Calendar Sync

Clock In/Out

Collaboration Tools

Communication Management

Compliance Management

Compliance Tracking

Cost Management

Customer History

Customizable Fields

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Dashboard

Data Import/Export

Document Management

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Electronic Payments

Employee Database

Employee Management

Employee Profiles

Employee Scheduling

Facility Scheduling

For PEO/ASO

Forecasting

Group Scheduling

HR Management

Inventory Management

Labor Cost Calculator

Labor Cost Reporting

Labor Forecasting

Labor Management

Messaging

Mobile Access

Mobile Alerts

Mobile App

Multi-Language

Multi-Location

Offboarding

Onboarding

Online Booking

Online Time Clock

Overtime Calculation

Payroll Management

Performance Management

Performance Metrics

Point of Sale (POS)

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Notifications

Real-Time Reporting

Real-Time Updates

Recipe Management

Recruitment Management

Reminders

Reporting & Statistics

Reporting/Analytics

Sales Reports

Sales Trend Analysis

Schedule Distribution

Scheduling

Self Service Portal

Shift Management

Shift Scheduling

Shift Swapping

Sick Leave Tracking

Skills Tracking

SMS Messaging

Task Management

Task Scheduling

Team Calendars

Third-Party Integrations

Time Off Management

Time Off Requests

Timesheet Management

Vacation/Leave Tracking

Variable Workforce

Workforce Management

HotSchedules

Android

Linux

Web-based

Windows

iPad

iPhone

Human Resources Specialist

Overall, I really loved my experience with HotSchedules. It was a great program for me to know when and what shifts I was working.

Operations

Hotschedules won our business by having the best Aloha POS integration of all the companies we spoke with.

analyst

Customer service is terrible. I have emailed and called about 3 open tickets and no one will call me back or respond.

Self-employed

It's a great way to communicate between coworkers, on top of scheduling, time off, etc. It's well organized and easy to navigate.

General manager

Overall, I have an amazing experience using HotSchedules. Very easy to use for the most part, they could just work on the speed of the software.

Sales Manager

I actually use this in my part time job and it's a great and effective way to communicate information and schedules to employees.

Executive Administrator

I would highly recommend. It is easy to set up and is user friendly for all ages.

Administrative Directors

It's been very useful and helpful in managing scheduling. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.

Server Assistant

It allows quick and easy shift swaps. It even gives you an opportunity to rate your shift so managers can create a better experience.

The software itself is easy to navigate. The customer support is good and quick to access.

Marketing Coordinator 

The most annoying thing about is the notifications. I think everyone gets all the notifications.

Operations Director 

I can easily access using the app from my phone a comprehensive view of todays roster and more. Helping me as a director plan a shift before I even get to work.

Executive Assistant

HotSchedules is the perfect scheduling software for restaurants. Integrates things such as weather forecasts into scheduling so you know if you need to have more staff available.

Waitress

Overall, every restaurant should seriously look into an app like HotSchedules. It saves time and stress on all, avoiding hand written notes that get lost.

Director of Operations

It’s too close and difficult to differentiate. Too much information that is not necessary.

Server

Overtime is already tracked so accepting a new shift is fine as long as the dining room is covered. I like that I can see my paycheck too great way to budget.

Macalesters 

I liked that it only cost 1 dollar and it keeps your schedules for work and you can get shifts or give shifts.

Manager

It was very user friendly. The customer care and accounting departments made my experience a bad one.

HotSchedules screenshot: Slash admin time and empower your team.

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Small Business

Use When I Work to schedule, track time and attendance, and communicate with employees, all in one place. Create schedules quickly and easily. Team members can receive staff schedules via notification, email, or text. It offers a time & attendance module to let employees use a mobile time clock through a custom device or a terminal.

An intelligent governance ecosystem that empowers leaders to move, decide, and govern with confidence in the era of AI

Coolfire Core is a powerful software solution designed to help companies defeat operational chaos and streamline manual work. By simplifying work management inside and outside the organization, Coolfire Core enables businesses to get more done, optimize the bottom line, and improve overall customer satisfaction.

MakeShift is the go-to web and mobile employee scheduling solution for people-first businesses. It lets managers build schedules, track time and attendance accurately and communicate with employees in real-time.

Appointment Scheduling

Billable & Non-Billable Hours

Contractor Database

Employee Portal

Employee Time Tracking

Faculty/Staff Management

File Sharing

Leave Tracking

Messaging/Shift Dispatching

Multiple Projects

Online Scheduling

Online Time Tracking

Physician Management

Project Time Tracking

Real-Time Chat

Real-time Scheduling

Single Sign On

Time Tracking

MakeShift

Modeling and Acting Coach/Photographer

Makeshift has been great in helping me transition to a "work from home" world. I love that I can clock in and out of work with the ease of tapping a screen.

Operations Coordinator

We love working with MakeShift. The customer support is super helpful and incredibly responsive.

Security Officer

I have used the makeshift to accept and request work-related shifts, and the ease of the technology has been splendid.

General Manager

Pretty good, feel it is better suited for businesses that have less variations week to week in terms of shifts and people scheduled though.

corporate travel agent

Once I got used to it, which was pretty quickly, I was able to access my co-workers schedules with the greatest of ease.

Covid screener

Easy to use, user friendly. Great way to be able to keep track of when your shifts are and if you want to switch shifts and orlick up.

Bartender

ICal integration is great. The ability to post shifts for exchange or drop is extremely useful and makes the process streamlined.

relief manager

You can really monitor what's going on. With the casual staff it holds them accountable which is amazing.

Assistant Deli Manager 

Makeshift is a good program with Relative ease of use.

Clerk IV

Overall experience is very good from the product itself, to the online support.

Distribution Manager

I could be unaware of where to find it, but i can;t find a time off accrual function.

owner

Sometimes hard for the employees to log into the app as they enter building - mostly a phone issue with them.

No "Copy/Paste" function makes schedules a bit more time consuming when managing multiple shifts and many requests for times off or fluctuation numbers of shifts per day.

Banquet Manager

Having to use 3 apps - manager app, scheduling app, and messenger app, makes it hard to manage.

MakeShift is an easy to use scheduling tool that can stand alone or integrate with ADP/Bamboo HR to import existing employees.

HotSchedules vs MakeShift Comparison (2026)

HotSchedules

MakeShift

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives