Deska vs Hot Desk

Deska is desk-booking software for hybrid offices. Employees reserve specific desks on an interactive office map and can set recurring weekly schedules. Administrators upload SVG floor plans and place desk markers with a drag-and-drop editor. Booking controls include windows, maximum consecutive days, release times, and per-office access rules. A Telegram bot lets employees check availability, book, or cancel without another Deska app or login. Admin dashboards show real-time and historical attendance, with CSV export for facilities planning, HR reporting, and lease decisions. Deska is available on the web and iOS; the iOS app can scan desk QR codes, processing camera images on the device without storing or uploading them. The product is aimed at hybrid or flexible-work organizations, typically with 20 to 500 employees, including technology companies, agencies, professional services firms, and coworking operators. The Simple plan is free forever at free for one office, two desks, and two users. Paid plans start at $99 a month, with larger limits and added controls. A free trial is advertised, but no duration is stated.

Hot Desk helps hybrid office teams coordinate attendance and reserve workplace spaces through Slack. Teams can create named spaces with locations, then use Slack to book a preferred desk and see who is nearby. Users can also check meeting-room availability, equipment and capacity before booking. Administrators can limit a space to specified users, reserve numbered parking spots or set a car-park booking limit, and send weekly reminders to book. Google Calendar sync carries working locations and meeting-room bookings from Hot Desk to Google Calendar; the listed sync runs only in that direction. The service is web-based and offers a free Starter plan for up to five seats, with unlimited admins and no per-user charge. A 30-day trial is available. Pricing is based on bookable workplace capacity. Hot Desk is headquartered in Corby, England, UK.