Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to When I Work · 🧑💼 hr
When I Work vs Sling Free
Schedules, availability and manager-approved swaps for 30 people; the time clock costs extra. Here is how Sling Free ($0/mo free) stacks up against When I Work ($2.50/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
When I Work vs Sling Free Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | When I Work (Paid) | Sling Free (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $2.50 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $30 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $30) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $150 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $150) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $300 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $300) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | free proprietary, free |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Hosted (their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | mobilewebthey host it |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ $0 forever |
Deep Dive: Switching from When I Work to Sling Free
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It covers scheduling for thirty users but the free plan omits the time clock and several labor-management features.
How to deploy Sling Free
Hosted signup, then invite employees by email or phone to the web, iOS and Android apps
Where your data lives
Schedules, availability, requests and messages in Sling's cloud account; schedules and many records export as CSV or XLS
Why fork Sling Free instead of vibe-coding a When I Work clone?
The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For When I Work, build a small shift schedule, availability form, and swap approval workflow. The hard boundary is mobile apps, time clock, notifications, scheduling edge cases, and support, plus compliance, payroll, and regulated integrations.
When I Work vs Sling Free FAQ
Is Sling Free a good free alternative to When I Work?+
Yes. Sling Free is a verified free replacement for When I Work. Schedules, availability and manager-approved swaps for 30 people; the time clock costs extra.
What is the catch when switching from When I Work to Sling Free?+
It covers scheduling for thirty users but the free plan omits the time clock and several labor-management features.
How much do you save switching from When I Work to Sling Free?+
When I Work costs $2.50/mo ($30/yr) per seat, whereas Sling Free is $0/mo. Switching saves $30/yr for a solo user, $150/yr for a 5-person team, and $300/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Sling Free instead of When I Work?+
Install: Hosted signup, then invite employees by email or phone to the web, iOS and Android apps.
