HotSchedules vs Planday

HotSchedules is workforce-management software for restaurant and hospitality operators, covering hiring, payroll, scheduling, compliance and team management. Managers can create schedules using sales and labor data, while employees receive mobile access and real-time updates. Predictive insights help match staffing to demand, with the stated aim of reducing overtime and waste. Compliance tools include predictive scheduling, labor-law alerts and reporting. POS integrations synchronize sales and labor data; named systems include PAR POS, Toast, Oracle Micros and NCR Aloha. Fourth also lists a wider partner set, including Lightspeed U Series, Revel and Simphony. Separate iOS and Android apps are available, each listed at $2.99 in its app store. The HS Team application requires a valid user account provided through the employee’s employer. Fourth’s hospitality pay solutions include instant digital tip payouts and early access to earned wages. HotSchedules runs on web, Android and iOS. Pricing is on request, there is no free plan, and a free trial is listed.

Planday provides employee scheduling and workforce-management software for shift-working teams, on the web and on Android and iOS. Scheduling tools cover availability preferences, shift swaps, open and draft shifts, and reusable schedule templates. Workers can use Punch Clock to clock in and out from their devices, with location restrictions and rounding rules. Managers can compare scheduled and worked hours, approve shifts for payroll, and export timesheets through integrations. The mobile app also supports schedule viewing and updates, hour approvals and team communications. Planday connects with payroll, POS and HR systems, including Xero, Personio, Square, Lightspeed and ADP. Customers can configure working-time rules, contract hours and absence policies for automatic application to schedules, with real-time alerts for violations. The Starter plan includes Help Centre and live chat support; Pro includes dedicated phone support through a call-back service. Planday says it serves small, medium and enterprise businesses across industries such as hospitality, care homes, hotels, entertainment, retail, and fitness and wellness. There is no free plan; a 30-day trial is available. Starter costs £2.99 a month, billed per user/month, with a five-user minimum.