Workforce management software is a tool that businesses can use to help increase their productivity and efficiency by streamlining internal workforce processes. A strong software solution will normally offer employee scheduling, time and attendance tracking, and even legal compliance.
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Choosing the right software requires a lot of research and a strong understanding of what tools and features will make the largest impact. Let’s take a look at our picks for the best workforce management software so you can select the tool that’s right for your business.
We receive compensation from our partners for Featured Offer placements, which impacts how and where their offer is displayed.
Featured Offers
OnPay
Monthly pricing
From $40 plus $6 per employee
Free trial
30 days
SurePayroll
Monthly pricing
From $29.99 plus $5 per employee
Free trial
6 Months
Gusto
Monthly pricing
From $40 plus $6 per employee
Free trial
Not offered
Rippling
Monthly pricing
Base fee (varies) plus $8 per employee
Free trial
Not offered
Methodology
To help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) choose the best workforce management software, we evaluated 28 HR solutions and 54 distinct plans using over 2,000 data points to develop a ranked list. We assessed each workforce management software’s value, features, reviews, and services and support. We then assigned our Editors’ Score to the top options from our ranked list. Read our full methodology.
Show summary
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Zoho People
: Best workforce management software for small businesses
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TriNet
: Best PEO option
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UZIO
: Best for compliance
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Paycor
: Best for industry-specific configuration
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Gusto
: Best payroll integration
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Workday
: Best for global organizations
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SAP SuccessFactors
: Best for workforce metrics
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Omni
: Best for workflow automation
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UKG
: Best for tech-focused organizations
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Paycom
: Best for labor allocation
Zoho People
Best workforce management software for small businesses
Starting monthly price
$1.50 per user (five-user minimum)
Free trial
Yes, 30 days
Customer support channels
Phone, email, live chat (some require paid add-ons)
4.7/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
From participating partners
Why we picked it
Zoho People offers diverse features at an affordable price, making it a great workforce management software option for all types of businesses. Five different plan options, ranging from $1.50 to $10 per employee per month (slightly lower if billed annually), provide access to a wide variety of tools. The lowest-tier plan, Essential HR, offers a few workforce management tools such as time off management and module-based reports in addition to its broader HR products (employee onboarding, HR file management, etc.).
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To get the most vital workforce management tools, you’ll likely want to go with the second tier, Professional, or above, which starts at $2.50 per employee per month. These plans include attendance tracking via web, mobile or facial recognition, shift scheduling and rotation, job scheduling and even overtime calculation. Higher-level plans also include performance management, employee engagement, learning management and more.
Pros
- Cheapest starting price in this guide
- Customizable leave policies
- Easy access via mobile device
Cons
- Minimum of 5 users for all plans
- No shift scheduling in the lowest plan
- Slow loading speed cited by user reviews
Who should use it
Zoho People, which is also our top recommendation for general HR software, is a great option for businesses with at least a handful of employees since all of its plans require a minimum of five users. It’s also suited for teams that are always on the go or frequently work outside of the office since employees can check in from anywhere, and Zoho People has IP address restrictions and geo-restrictions that make the process safe and secure.
TriNet
Best PEO option
Starting monthly price
$10 per user (five-user minimum)
Free trial
No
Customer support channels
Chat, phone
4.3/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
From participating partners
Why we picked it
With a user-friendly interface and features like simple clock-in/out access, a visual scheduler, policy controls and compliance tools, TriNet is a solid workforce management software option for many organizations. The numerous prebuilt reports that cover everything from HR data to benefits and payroll figures provide business owners with critical information about their business in minutes.
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TriNet offers three different tiers of its HR platform ranging from $10 to $33 per employee per month, with a 20% discount available to users who elect annual billing. The lowest-level tier, the Essentials plan, includes all of the workforce management tools you may need, from time-off tracking and scheduling to analytics and access to TriNet’s mobile app. The other plans add compensation management, performance management, employee engagement and even payroll.
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The provider also offers PEO (professional employer organization) services for growing businesses that simply want to outsource their HR operations. You must contact TriNet for a quote for these services.
Pros
- PEO services available
- Intuitive dashboards help you to visualize your workforce
- Integrates with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage and Xero
Cons
- Some users mention inconsistent customer service
- Performance management tools aren’t included in base package
- More expensive than some alternatives
Who should use it
TriNet is a great option for growing businesses since it offers PEO services that can be easily turned on and integrated with its many other tools and features. For businesses that are expanding and evolving rapidly, having the option to fully outsource their HR with a single PEO solution is a great future option. TriNet is also a solid choice for employers that are already established with their accounting software since there are direct integrations in place with the most popular providers.
UZIO
Best for compliance
Starting monthly price
$3 per user
Free trial
No
Customer support channels
Phone, email
3.8/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
From participating partners
Why we picked it
With multiple plan options ranging from $3 to $6.50 per employee per month, UZIO allows you to streamline your HR, benefits, payroll and time tracking all within its platform. To utilize the workforce management tools to the fullest extent possible, you’d likely want to go with the time tracking plan ($3 per month) plus the scheduling add-on ($1.50 per month) which will give you access to geofencing, mobile and web time tracking, and even advanced shift management.
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It also offers access to a wide variety of HR compliance tools, such as law alerts, HR templates and even a compliance library. These can be hugely valuable to employers looking for an extra set of hands (or eyes) to ensure compliance.
Pros
- HR compliance services available
- Payroll, benefits and HRIS modules available
- Offers industry-specific tools (staffing/cannabis)
Cons
- No free trial
- Mobile is difficult to navigate, per user reviews
- No live chat
Who should use it
UZIO is a great option for businesses that are looking for workforce management software that can easily be tailored to fit their individual needs. The compliance tools that are offered — free core compliance with every plan and two compliance-focused add-ons — make it a strong choice for small businesses that want to make sure they are always on top of requirements and regulations.
Paycor
Best for industry-specific configuration
Starting monthly price
Undisclosed
Free trial
Yes, 14 days
Customer support channels
Live chat, phone
3.7/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
On Paycor’s website
Why we picked it
Paycor is essentially a payroll tool with four plans: Basic, Essential, Core and Complete. The company doesn’t disclose any pricing online, but workforce management features — time and attendance and scheduling — can be added to those plans. In addition to those workforce management tools, additional suites such as talent acquisition, talent management and benefits administration can help you manage your team.
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Paycor’s software is configured for many different industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, restaurants and professional services. It also has over 250+ direct integrations that can help you sync data between Paycor and your favorite apps.
Pros
- Mobile scheduling and shift swapping available
- Multiple plan options available
- Tailored for many different industries — healthcare, manufacturing, restaurants, etc.
Cons
- Pricing lacks transparency
- Reporting is limited and outdated per some user reviews
- Time tracking and scheduling are both add-ons
Who should use it
While Paycor is a solid option for SMBs in general, the provider can configure its software for specific industries. It provides industry-specific partners, industry-skilled service advocates and industry-based user groups and community networks. For example, restaurants can take advantage of same-day hiring and custom workflows to speed up the recruiting process, while healthcare organizations can utilize dynamic scheduling to retain top talent.
Gusto
Best payroll integration
Starting monthly price
$40 plus $6 per user
Free trial
No
Customer support channels
Live chat, phone, email
3.7/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
On Gusto’s website
Why we picked it
One of our best payroll software recommendations, Gusto offers three different plans that include payroll plus a range of workforce management and other HR tools. The Simple plan is $40 per month plus $6 per month per employee and provides access to payroll, basic time-off reporting and employee profiles. The Plus plan ($80 per month plus $12 per employee) unlocks more comprehensive workforce management tools, like workforce costing, team management tools and time/project tracking.
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Gusto’s highest tier, the Premium plan, requires you to reach out to its sales team for pricing and provides access to all features of the lower plans, plus HR experts, migration support and more.
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Want to know more? Here’s everything we learned about Gusto pricing in 2024.
Pros
- Instant, fully-interactive free demo available for all potential customers
- Full-service multistate payroll processing
- Time and project tracking
Cons
- No free trial
- Poor customer service cited by many user reviews
- Can get expensive for a larger team
Who should use it
Since Gusto’s primary product is payroll, it’s a great option for organizations that want to prioritize payroll accuracy while gaining access to workforce management software. This is especially important for organizations with multistate payroll, complicated tax filing requirements or complicated industry-specific payroll requirements. Note: While Paycor and Paycom are also payroll-first products, neither disclose pricing, which gives Gusto a leg up.
Workday
Best for global organizations
Starting monthly price
Undisclosed
Free trial
No
Customer support channels
None found (knowledge base available)
3.6/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
From participating partners
Why we picked it
Workday is a great workforce management software option with tons of great features like scheduling and labor optimization, time and attendance, absence management and even management for your extended workforce (non-permanent workers). Its platform gives business owners the ability to optimize the time and talent of their employees by providing insights and analytics that you can act on. Workday offers easy global reporting, invoicing compliance and even global payroll in Canada, the UK, and France, with secure connectors to third-party payroll systems in over 100 additional countries.
Pros
- Ensures global invoicing compliance
- Time and expense tracking
- All-in-one HR platform
Cons
- Pricing lacks transparency
- No free trial
- Some users report difficulty with customization
Who should use it
Workday is a solid option for many organizations, but especially those that are operating globally or on the larger end of the size spectrum. It has many tools that cater specifically to those unique needs that can help make managing your global team simpler and less stressful. A few of those features include compliance with local time rules, a simplified hiring process and the ability to build custom invoice templates that ensure global invoicing compliance. Workday also offers global payroll services with the same tailored abilities.
If Workday doesn’t feel right for your business, explore the best Workday alternatives.
SAP SuccessFactors
Best for workforce metrics
Starting monthly price
$6.30 per employee per month
Free trial
No
Customer support channels
Live chat, scheduled calls
3.6/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
From participating partners
Why we picked it
SAP SuccessFactors offers a suite of applications focused on helping business owners manage their HR needs. It offers a core HR and payroll application, Employee Central ($6.30 per employee per month), that provides users access to integrated HR data, absence management and a simple version of time tracking. There’s also a separate time tracking suite available for more comprehensive time tracking services that can be added on for an additional per-employee monthly charge of around $2.50.
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There’s a wide range of workforce management tools available that will provide value, including a standout reporting feature that helps business owners dive deep into topics such as diversity, engagement and turnover.
Pros
- Interactive HR analysis, reports and dashboards
- Integrate data from multiple systems — HR, talent management, financials, etc.
- Extensive catalog of HR and talent metrics
Cons
- Pricing isn’t easy to find and is a little confusing
- Limited customizations cited by some users
- Interface isn’t as intuitive as it could be
Who should use it
SAP SuccessFactors is a great option for business owners that value reporting and data. Its reporting and catalog of metrics make it easy for you to have the data that can help you make insightful decisions about your workforce.
Omni
Best for workflow automation
Starting monthly price
$3.45 per user
Free trial
Yes, 14 days
Customer support channels
Live chat, phone, email
3.4/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
From participating partners
Why we picked it
Omni offers an intuitive HR management platform at an affordable price. Its standard plan is $3.45 per employee per month and includes an employee database, document management, reporting and integration. Time off and attendance tools are each available for an additional $1.15 per user per month, along with other add-ons like expense and performance tracking and payroll (which is $2.30 per user per month).
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One of Omni’s primary focuses is workflow automation. You can create your own templates for task sequencing, which the platform will send to your employees and track their progress. Omni also provides smart document templates (with a built-in editor), trigger reminders and task notifications via integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Pros
- Cheap plan and add-on pricing
- Automated overtime and absence calculations
- Dedicated customer success manager
Cons
- Time off and attendance are add-ons
- No scheduling tools available
- Some users cite limited features
Who should use it
With customizable time-off rules, automated calculations for overtime, task sequencing and smart templates, Omni is a great option for employers that are looking to automate their employee management workflows. Manual timekeeping and policy enforcement take up a lot of time and effort, and often end in discrepancies and errors. Automation takes the pressure off of business owners and lets them focus on what they do best.
UKG
Best for tech-focused organizations
Starting monthly price
Undisclosed
Free trial
No
Customer support channels
None found (product expert/user community available)
3.4/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
From participating partners
Why we picked it
UKG made our list with its wide variety of workforce management software tools, such as scheduling, talent management, time and attendance, and compliance. It also has payroll, reporting, HR service delivery and other features. There’s no pricing information available online.
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With its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve and enhance your HR processes, UKG is a good choice for tech-focused businesses. The provider’s “AI in HR” features can help with schedule optimization, document classification, forecasting employee feedback and much more.
Pros
- AI-driven scheduling optimization, benchmarks and employee potential ratings
- Enhanced reporting capabilities
- Seamless integrations between timesheets, schedules, forms, etc.
Cons
- Pricing lacks transparency
- Some users report a heavy learning curve
- Difficult to contact customer support/ delayed responses per some user reviews
Who should use it
UKG utilizes AI to provide scheduling optimization, benchmarks, intuitive reporting, statistical-based forecasting and more, which makes it a great option for organizations that want to leverage the newest technology to improve their processes.
Paycom
Best for labor allocation
Starting monthly price
Undisclosed
Free trial
No
Customer support channels
None found (knowledge base available)
3.4/5
Our rating considers features, value for money, customer support and ease of use. Ratings are assigned exclusively by our editorial team.
From participating partners
Why we picked it
Although there’s no transparent pricing or plan options, Paycom offers many of the usual workforce management tools such as time and attendance, time-off requests and scheduling in addition to its primary product, which is payroll. There are also some unique tools available like its labor allocation software. The labor allocation tool allows you to easily track where your labor dollars are spent for better HR planning. It allows your employees time to be categorized by location, department, job or any other criteria and even notes which employees are impacted by which state tax laws.
Pros
- Easily track where your labor costs are being spent
- Simple scheduling that meets operational and compliance demands
- Seamless communication with employees
Cons
- Pricing lacks transparency
- Some users find that the software can be difficult to navigate
- Limited customer service resources for users
Who should use it
Organizations that are in need of detailed allocations of where and how employees are spending their time should consider Paycom’s workforce management features. This is especially important for jobs where each minute spent needs to be accounted for, such as roles with billable hours.
We receive compensation from our partners for Featured Offer placements, which impacts how and where their offer is displayed.
Featured Offers
OnPay
Monthly pricing
From $40 plus $6 per employee
Free trial
30 days
SurePayroll
Monthly pricing
From $29.99 plus $5 per employee
Free trial
6 Months
Gusto
Monthly pricing
From $40 plus $6 per employee
Free trial
Not offered
Rippling
Monthly pricing
Base fee (varies) plus $8 per employee
Free trial
Not offered
Compare the best workforce management software
| Company | Stars | Starting monthly price | Time/attendance tracking | Shift scheduling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Zoho People | 4.7 | $1.50 per user (five-user min.) | Included (except entry-level plan) | Included (except entry-level plan) |
TriNet | 4.3 | $10 per user (five-user min.) | Included | Included |
UZIO | 3.8 | $3 per user | Included | Additional Cost |
Paycor | 3.7 | Undisclosed | Additional cost | Additional Cost |
Gusto | 3.7 | $40 + $6 per user | Included (except entry-level plan) | Included |
Workday | 3.6 | Undisclosed | N/A* | N/A* |
SAP SuccessFactors | 3.6 | $6.30 per user | Additional cost | N/A* |
Omni | 3.4 | $3.45 per user | Additional cost | No |
UKG | 3.4 | Undisclosed | N/A* | N/A* |
Paycom | 3.4 | Undisclosed | N/A* | N/A* |
*These providers don’t offer plan details online, which makes it impossible to know if these tools are included as a part of a plan or cost extra.
What is workforce management software?
Workforce management software manages your employees’ schedules and daily activities to maximize overall efficiency. It normally offers features like shift scheduling, time and attendance tracking, and policy enforcement, to name a few. Many also offer other HR tools that can help make managing your team simpler, such as full-service payroll processing and talent management.
Benefits of workforce management software
There are numerous benefits to using workforce management software to help you manage your employees; the most notable include:
- Fewer errors: Using a workforce management software can help reduce errors and make the payroll process simpler and less stressful.
- Better time tracking and absence management: An efficient system will provide you with full transparency into your staffing for a specific period — helping ensure that you’re always staffed accurately.
- More accurate/detailed reporting: Instant insight into every aspect of your business’s most important asset, its employees, will help you to really understand the strengths and weaknesses of your workforce and where there are opportunities for growth.
For more information, check out our guide to workforce management, which covers workforce management basics, including benefits, essential features and more.
Essential workforce management software features
While every workforce management software is a little different, there are some key features that you should be on the lookout for when considering what software to use, including:
- Time and attendance: This can include online time tracking, biometric scanners, kiosks, mobile clock-in and time-off requests.
- Scheduling: These tools normally include attendance management, shift management, custom shifts and automatic shift rotations.
- Compliance tools: The most important compliance tools include break tracking and overtime tracking, as well as the ability to create customizable policies depending on your particular needs.
How much does workforce management software cost?
Workforce management software is typically priced per user per month, and can range anywhere from $1 to $30 or more per user, depending on what plan level and service offerings are included. Some plans offer very simple timekeeping and employee profile management, while others have advanced scheduling modules, benchmarking and reporting features.
Some workforce management software is exclusively meant to just help you keep track of your employee schedules and output, while others are payroll-first or have many other HR features. This will greatly impact the cost of the software since services like payroll processing have more legal and compliance requirements that can get costly.
Related: HR software pricing in 2024
Methodology: How we evaluated the best workforce management software
To help you find the best workforce management tools for your business, we researched the top providers in the industry using a specific set of desired data points. After we collected this data, we narrowed our list based on 39 different metrics. We then weighted each metric based on what matters most in a workforce management platform for small and medium-sized organizations. Once we had the final score for each product, we selected the 10 that rose to the top of the list.
Finally, we assigned each product an Editors’ Score encompassing three key areas before converting the final scores to a star rating out of five. This score does not affect our selection methodology or assessment of key data points for ultimate list inclusion.
Here’s how our methodology breaks down:
Features (45%)
To determine each system’s usefulness, we heavily weighted the key features necessary for workforce management. These include time and attendance tracking, shift scheduling, PTO tracking, performance management, compliance alerts, and workforce analytics, among others. We also considered whether the software includes ancillary and related features such as recruiting tools (candidate sourcing, applicant tracking, etc.), payroll and benefits administration, and a reporting dashboard.
Value (25%)
Every decision SMBs make is influenced by cost and value for money (i.e., ROI). So, for our next highest-weighted category, we considered whether pricing information is publicly available and whether or not a free trial is offered. We also factored in each tool’s price per employee per month (when billed monthly and annually).
Service and support (10%)
How responsive and helpful a vendor’s support team is can have a big impact on a business’s success with the software. To measure this, we factored in the kinds of channels available to contact support (including live chat, phone and email) and whether or not the company has a self-help knowledge base available for customers.
Customer reviews (10%)
Another aspect we factored into our scores is customer reviews. We pulled information from three reputable aggregator sites (Trustpilot, G2 and Capterra) to see how previous and current users rate each system, as well as app reviews from users on Google Play and the App Store.
Editors’ Score (10%)
Our Editors’ Score for the top workforce management software for small and medium-sized businesses considered three key factors: features, popularity and ease of use. After initially ranking the top tools using the other categories we’ve mentioned, we evaluated the 10 best products on our ranked list and assigned each an Editors’ Score on a scale from terrible to excellent, with each descriptor associated with a numerical value. The final score (including the Editors’ Score) was then converted into a star rating, with zero stars as the lowest possible score and five stars as the max.
We receive compensation from our partners for Featured Offer placements, which impacts how and where their offer is displayed.
Featured Offers
OnPay
Monthly pricing
From $40 plus $6 per employee
Free trial
30 days
SurePayroll
Monthly pricing
From $29.99 plus $5 per employee
Free trial
6 Months
Gusto
Monthly pricing
From $40 plus $6 per employee
Free trial
Not offered
Rippling
Monthly pricing
Base fee (varies) plus $8 per employee
Free trial
Not offered
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
One of the easiest things a business owner can do to simplify compliance is utilize workforce management software, which can help ensure their employee data is all in one place and free of errors. All businesses are subject to certain regulations, like labor laws. Workforce management software will house information like when someone worked, how many overtime hours were worked, what breaks were taken, etc., which will make it far simpler for you to ensure that you’re in compliance.
Related: Best HRIS systems in 2024
Workforce management software automates some of the core processes that impact payroll, such as timekeeping and scheduling. This simplifies the payroll process and helps to reduce errors.
Contingent workforce management refers to hiring and managing temporary (or non-permanent) employees. This can include independent contractors, gig workers, consultants and any other temporary laborers that an organization utilizes.
