When I Work costs $2.50/mo.
These cost $0.
3 free alternatives to When I Work, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
When I Work vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $2.50/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sling Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | When I Work vs Sling Free → |
| 7shifts Comp | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | When I Work vs 7shifts Comp → |
| Connecteam Small Business Plan | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | When I Work vs Connecteam Small Business Plan → |
The picks
3 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Sling Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedSchedules, availability and manager-approved swaps for 30 people; the time clock costs extra.
The catch vs When I WorkIt covers scheduling for thirty users but the free plan omits the time clock and several labor-management features.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then invite employees by email or phone to the web, iOS and Android apps
- your data
- Schedules, availability, requests and messages in Sling's cloud account; schedules and many records export as CSV or XLS
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 02
7shifts Comp
freeproprietary, freeHostedA small roster, availability form and approved shift trades for one 15-person location.
The catch vs When I WorkThe free plan is restaurant-specific, limited to one location and fifteen employees, and lacks a free time clock.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup for one restaurant location, then invite staff to the web and mobile apps
- your data
- Employee profiles, schedules, availability, time-off and communications in 7shifts' cloud, with selected reports and export tools
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 03
Connecteam Small Business Plan
freeproprietary, freeHostedScheduling, availability and shift changes for ten people; employee eleven ends the free plan.
The catch vs When I WorkIt is clean for ten users, but employee eleven ends the free plan and the product is broader than a dedicated scheduler.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then invite staff to the web and mobile apps
- your data
- Employee records, documents, schedules and time data in Connecteam's cloud; schedules and timesheets export to Excel, PDF, CSV or payroll-specific files
- checked
- 2026-08-11
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · When I Work open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to When I Work?+
The top free alternative to When I Work is Sling Free (free). Schedules, availability and manager-approved swaps for 30 people; the time clock costs extra. Other popular When I Work replacements include 7shifts Comp, Connecteam Small Business Plan.
How much does switching from When I Work to a free alternative save?+
When I Work starts at $2.50/month per seat ($30/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Sling Free saves $150 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own When I Work clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for When I Work is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). 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.
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.
