The 7 Best Scheduling Programs (Apps, Tools, and More) for 2024
Looking for scheduling programs for your construction business? We’ve reviewed 7 of the best apps on the market to help you choose!
Effective scheduling is the backbone of any successful business.
The best scheduling programs can help you stay on top of tasks, manage teams, and make sure client bookings are in order. In 2024, the scheduling software landscape offers a wide range of apps designed to streamline your workflow.
In this guide, we’ll explore the seven best scheduling programs of the year to help you make the right choice.
We’ll examine the key features of each scheduling program, listen to what real users say about them, and score them based on an identical set of criteria.
Let’s start with a quick overview.
Top Picks
Below, you’ll find a summary of each app we’ve reviewed, with our scores, each app’s ideal use cases, its pricing, the availability of any free trials or free tiers, and the platforms on which the app is available. Each app has been thoroughly investigated and analyzed for users like you, with pros and cons, key features, integrations, and real user reviews.
Let’s take a look…
9.5 
14-day free trial
7.4
14-day free trial
7.5
30-day free trial
EDITOR’S NOTE: We created Workyard – the first app reviewed here – to address issues we encountered while struggling to track and manage construction payrolls for over 700 workers in over 50 construction businesses. We built the Workyard app from the ground up to support construction companies like yours, with industry-essential features like the industry’s most accurate time clock app with GPS and geofencing, intuitive contractor scheduling, construction cost tracking tools, and more.
Learn more about how Workyard works on our main website, or sign up for a 14-day free trial today to see what Workyard can do for your business.
Workyard
Scoring
Key Features
-
Best-in-class GPS time clock
-
Integration with payroll systems and workflow in minutes
-
Labor compliance in-app functionality
-
Scheduling for individual workers and teams
-
Job-tracking with real-time data
-
Job costing for all types of jobs
-
Reporting with analysis and insights
Simplifies scheduling for mobile workers
Easy to use
Highly accurate time tracking for field teams
Field staff need onboarding to understand GPS tracking
Might not track time in rural areas
Drains mobile device battery
Highlights
Scheduling
Workyard simplifies your scheduling tasks for mobile teams and employees. Simply use its visual calendar to drag and drop assignments and projects to team members.
Not only does Workyard help sort and organize jobs, it also eliminates miscommunication by providing additional information around tasks. You can add checklists, photos, and notes to make sure team members have everything they need to complete the job.
Workyard allows you to schedule and assign multiple jobs to any worker. You can also assign several team members to the same job. You can set the job duration from start to end times, or assign multi-day jobs.
Use Workyard’s construction scheduling software to:
- Schedule multiple jobs for any worker (or several workers to the same job)
- See schedules by week, month, or task
- Organize schedules by job type, deadline, date, and others
- Repeat scheduled projects or tasks
- Track job completion
Workyard integrates its powerful GPS live tracking with its calendar, allowing you to see team members’ real-time location. The app also shows location history for your whole crew to provide additional verification of their presence on a work site.
The mobile app syncs employees’ schedules in real-time to keep everyone on the same page regarding tasks and assignments. Your file attachments remain visible on mobile calendars to keep field workers updated. In turn, field employees can also take photos and send notes to your office to keep management updated on scheduled jobs’ status.
Use Workyard’s integrations to easily sync jobs from your CRM, simplifying scheduling and team assignments in a few clicks.
Best-in-Class GPS Time Clock
Workyard’s time clock is praised by users as one of the most accurate in the field. It uses live phone-based GPS tracking alongside personalized geofencing.
Whether in the field, in the office, or on the road, Workyard accurately tracks and records workers’ locations at clock-in and clock-out.
The mobile app’s precise GPS tracking ensures that every service personnel’s worked minute is accounted for, keeping time cards and labor costs accurate.
Field workers no longer need to punch time cards manually — the app automates clock-in and clock-out for every employee. Workyard tracks every team member and shows their location on a live map to help you track your team’s whereabouts at all times during work hours.
Use Workyard’s GPS tracking to reimburse vehicle trips accurately. The app shows journeys from starting point to destination to help you calculate mileage correctly. It also shows any detours, side trips, or stopovers made during journeys.
With its precise GPS tracking, Workyard makes sure time cards match actual attendance, keeping labor costs accurate.
See why 50,000+ workers and over 10,000 contractors use Workyard (and why construction managers and leaders like you have rated us 4.9 of 5 stars on Capterra). Explore Workyard and start a 14-day free trial today to see how we can speed up your construction and workforce management.
Job Costing
Workyard’s live cost tracking solution captures job costs by recording and analyzing time card submissions.
You can group and filter job costs by:
- Employee
- Project type
- Duration of project
- Cost code
- Date
With each log and time card submission, Workyard automatically calculates job costs per task and employee. The tool helps you keep tabs on ongoing labor costs in real-time so you can keep projects profitable.
The platform also synchronizes job cost data and timesheets with existing accounting systems for faster processing.
Job Tracking
Workyard helps keep you updated on job progress in the field while you’re in the office. Its job-tracking software provides key metrics and real-time project updates at your fingertips, helping you monitor tasks wherever you are.
Use Workyard to:
- Capture job progress with the mobile app
- Increase transparency around project activity
- Speed up business processes
- Improve billing and job estimates with labor costs
The platform provides you with vital field service data, including:
Labor time and costs. Every timecard submission includes hours worked per job and/or cost codes.
Site visits. Every employee clock-in and clock-out is automatically captured.
Worksite vehicle trips. Relevant driving trips to each job site are tracked and recorded.
Project updates. Every worker assigned to a job can share progress updates with notes and photos.
Receipts. Team members have the autonomy to record receipts and attach them to the relevant job.
Reporting
Use Workyard to pull up customizable reports in minutes. Its drill-down reports and dashboards provide insights so you can better manage business operations and teams.
Generate and customize the following reports with a few clicks:
- Time cards (detail, summary)
- Time card notes
- Time off summary
- Pay period time
- Project and cost code time (detail, summary)
Easily create the following reports on demand:
Task report. Filter and group entries by time, cost code, and project code
Project report. Create project reports on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis
Progress report. Export current project notes in PDF and CSV format, including image attachments
Employee time report. Create reports on teams’ worked hours, labor costs, and activity on job sites
Workyard provides insight into project labor costs and employee productivity with its detailed reports on labor hours and workforce activity on the job.
Labor Compliance
It’s hard enough to run scheduling and payroll for multiple teams, let alone track your crew’s rates and hours to maintain compliance with labor laws.
Use Workyard’s built-in labor guidelines instead to easily manage compliance with workforce regulations. The app is fully aligned with Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rules. Workyard’s platform stores all team members’ records in an online archive.
Can’t find a missing employee file? The platform also creates automatic audit trails to document time records for every employee on your team.
Workyard sets rules for mandatory breaks and overtime by state to help you stay compliant with labor regulations anywhere in the U.S.
Integrations
Workyard integrates with accounting and payroll systems to help you process payslips faster. The app easily integrates with QuickBooks, Gusto, Oracle NetSuite, Rippling, and others.
Workyard exports employee and project data to other systems within minutes for streamlined billing, invoicing, and job cost reporting.
The platform also exports data to CSVs for use in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Workyard’s open API allows you to connect to more systems not already on the list.
Reviews
Workyard users say the app is simple and easy to use, but some reported issues with the GPS tracking.
iOS user Jeshua Pence says clocking in with Workyard is a straightforward process:
iOS Review:
Very user friendly – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The clock in process is super simple. Correcting times in real time before the stamp makes it so much easier. Automatically detects the site when you arrive so the app already has the right site readily available.
Android user Nick Robinson says the app helps him provide additional documentation for his tasks:
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is such a wonderful app. I love writing all my notes out for Megan and taking pictures to document work done.
Workyard user David S. says he’s enjoying using the Workforce version:
Capterra Review:
Enjoying Using Workforce ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
very good to use and makes my life easier
Pros: Organizes time and employees wonderfullyCons: Cant export subcontractor hours to Gusto
Pricing
Free Trial?
14-day trial with no credit card required
Time Tracking
Annual: $6 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Monthly: $8 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Workforce
Management
Annual: $13 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Monthly: $16 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Workyard makes scheduling easy!
Seehow it works
Picktime
Scoring
Key Features
-
Unlimited appointment scheduling
-
24/7 online booking
-
Customer management with appointment history
-
Team schedule and bookings management
-
Centralized dashboard and overview of multiple locations
Easy to use
Streamlines appointments and bookings
Good customer support
Limited dashboard functionality
App slows down with simultaneous user logins
Lacks customized notifications
Highlights
Picktime is an online appointment scheduling software designed for various industries including beauty and wellness, medical, sports, events, entertainment, and professional services.
It provides tools for scheduling, bookings, and personal meetings. Picktime offers unlimited appointment scheduling for all its subscription tiers including the free plan. It also enables businesses to create branded webpages for 24/7 online bookings.
Picktime stores clients’ appointment histories so you can manage transactions faster. You can create a booking link to share with your customers, monitor your availability times, and set schedules for advance bookings.
The app also lets you manage team schedules and bookings through its business and personal calendar scheduling tools. You can automate service assignments to available staff, manage permissions, and generate reports about staff performance on a weekly or monthly basis.
Picktime integrates with payment systems such as Paypal and Stripe. It also connects with CRM, team productivity apps, analytics, and other calendar systems like Google Calendar and Apple Calendar.
Reviews
Picktime users said they enjoyed the app’s free version, but it came with a catch as well as several app issues.
iOS user lonestarstrat says the app offers limited functionality:
iOS Review:
Stay away! Zero Stars if I could. – ⭐
Tried this and it’s very limited in functionality and the app freezes up constantly. I cancelled during the trial since I could not make it work properly. I was nonetheless charged 3 months in a row after cancelling. I tried to contact support and they were unresponsive. Now I have to dispute the charges with my bank. This is one of those scams that make it easy to start the “free trial” but make it nearly impossible to cancel.
Ryan, who uses Picktime on Android, is generally okay with Picktime’s performance, with some irritating caveats:
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐
Works well, however a few things might make it better: Selecting times for apointments could be easier if I had the option to type in the time instead of having to scroll so much to find the time. Secondly, if an appointment is marked as a no show, it would be great if that “slot” would automatically change to a different color… I am referring to the desktop/browser version here. I suspect the same for the android app.
Picktime user James W. says he appreciates the free tier and features, but not the pop-up ads:
Capterra Review:
The pop-up ads make this product confusing to our clients. – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: Would be great, except for the major cons mentioned above. The popup ads give a very unprofessional appearance to the product.Pros: Free. Performed necessary function. Easy to integrate with Paypal. Liked the Time Blocker feature.
Cons: The pop-up adds on the booking window were confusing our clients. Had to email our clients not to click on the START button on the Ad and instead click on the “Book Appointment” button. This forced us to switch to Simplybook.me. Also, clients had to know which days appointment were available to click on the correct day in order to book an appointment. Would be much better if it came up with the first day an appointment is available.
Pricing
Free Trial?
No Free Trial
Free
$0 (3 users)
Starter
(3 users)
Annual: $3 / mo. per user
Monthly: $4 / mo. per user
Acuity Scheduling
Scoring
Key Features
-
Flexible scheduling with custom branding
-
Automated booking with flexible availability tools
-
Calendar and staff management with HIPAA compliance
-
Client payment options with no-show protection
-
Customer management with automated follow-ups
Easy to use
Plenty of available integrations
Good client-facing features
Some features are confusing
Poor customer service
Lacks functionality for recurrent bookings
Highlights
Acuity is an online appointment scheduling software for businesses and enterprises. It offers tools for booking, scheduling, staff management, and customer management.
Acuity aims to streamline scheduling through its client-facing tools, secure payment options, and workflow automation. It offers tools for flexible scheduling so you can control how and when clients book services.
You can host virtual appointments and livestream classes on the platform. You can also set availability and block off your personal time.
The app automates appointment bookings, receipts, and reminder notifications. It lets you customize your scheduling page according to your brand and personalize your clients’ customer experience.
The platform gives clients the ability to schedule or cancel their own appointments. You can also create custom intake forms, offer multiple payment options, and avail of no-show protection tools like credit and deposit storage.
The platform helps you manage staff schedules using its synchronized calendar and mobile app. You can set user permissions and access to resources within the app. You can also generate reports about staff performance along with appointments and no-shows.
Acuity comes with built-in HIPAA compliance tools to help you manage compliance.
The app integrates with sales and CRM systems, along with hundreds of other apps through Zapier.
Reviews
Acuity users say the app was satisfactory in certain areas, but some voiced dissatisfaction with the scheduling function.
iOS user Greenwytch says the last update removed a key app function:
iOS Review:
Removal of the “schedule another appointment” option – ⭐⭐⭐
One of the most recent updates has removed the option to schedule another appointment when you select an existing client’s current appointment slot. This makes things far less streamlined to rebook someone at the conclusion of their current appointment via the app on my phone. I use the app almost exclusively to do this when I’m conducting a TeleHealth appointment via my laptop. It’s a very frustrating change, especially if you’re in back-to-back consultations. Can you please add this option back. I was unable to leave feedback within the app itself using the feedback section.
Android user Megan McNeill says the app is okay, though she’s not a diehard fan:
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐
It’s okay but I don’t love it. There are certain features that can only be accessed via the website and the navigation just seems like it could be more intuitive. There are simple fixes that could make it more visually comfortable when looking at the week in landscape mode, the navigation bar on top and the dates take up almost 1/3 of the screen. I have my calendar synced to Google and I find myself switching between the two apps a lot in order to reference my schedule.
Acuity Scheduling user Nancy B. says the app is affordable, but could be better designed for users’ convenience:
Capterra Review:
Visually unfriendly – ⭐⭐⭐
Overall: Customer service is cute and funny but overall the scheduler needs a lot of work. I am going to accept my 4 free months and keep working with it but I really don’t know if I will stay.Pros: The low cost and colorful customization of the patient portal.
Cons: The scheduling itself. The type face is so tiny, you have to review it twice, so it’s time consuming, selecting the time is tedious ( a drop down would be so much better), and the way the whole thing reads is very over complicated. Also, the option to block should be there as well, so that you click on a time slot and perform the function you need. The block function requires that you start from scratch, instead of allowing you to simply select a time slot like you do with scheduling. Finally, the fact that the admin gets flooded with emails of every scheduling action instead of only the actions the admin hasn’t done is such a waste of time and it’s all or nothing.
Pricing
Free Trial?
7-day free trial
Emerging
(1 staff per location)
Annual: $16 / mo.
Monthly: $20 / mo.
Growing
(6 staff per location)
Annual: $27 / mo.
Monthly: $34 / mo.
Powerhouse
(36 staff per location)
Annual: $49 / mo.
Monthly: $61 / mo.
Enterprise
Must contact sales for pricing
When I Work
Scoring
Key Features
-
One-click employee scheduling tool
-
Labor forecasting with shift coverage confirmation
-
Online and mobile employee time clock app
-
Built-in compliance guidelines for breaks and overtime
-
Timesheet direct integration with payroll
Simplifies scheduling for shift workers
User-friendly
Affordable
Occasional issues with Android app
Updates are not always useful
Poor customer service
Highlights
When I Work is an employee scheduling and time tracking software solution mainly built for shift-based workplaces.
Its employee scheduling software is designed for intuitive use with tools such as one-click scheduling and team calendar synchronization. It helps you ensure shift coverage with employee shift confirmation and instant notifications about shift swaps and drops.
The platform is equipped with labor forecasting and cost control tools. You can set up pay rules to avoid overspending and integrate calendar schedules to estimate staff attendance and coverage for upcoming shifts.
You can use When I Work’s online and mobile employee time clock app to track time and attendance. The time clock monitors breaks and time off according to built-in compliance guidelines.
The app also integrates timesheets directly with payroll and lets you audit, approve, and edit timesheets from your mobile phone.
When I Work integrates with payroll providers like QuickBooks and Gusto. It also integrates with POS and business operations solutions including Square, Zapier, and People, among others.
Reviews
When I Work users say the app is alright, but several issues with the scheduling and chat feature need to be ironed out.
iOS user awesome says the app does a good job with scheduling. However, he reported disappearing messages within the app chat:
iOS Review:
It’s okay? – ⭐⭐⭐
This app has been nice for scheduling purposes, however, I have add major issues with the “workchat” section. First off, I sometimes don’t get a notification that a text has been sent in the group chat. This has happened on many occasions, and it hinders my ability to pick up extra shifts or cover shifts. Secondly, I am having major issues with once I send a message, it disappears on my end. I don’t know why this happens, and it’s simply frustrating. I then have to send another text because I am unsure if the person has received my first message.
I have the iPhone XS, so perhaps my phone is the issue, but I have the latest software upgrade from WIW so my phone model shouldn’t be an issue. Perhaps other people are having the same issues as myself, and would love to have my issues resolved because it’s annoying. However, I like how it’s a scheduling and a message app which is convenient. I just wish the issues with the messaging would be fixed!
Android user Samyukta Panth Films says the last update messed up their workflow:
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐
After the last update I am stuck on a page that asks me to confirm every employee’s shifts before I can use the app function. I tried re-installing and the problem persisted. I can’t access any of the app unless I confirm others’ shifts for them.
When I Work user Barbi L. says she appreciated the customer service, but not the results:
Capterra Review:
Difficult App – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: Horrible! The staff were very nice but they couldn’t seem to fix the problems. Was told several times to have our staff uninstall and try again. You can only do that so many times without them being annoyed. The culculations were also very off on the print outs as well.Pros: That the staff would know when they are working and when it worked, that they could punch in and out.
Cons: Out of 100 people who used the app, 80% or more could not punch in/out most of the time. I changed the settings to allow them to punch in and out whenever they needed too but that feature never worked. Would always say you are not scheduled.
Pricing
Free Trial?
14 days
Essentials
$4/mo. per user
Pro
$7/mo. per user
Premium
$10/mo. per user
Jobber
Scoring
Key Features
-
Job scheduling with team member schedule comparison
-
Calendar management with personalization features
-
Automated job booking based on preferences
-
Instant invoice generation with customized email or text follow-up
-
Customer communications with automated updates
User-friendly
Good customer support
Flexible for multi-trade businesses
Outsourced GPS tracking (Fleetsharp) not reliable
Issues with invoicing ex. duplicates
Report customization could be improved
Highlights
Jobber’s job scheduling software targets cleaning and ‘green’ services like gardening, landscaping, tree care, and snow removal. It also serves general contractors and construction professionals.
Its job scheduling tool helps you assign, schedule, and dispatch crew members to jobs. You can manage job bookings with Jobber’s online platform, eliminating unnecessary telephone calls. When a client books online, the platform automatically schedules an appointment based on your preferences.
Contractors can use Jobber to map and route jobs, as well as track progress. The software tracks time and materials used for various jobs to keep estimates accurate.
The platform also comes with a client hub where customers can request projects, confirm job details, and receive updates on work progress. You can message customers and send automated updates using Jobber’s communication tools.
You can use Jobber to generate invoices at job completion or on a pre-set schedule. You can also set up automatic reminders about due payments through email or text messages.
Jobber integrates with a broad range of business apps, like QuickBooks Online, Stripe, Zapier, MailChimp, CompanyCam, Google Local Services, and others.
Reviews
Jobber users say it has great potential, but needs to deliver more value for the cost.
iOiOS user kachina5499 says the web platform performs well, but not the mobile app:
iOS Review:
Jobber website better than the app – ⭐⭐
I really like Jobber, but as far as the iPhone app goes, I can’t give it more than three stars. The reason being, the most important thing I use the app for is to be able to take phone calls on the go, do scheduling, etc. I wish it had a better calendar view, I don’t like that you pretty much have to manually click on every date to see when there are availabilities. I also wish it had a notes section. I find myself writing my notes from phone calls out on paper, then adding them to jobber later or when I get home, which kind of defeats the purpose of having an app. Please make the app geared toward management as well!Update: I’ve lowered my review to two stars after months of using this. It has potential, but it is not user friendly and is really making my job harder. The guys can’t figure out how to use it in the field even though we’ve showed them over and over again, and it’s next to impossible to accomplish anything as a manager for billing in the app. And if I want to schedule a visit for an existing job, why can’t I do it from the calendar? Why do I have to click on ten different things just to accomplish one task?
This app needs streamlined and simplified. It also needs the option to do progress invoicing. Not a “deposit”, but actual progress invoicing for when each draw is completed. I will be looking for a different alternative for my scheduling needs.
Android user Jordan Sloan says the app’s value doesn’t match the subscription costs:
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐
Imo, a lot of improvements are needed to justify the cost of this subscription. Scheduling is pretty useless on the app. There is no weekly view, the monthly view doesn’t show anything on the calendar until you click the specific date. Planning an efficient week based on a large service area is not possible. It’s really only useful on a daily scale. Beyond that, just a lot of detail stuff requires you to log in on a web browser. I was sold an “app” solution and I’m not getting one.
Jobber user Andora A. says the app could shine but for the lackluster quoting and estimating features:
Capterra Review:
Could be fantastic, but lacks features in quoting/estimating and as communication hub. – ⭐⭐⭐
Overall: goodPros: Very good app except the very basic quoting/estimating, job scheduling and customer communication ‘capabilities’. Jobber works very well without glitching both on browser and on app, very clean look, without too much going on to be distracting. However the issues I have with above mentioned make me constantly search for alternatives. If they continue to improve and make changes to these 3 areas, the software would be perfect. I don’t see that happening soon though since focus seems to be on integrating very expensive 3rd party apps that don’t benefit small businesses.
Cons: The scheduling function is good but could be much better if they allowed for other schedule types that aren’t one time or on an easily recurring schedule. For landscape, we have visits on one contract that are weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, twice yearly, etc. So usually between 45-60 visits included in a single quote. But because they don’t all fit into a neat recurring schedule, I usually include the highest frequency regular visits like 28 weekly mows, then have to create all the remaining visits one by one!!! the most frustrating thing ever! So much work and it takes so long!
Its one of the absolute WORST things about scheduling. There are work arounds of course, but then my jobs are not associated with the quotes that were approved, so all this information is spread out on 8 different jobs, but the deposit and totals only associated with one quote. It is incredibly frustrating when I have to invoice later or trying to get accurate job costing because I have to write everything down or go back and forth between jobs and associate the labor and materials to approved job that has the actual total and I just gave up. It should not be this hard. Also for any jobber people reading this PLEASE allow BULK DELETION of JOBS. Its too many clicks into a job, then you have to click back to the top of the job list page to search for the next one. It should be a button on each job in list or the ability to filter and bulk delete.
Pricing
Free Trial?
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Core
Monthly: $69/ mo. per user
Annual: $49/ mo. per user
Connect
Monthly: $169/ mo. per user
Annual: $129/ mo per user
Grow
Monthly: $349/ mo. per user
Annual: $249/ mo per user
Homebase
Scoring
Key Features
-
Centralized scheduling with team notification via text, email, and mobile app
-
Automated tracking of team availability and time off
-
Time-tracking with early clock-in prevention
-
Real-time labor cost tracking and optimization
-
Automated scheduling based on sales forecasts and labor targets
Affordable for single-location teams
Useful employee scheduling actions ex. shift swap
Good customer service
Updates slow down app
Add-ons are expensive
No undo button for accidental entry deletion
Highlights
Homebase is employee scheduling and management software designed for various industries, including food and beverage, retail, beauty and wellness, services, and others.
It centralizes team schedules and synchronizes calendars to bolster accountability. You can build schedules based on your sales forecasts and labor targets. Once you publish or update a schedule, Homebase instantly notifies team members via text, email, and its mobile app.
The platform automatically tracks team availability and time off to help you ensure full shift coverage. It also reminds team members of upcoming shifts and lets you attach personal notes to shift assignments. Your team members can change their preferred schedules, trade shifts, and submit time off requests using the app. You can also post open shifts for available employees to claim.
Homebase’s time card app automatically logs time, breaks, and overtime. It computes multiple wage rates for employees and calculates non-exempt paid overtime. The app tracks labor costs and lets you optimize by role, hour, department, and other factors.
You can use Homebase’s time clock and card app to track time, prevent early clock-in, and automate clock-out. The app converts time sheets, breaks, overtime, and time-off information into wages to save you time and effort.
Homebase syncs timesheets with payroll using its in-house payroll system or with external providers like QuickBooks and Gusto. It also integrates with POS, sales, and other external systems.
Reviews
Homebase users say the app is decent, but the scheduling feature could be better.
iOS user ESlike711 says the app makes it hard to see work schedules:
iOS Review:
Could be better – ⭐⭐
It’s really difficult to see the entire schedule. They don’t show a calendar view, they only show week by week, which you have to scroll through. It makes it really difficult to map out your entire schedule, especially when you plan month by month.Also, whenever my manager adds something to an already existing schedule, or she creates a new schedule, all it says to me is that a new schedule was published. It does not show what was changed or added. It doesn’t even specify whether it was a change or an entirely new schedule. It only says “new schedule published.” So I have to come through the schedule and compare to see if it was actually a new schedule, or if it was just changes… And then I have to find those changes myself.
Overall, it’s just not very easy to read. If they could give an option for a full month’s calendar view, and specify when there’s either a new schedule or just changes, and then actually show me the changes that were made, I would give it five stars. Because those little things honestly make it such a pain to use. At this point, I feel like it would be easier to switch to paper scheduling.
Android user Mallie Majarais wishes the app calendar would sync:
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐
Please fix the calendar sync!! And the QR code for getting applications doesn’t work. And the ordering of employees by start time doesn’t work. And the open shifts don’t work. Thinking about cancelling after years of using.
Homebase user Jessie V. says the app is satisfactory, but needs more work with the reporting and team communication features:
Capterra Review:
Homebase – ⭐⭐⭐
Overall: It was ok. Not great. But ok. If functionality could take a step up it would be great.Pros: In theory many of the functions were great on homebase. The alerts, allowing managers to handle the schedule, and remote sign in were some of the reasons we went with the product. We also loved the break calculator.
Cons: There are features that just done work well. We turned off the text messages but still receive texts about people forgetting to sign out or hitting overtime. Managers can’t see all needed reports. And there were a few times things just completely didn’t work. It would be nice is Homebase reminded people to take breaks at a certain time etc.
Pricing
Free Trial?
14-day free trial
Basic
$0 / mo. for 1 location
Essentials
Monthly: $24.95 / location per mo.
Annual: $20 / location per mo.
Plus
Monthly: $59.95 / location per mo.
Annual: $48 / location per mo.
All-in-One
Annual: $80 / location per mo.
Monthly: $99.95 / location per mo.
Payroll (Add-On)
$39/mo. base fee + $6/mo. per active employee
QuickBooks Time
Scoring
Key Features
-
Team scheduling based on jobs or shifts
-
Mobile timesheet on web or phone app
-
GPS location tracking with employee details
-
Team notifications for overtime and schedule updates
-
Tablet-based punch clock and kiosk device
Great customer support
Easy to use for managers
Good integration with app ecosystem and third-party apps
Occasional time clock lags
Employees may not find app easy to use
Often compared unfavorably to TSheets
Highlights
QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) is cloud-based employee scheduling and time-tracking software. It’s primarily geared toward small businesses, though it serves businesses of all sizes.
It allows you to schedule teams based on jobs or shifts. You can edit, publish, and share schedules with your teams in real time. The app instantly alerts team members of schedule changes. You can also set up recurring notifications for overtime and timesheet approval deadlines to keep schedules on track.
QuickBooks Time offers different ways for teams to track work hours: through its web app, mobile app, or a centralized kiosk device in the form of a tablet-based punch clock.
The app includes employee location details through its GPS location tracking function, enabling you to see who’s working and where at any given time during work hours.
QuickBooks Time lets you manage employee timesheets from your Android and iPhone devices. You can review, edit, and approve hours on the go. To run payroll, simply sync time tracking data to accounting and payroll software.
QuickBooks integrates with leading business apps, including Gusto, Square, Method:CRM, and others.
Reviews
Most QuickBooks Time users dream of the good old TSheets days. Several users also report being locked out of the app with no warning.
iOS user thomas landscapes reports scheduling issues within the app:
iOS Review:
Ever since scheduling – ⭐⭐⭐
We have had tsheets for years. It was always great, awesome customer service. However, since scheduling our phone apps have been having issues mainly with iPhones. …Which is the problem, our phones will sync for a few hours, a few days then poof they stop.
Another response was you can’t close down your app. Well that seems like a software problem not a user problem. And yes I have used WiFi for 31 hours straight with my screen saver off to see if it would sync my 91 sheets. But nope. It’s been months if not a year since this problem has been ongoing, still no fix. …Tsheets also told me to turn off a bunch of the options and only view a few members of my team…
Android user Katie Neil says the app is great when it works. However, it has its bad days when it would automatically clock-out employees as soon as they clock in.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐
Great app, when it works consistently. Several employees have recurring issues where they clock in and the app immediately clocks them out. Others also have sync issues that affect management knowledge of their up-to-the-minute location and work hours. Some users can’t even log back in due to a system error. App updates and app restarts, uninstall/reinstall, phone restarts… Sometimes it helps but it’s not long before issues arise again. Makes overall business operations challenging.
QuickBooks Time user Alex P. says the app used to streamline their team’s scheduling, but now it kicks employees out without warning:
Capterra Review:
Formerly T-Sheets, Now Crashing and Burning – ⭐⭐
Overall: It is our Number 1 company priority right now to identify and fully migrate onto a different, fully-functioning time tracking app that offers customer support.Pros: When we started the Time app it was privately owned TSheets. We used it for several years without a problem of any sort, specifically benefitting from the geofencing and seamless integration into Quickbooks Desktop. Scheduling employees and giving them total control of their own time clock while maintaining good oversight was a major positive, and the user interface was very intuitive in an industry where people are notoriously not computer savvy. TSheets had it all.
Cons: We are in the process of migrating off of Quickbooks Time. After striving for 9 months to fix all of the holes in the app we’ve realized that glitches and problems are occurring at a quicker pace than we are able to solve them.
AUTHENTICATION NIGHTMARES Several Months ago Intuit took over the user login tool without any notice, causing approximately 50% of our 42 employees to be suddenly locked out of their time app. We learned about it at 6am when simultaneously 20 employees contacted management with Time app problems. After a couple of weeks of intensive daily support (and no help from the Time support center) we managed to put MOST of the login issues to bed, but to this day we still have accounts logging out of their mobile app automatically every day.
POOR SUPPORT If you’re having a technical issue, or God forbid a syncing issue with Quickbooks, grab a beer and kick back because you’ll be on the phone for a couple of hours, and likely re-routed to (I kid you not) 7-8 different departments before finally having your call dropped. And no, you may give them a call-back number but they will not call you back when your call is dropped.
CLOCKS EMPLOYEES OUT ON ITS OWN/DELETES TIME LOGS Quickbooks Time automatically clocks our employees out, deletes time logs, and at the end of a shift when they go to clock out, shows that they never clocked in for the day. Several employees have reported “I went to clock out and all it shows I clocked in for the day was my lunch break.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
30-day free trial
Premium
Monthly: $6 / mo. per user + $20 monthly base fee
Elite
Monthly: $10 / mo. per user + $40 monthly base fee
The Bottom Line
The demand for efficient scheduling solutions will only increase as the market for on-demand services continues to grow.
The seven scheduling programs highlighted in this article offer diverse solutions for solopreneurs, small business owners, and large enterprises alike. With the right scheduling program in your arsenal, you’ll be well on your way to hitting your construction business goals and keeping teams productive.
Construction managers and field workers love the Workyard mobile experience. Our iOS and Android apps are designed around the needs of team managers in the construction business.
Our web platform simplifies team management, time tracking, scheduling, and more for construction managers. Try Workyard free for 14 days and see how we can simplify your field service management and make your business more profitable!
Our Scoring System Explained
Our 8-part scoring system was created to help you understand the potential value of any software we review simply and fairly.
We created it after reviewing dozens of software products, which we covered in depth, but without providing a direct and simple way for readers to compare products on their merits – without spending a lot of time looking through our articles for the information they needed to make an informed decision.
Every app we review will include Customer Support and Company scores, which we’ll explain in more detail below. Many of the factors reviewed in this article will also be consistent across most (or all) of our software reviews, with some differences:
The 8 factors assessed and their contribution to a product’s overall score may differ slightly from product to product based on various factors, such as the use case we’re reviewing for, the type of business these products are tailored to, and other considerations. However, all reviews will feature an 8-part score, weighted and combined to calculate each product’s overall score.
How We Score Software
All factors in our reviews are scored on a 10-point scale – technically 11 points – from 0-10. However, we only give products a score of 0 if it does not include an essential feature at all, and we try to avoid giving out 0 scores if a product can demonstrate any functionality in line with the specific factor being reviewed.
In general, the 0-10 range translates as:
- 9.0 – 10 – One of the absolute best in its category (amazing).
- 7.5 – 8.9 – Very good, but with some minor issues (very good).
- 6.0 – 7.4 – Mediocre performance with notable shortcomings (average).
- 3.0 – 5.9 – This feature is not ready for prime time (borderline).
- 1.0 – 2.9 – This feature actually makes its product worse (unacceptable).
- 0 – The product doesn’t include this important feature at all.
How We Calculate Overall Scores
The 8 factors reviewed are weighted based on an overall total of 100%:
- Ease of Use: 20%
- Time Tracking Accuracy: 20%
- Scheduling Features: 15%
- Job Tracking: 15%
- Integrations: 10%
- Customer Support: 15%
- Company: 5%
Methodology for Each Factor
Ease of Use
We evaluate a product’s ease of use based on three main considerations:
- How easy is it to set up this app?
- How easy is it for managers to use the backend dashboard?
- How easy is it for frontline workers to use the (mobile) app?
These three considerations cover the main ways you and your team would use the software being reviewed – when you first obtain it, when someone (a manager, executive, team leader, or similar role) needs to use it to manage people, money, data, and other things, and when workers you’re tracking use the app (usually a mobile version of the software designed for frontline and/or field team members) to clock in, clock out, record time worked, or address other day-to-day needs.
Time Tracking Accuracy
Every minute matters when you’re trying to control payroll costs. This factor accounts for various features and common needs in time-tracking apps, such as…
- How accurate or precise is its GPS tracking capability?
- How accurate – and how customizable – is its geofencing feature?
- How accurate is its travel and mileage tracking (if available)?
- Can it automatically clock workers in and out based on the above?
- Can you set and/or restrict rules for clocking in and out?
- Can the app continue tracking workers while offline?
- How easy is its mobile app and/or kiosk for frontline workers?
Scheduling Features
Many construction businesses prefer to manage as many aspects of employee labor activity as possible in a single app, which is why many time-tracking apps also include worker scheduling as a core feature.
When we consider a product’s scheduling features, we look at:
- Its dashboard customizability (daily, weekly, or monthly views).
- Its project-based scheduling and visibility.
- Its real-time updates and notifications for workers.
- Its real-time map views of worker locations for best-fit scheduling.
- Its recurring schedule (copies to subsequent weeks, etc.) functionality.
Job Tracking
This factor helps you understand if the software can also provide insight into specific projects, which is particularly handy when your business deals with many customers or clients who generally need shorter-term work. Effective job tracking typically also includes accurate job costing functionality for construction companies.
We assess several things when calculating a product’s job tracking score:
- Its project-based tracking for multiple projects per day/week/etc.
- Its ability to track multiple / many projects simultaneously.
- Its use of (and your ability to customize) construction cost codes.
- Any built-in job costing views.
- Any integrations for cost coding (QuickBooks etc.)
Integrations
No business can operate on a single app, which is why integrations with other apps and tools are such important aspects of modern business software.
To calculate a product’s integration score, we’ll examine:
- How many native integrations (the simplest connection) does it offer?
- How effective and easy-to-use are its integrations with payroll software?
- Does it have robust data import and export features?
Customer Support
Learning how to use a new app can be frustrating, even if it’s meant to be the most user-friendly app around. That’s why great customer support is so essential when considering which time-tracking app to use.
Customer support scores are calculated based on:
- Live support channels available (phone, email, chat, etc.).
- Live support hours (business hours only, 24/7, etc.).
- The strength of the product’s online help center and/or FAQs.
- What other users say about support in online reviews.
Company
A great company with a highly customer-friendly approach can often make up for shortcomings in their software products – at least up to a point.
When assessing this score, we’ll examine:
- Transparency (easy-to-find pricing, etc.)
- Trial period (duration, feature availability, credit card requirements, etc.).
- Subscription flexibility (contracts, required durations, etc.).
- Ease of cancellation or pausing subscriptions.
- Customer perceptions (online product reviews).
- Website (a minor consideration, but great companies tend to have great websites).
Any questions about our scoring system? Have any suggestions on how we could make it even better? Click here to send us your feedback – we’d love to hear from you!
Scheduling software is a cloud-based or local computer program that automates employee scheduling processes such as work schedule management, time tracking, and communication with employees. The key benefits of using scheduling software include optimizing labor costs, simplifying time tracking, preventing payroll errors, and improving employee work satisfaction.
Scheduling software can be divided into two main types: cloud-based software and local programs. Cloud-based scheduling software are on-demand applications that store data online, while local programs are installed directly on a device.
Common features of employee scheduling software include online schedule creation and sharing, automated timesheets, various time punching methods, and management of leave, availability, shift swaps, and replacements. The best scheduling program is considered to be Agendrix, which offers both free and premium features.
Other types of scheduling software include appointment scheduling software for service-based businesses, meeting scheduling software for coordinating team schedules, and job schedulers for controlling background program execution.
In summary, scheduling programs are software tools that streamline and automate the process of creating, managing, and tracking employee work schedules and hours.
The top free scheduling programs are:
Zoho Bookings – Offers a robust free plan with essential features like online booking, calendar sync, and notifications. It is considered one of the best free appointment scheduling apps.
Setmore – Provides a free plan with unlimited appointments, staff, and customer bookings. It has a user-friendly interface and integrates with various business tools.
Appointy – The free version includes online booking, payment processing, and reporting. It is a good option for small businesses and service providers.
Calendly – A popular free scheduling tool that simplifies the process of booking meetings and appointments. It has a clean interface and integrates with many apps.
Picktime – Offers a free plan with features like online booking, payment processing, and customer management. It is a good choice for small service-based businesses.
SimplyBook.me – The free plan includes online booking, payment processing, and basic reporting. It is a comprehensive scheduling solution for small businesses.
Square Appointments – Provides a free scheduling app for Square users, with features like online booking, payment processing, and customer management.
In summary, the best free scheduling programs offer a combination of essential features like online booking, calendar sync, notifications, and reporting. Zoho Bookings, Setmore, and Appointy are considered the top free options based on their capabilities and user reviews.
The essential features that scheduling programs should have include:
User-friendly interface – The scheduling software should have an intuitive and easy-to-use interface for both customers and employees.
Mobile app – A mobile app allows employees to manage schedules and bookings on the go. This is crucial as the world has gone mobile.
Payment options – The ability to accept online payments through various methods like credit cards and e-wallets streamlines the booking process.
Scalability – The scheduling software should be able to support business growth and expansion, such as adding new locations or employees.
Reporting and analytics – Comprehensive reporting and data insights help businesses make informed decisions. Metrics like no-show rates and customer satisfaction are important.
Third-party integrations – The ability to integrate with other business tools and software expands the functionality of the scheduling program.
Flexible booking options – Customers should be able to book appointments through multiple channels like a website, social media, or marketplace listings.
Automated reminders and notifications – Automated reminders and notifications to customers and staff help reduce no-shows and improve the customer experience.
Real-time availability and updates – The software should provide real-time visibility into employee schedules and availability to prevent double bookings.
Calendar sync – Two-way calendar sync between the scheduling software and employee calendars is essential to avoid conflicts.
In summary, the best scheduling programs offer a combination of user-friendly features, payment processing, reporting, integrations, and automated notifications to streamline the scheduling process for both businesses and customers.
