Deputy vs When I Work: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Deputy and When I Work side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Deputy leads on higher user rating; When I Work leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Deputy
The complete people platform for hourly work, enabling smarter scheduling and confident payroll.
Best for you if:
- • You want optimizes schedules and labor costs using AI
When I Work
Smarter employee scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging for hourly teams.
Best for you if:
- • You want significantly reduces time spent on scheduling (up to 15 hours/week reported)
| At a Glance | Deputy | When I Work |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $5/user/mo, billed monthly Lite plan | From $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly Essentials plan |
Category | HR & Recruiting Payroll | HR & Recruiting Time Tracking |
Rating | 4.5/5 Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.6 · SourceForge 4.3 1,506 reviews | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.5 · G2 4.4 · TrustRadius 3.7 1,736 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Add-ons for HR, Messaging+, Analytics+ increase costs. | n/a |
Choose Deputy or When I Work?
Choose Deputy if
- You want optimizes schedules and labor costs using AI
- You want helps ensure compliance with various labor laws and regulations
Choose When I Work if
- You want significantly reduces time spent on scheduling (up to 15 hours/week reported)
- You want combines multiple HR functions (scheduling, time tracking, messaging) into one platform
- Budget matters ($2.50/user/mo, billed monthly vs $5/user/mo, billed monthly)
In-Depth Analysis
Deputy
The complete people platform for hourly work, enabling smarter scheduling and confident payroll.
Deputy's pricing is fair, offering a clear progression of features.
Watch out
Add-ons for HR, Messaging+, Analytics+ increase costs.
Strengths
- Pro: Optimizes schedules and labor costs using AI.
- Pro: Helps ensure compliance with various labor laws and regulations.
- Pro: Reduces staff turnover and recruitment costs through improved employee experience.
- Pro: Offers comprehensive features for scheduling, time tracking, and HR management.
- Pro: Integrates with existing payroll, HR, and POS systems.
Weaknesses
- Con: No free plan available, only a free trial.
- Con: Pricing is per user per month, which can add up for larger teams.
Key features
When I Work
Smarter employee scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging for hourly teams.
When I Work's pricing is fair, especially for the Essentials tier at $2.50/user/month, offering a robust set of features for basic scheduling needs.
Strengths
- Pro: Significantly reduces time spent on scheduling (up to 15 hours/week reported)
- Pro: Combines multiple HR functions (scheduling, time tracking, messaging) into one platform
- Pro: Helps control labor costs and prevent overtime with real-time data and alerts
- Pro: Empowers employees with self-service options like shift swaps and time-off requests
- Pro: Easy to set up and use for both managers and employees
Weaknesses
- Con: Specific cons are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but potential cons could include reliance on internet connection for mobile features or learning curve for advanced features.
Key features
Plans and prices: Deputy vs When I Work
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy |
| deputy.com/pricing read Oct 24, 2026 |
| When I Work |
| wheniwork.com/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Deputy pricing and When I Work pricing.
Key Takeaways
Deputy
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5
When I Work
- Lower entry price: $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly vs $5/user/mo, billed monthly
What the data shows
On the data below, Deputy leads on higher user rating; When I Work leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Deputy has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 1,506 reviews for Deputy, 4.3/5 from 1,736 reviews for When I Work).
- When I Work has the lower entry price: $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly (Essentials) against $5/user/mo, billed monthly (Lite) for Deputy.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Deputy and When I Work compare in 2026?
On the data below, Deputy leads on higher user rating; When I Work leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Deputy has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 1,506 reviews for Deputy, 4.3/5 from 1,736 reviews for When I Work). When I Work has the lower entry price: $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly (Essentials) against $5/user/mo, billed monthly (Lite) for Deputy.
What are Deputy and When I Work used for?
Deputy: The complete people platform for hourly work, enabling smarter scheduling and confident payroll. When I Work: Smarter employee scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging for hourly teams.
What does Deputy cost vs When I Work?
Deputy's cheapest paid plan is Lite at $5/user/mo, billed monthly. When I Work's cheapest paid plan is Essentials at $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between Deputy and When I Work?
Deputy's main strength: optimizes schedules and labor costs using AI. When I Work's main strength: significantly reduces time spent on scheduling (up to 15 hours/week reported).