We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
Deputy brings scheduling and compliance calculations together, with a listed starting price of $5. That does not tell you the total cost for your team, so compare what each alternative includes before switching. Sling and When I Work are closer fits for basic shift coordination; Connecteam combines scheduling and time tracking. Rippling, BambooHR and UKG Pro cover broader workforce or HR needs. The published Reddit material is about unemployment claims and unrelated topics, not Deputy’s workforce app, so it cannot establish why its customers leave.
01Why people leave Deputy
Check the full cost
Deputy starts at $5, but that figure alone does not establish your total bill. Compare the price and plan limits for the tools your team needs.
Scheduling is your main need
If you mainly coordinate shifts, compare scheduling-focused options such as Sling and When I Work instead of assuming you need a broader workforce platform.
You need broader workforce tools
Deputy covers scheduling through compliance. If your requirements center on HR, payroll or benefits, compare platforms built around those needs.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Low-cost scheduling
SlingSlingSling is a close comparison if shift coordination is the main reason you use Deputy. It lists a free plan and a starting price of $1.70, and its stated fit includes labor-cost tracking. That is a lower entry price than Deputy’s $5, but check the plan gates before relying on time tracking or reports.
Trade-off: Time tracking and reports may depend on the plan.
7.5/10from
$1.70/mofree plan - Hourly shift teams
When I WorkWhen I WorkWhen I Work is aimed at hourly teams scheduling across locations, with team messaging also listed among its strengths. Its starting price is $2.50, below Deputy’s $5 entry point. It is worth comparing if you need basic shift tools rather than Deputy’s scheduling-through-compliance scope.
Trade-off: Add-on costs and user complaints temper the value.
6.4/10from
$2.50/mo - Scheduling and time tracking
ConnecteamConnecteamConnecteam is a fit to compare if you want scheduling and time tracking in one workforce toolkit. It lists a free plan and a starting price of $29, and is aimed at hourly teams replacing several tools. Check hub costs and reporting needs before treating it as a like-for-like cost comparison with Deputy.
Trade-off: Hub costs and reporting needs can affect the fit.
6.8/10from
$29/mofree plan - Modular workforce tools
RipplingRipplingRippling is a broader option for teams consolidating HR and payroll or managing global employees, rather than a narrow shift-scheduling replacement. Its listed starting price is $8. Compare the modules and full pricing before switching: total pricing is unclear, and the published summary flags troubling user reports.
Trade-off: Total pricing is unclear; user reports call for caution.
6.2/10from
$8/mo - Core HR and hiring
BambooHRBambooHRBambooHR is a stronger match if the move away from Deputy is part of consolidating employee records, hiring and onboarding. Its listed base rate starts at $10.25. That is a broader HR comparison, not a direct low-cost scheduling swap, and the published summary advises budgeting for add-ons whose prices are not listed.
Trade-off: Unpriced add-ons can complicate budgeting.
6.7/10from
$10.25/mo - Complex workforce needs
UKG ProUKG ProUKG Pro is worth comparing when your requirements go beyond Deputy’s scheduling and compliance coverage to broader HR and payroll, complex workforce schedules or union scheduling tools. The published summary does not list a starting price, so request a quote and compare the employee experience before committing.
Trade-off: Pricing is not published; get a quote.
5.8/10from
Custom
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Deputy Deputy (current) | 6.8 | $5/mo | No | Shift-based teams replacing separate scheduling tools |
| Sling Sling | 7.5 | $1.70/mo | Yes | Small teams needing basic scheduling |
| When I Work When I Work | 6.4 | $2.50/mo | No | Hourly teams scheduling multiple locations |
| Connecteam Connecteam | 6.8 | $29/mo | Yes | Small teams needing a free starting plan |
| Rippling Rippling | 6.2 | $8/mo | No | Teams consolidating HR and payroll |
| BambooHR BambooHR | 6.7 | $10.25/mo | No | Teams consolidating core HR records |
| UKG Pro UKG Pro | 5.8 | Custom | No | Organizations consolidating HR and payroll |
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest Deputy alternative here?
Sling has the lowest listed starting price in this comparison: a free plan and a starting price of $1.70. When I Work starts at $2.50. Those figures do not show whether the plans include the features your team needs, so check plan limits and add-on costs before comparing total spend.
Do the Reddit posts explain why Deputy users leave?
No. The Reddit discussion we read covers unemployment claims involving a deputy, a clothing haul and a traffic stop. It does not provide feedback about Deputy’s workforce scheduling product, so we cannot use it to claim that customers leave for particular reasons.
Which alternative combines scheduling and time tracking?
Connecteam’s stated fit includes hourly teams combining scheduling and time tracking. Deputy also covers scheduling and timekeeping together. Sling may be worth checking for shift coordination, but its plan gates can affect access to time tracking and reports.