Sling 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 Sling 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, Sling leads on lower entry price and a free plan. 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:
Sling
Simplify employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication for any business.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
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 | Sling | When I Work |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $2/user/mo, billed monthly Premium plan | From $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly Essentials plan |
Category | HR & Recruiting Time Tracking | HR & Recruiting Time Tracking |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 88 reviews | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.5 · G2 4.4 · TrustRadius 3.7 1,736 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | No explicit overage fees mentioned | n/a |
Choose Sling or When I Work?
Choose Sling if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want free tier available for up to 30 users
- You want comprehensive features covering scheduling, time tracking, and communication
- Budget matters ($2/user/mo, billed monthly vs $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly)
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
In-Depth Analysis
Sling
Simplify employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication for any business.
Sling's pricing is quite fair and generous, especially with a robust Free tier and competitive per-user pricing for Premium ($2.00) and Business ($4.00).
Watch out
No explicit overage fees mentioned
Strengths
- Pro: Free tier available for up to 30 users.
- Pro: Comprehensive features covering scheduling, time tracking, and communication.
- Pro: Helps optimize labor costs and prevent overtime.
- Pro: User-friendly interface for quick schedule creation.
- Pro: Available on web, iOS, and Android for accessibility.
Weaknesses
- Con: Advanced features like detailed reporting and kiosk time tracking are only available in paid plans.
- Con: Free plan has limitations on the number of users and features.
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: Sling vs When I Work
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sling |
| getsling.com/pricing read Nov 1, 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 Sling pricing and When I Work pricing.
Key Takeaways
Sling
- Lower entry price: $2/user/mo, billed monthly vs $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly
- Has a free plan
When I Work
- Choose if you want smarter employee scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging for hourly teams
What the data shows
On the data below, Sling leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 88 reviews for Sling, 4.3/5 from 1,736 reviews for When I Work).
- Sling has the lower entry price: $2/user/mo, billed monthly (Premium) against $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly (Essentials) for When I Work.
- Only Sling has a free plan.
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 Sling and When I Work compare in 2026?
On the data below, Sling leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 88 reviews for Sling, 4.3/5 from 1,736 reviews for When I Work). Sling has the lower entry price: $2/user/mo, billed monthly (Premium) against $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly (Essentials) for When I Work. Only Sling has a free plan.
What are Sling and When I Work used for?
Sling: Simplify employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication for any business. When I Work: Smarter employee scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging for hourly teams.
What does Sling cost vs When I Work?
Sling's cheapest paid plan is Premium at $2/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. 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 Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Sling and When I Work?
Sling's main strength: free tier available for up to 30 users. When I Work's main strength: significantly reduces time spent on scheduling (up to 15 hours/week reported).