Synchro

Overview

Synchro is physician coverage scheduling software for hospital departments, family medicine groups and medical clinics. It suits teams whose schedules need to account for different shift burdens and individual constraints. Its appeal is the combination of automated assignment and visible fairness tracking; the key compromise is a mobile-friendly website rather than an app.

Key features

Automatic scheduling assigns shifts around team rules, weights and physician constraints. Teams can weight nights, evenings and weekends differently, then compare weighted totals. That is more useful than counting shifts equally when coverage types carry different burdens, though the schedule depends on the constraints and rules the team sets.

Physicians can submit preferences and unavailability in plain language for conversion into structured constraints. This gives clinicians a direct way to express scheduling needs without requiring them to translate every request into a formal rule themselves.

A released shift can be posted to an internal board for an eligible colleague to claim. The schedule and fairness counters update together, keeping the revised roster and its distribution totals aligned. Self-scheduling, availability management, open-shift management and shift templates add coverage workflows around the core scheduler.

Google Calendar sync is one-way; Apple Calendar and iCloud connect through an iCal URL. Those connections help teams view schedules in their calendars, but are not a substitute for two-way calendar editing. CSV export supports analysis and archiving.

Synchro says it requires authentication, uses role-based access, automatic session timeouts and administrative action logs, and retains daily backups for 30 days. It says it does not store patient data, but does not yet hold externally audited SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification. That distinction matters to organizations with formal certification requirements.

Pricing

The Hospital beta costs nothing, billed free during the entire hospital beta. It includes every feature and all users in a department, with no user cap. For hospital departments able to use a beta product, that removes seat-cost pressure; it is not a permanent price commitment beyond the beta.

FMG annual billing is C$10 a year, billed as $10 CAD per user per month once a year. It includes every feature and the first month free. FMG monthly billing is C$15 a month, billed as $15 CAD per user per month with no commitment; it also includes every feature and the first month free. Annual billing lowers the monthly per-user rate but requires paying once a year, while monthly billing costs more per user and avoids a commitment. Pricing includes onboarding, training and support, with onboarding available onsite or by video call.

Platforms

Synchro runs on the web, Android and iOS through a mobile-optimized web interface. There is no native app to install, so teams seeking app-store software should look elsewhere. Calendar connections and CSV exports provide options for viewing and handling schedules outside Synchro.

Who it's for

Hospital departments get the strongest fit during the uncapped beta, particularly when they need automated assignment and weighted fairness counters. Family medicine groups and clinics can choose between monthly flexibility and a lower annual per-user rate. Teams that require native mobile apps or externally audited security certification may find the trade-offs decisive.

Pros and cons

Pros: Weighted totals distinguish the burden of nights, evenings and weekends, giving teams a more meaningful view of distribution.

Pros: Shift claims update both the roster and fairness counters, so transfers do not leave those records out of step.

Pros: The hospital beta includes every feature for unlimited department users at no cost during the beta.

Cons: Mobile access is through a web interface, not a native app.

Cons: Google Calendar sync is one-way, and Apple Calendar/iCloud uses an iCal URL.

Cons: Synchro does not yet hold externally audited SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification.

Alternatives

Healthcare Staff Scheduling Software is a broader directory for readers comparing scheduling products across healthcare.

Choose CronShift if its freemium plans and Android, iOS and web access suit your needs; its Starter plan’s feature details are unclear.

SimpleStaff is worth considering for a small team: its free plan supports 15 team members and includes scheduling, shift swaps, time-off requests and open-shift pickup.

Infor Workforce Management is another paid workforce-management option, with custom pricing through sales.

Lightning Bolt may suit teams considering clinical scheduling with per-seat licensing; scheduled-individual increases require additional licenses.

RosterLab offers a free Digital Rostering plan with manual scheduling, simple rule checks and dynamic statistics for teams that do not need Synchro’s automated assignments.

Amion is an alternative for readers comparing medical scheduling products.

MedAligna may fit organizations looking for credential tracking and expiry blocking alongside schedule building; its Starter plan is $99 a month per location for up to 30 staff.

Wardflow is another paid scheduling option with a free trial.

Verdict

Synchro is a strong choice for hospital departments, family medicine groups and clinics that need physician coverage schedules to respect constraints while making uneven shift burdens visible. The uncapped, all-feature hospital beta is its clearest reason to start, and FMG plans cover every feature at per-user rates. Look elsewhere if a native mobile app or externally audited security certification is essential.