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Planday vs MakeShift Comparison

Last updated:

Planday

4.1(240 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Planday is employee scheduling software built specifically for small business owners. The software allows to easily update hourly staffing needs across the entire business including employees, groups, schedules, time off…

MakeShift

Starting at $2 per employee per month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

MakeShift is an employee scheduling and communications platform that focuses on shifting schedules, on-the-fly shifts, and secure communication between business and employees. It records employee's time check-in& -out ti…

Planday leads on user satisfaction with a 4.1-star rating across 240 reviews.

Planday vs MakeShift — at a glance

FeaturePlandayMakeShift
Rating4.1 / 5
Reviews240
Starting priceContact for pricing$2 per employee per month
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryEmployee Scheduling SoftwareEmployee Scheduling Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineOnline
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Planday and MakeShift

  • Pricing: MakeShift starts at $2 per employee per month. Planday pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Deployment: Planday supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; MakeShift supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Planday vs MakeShift — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Employee Scheduling Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Planday - Employee Scheduling Software
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Talk to an expert
MakeShift - Employee Scheduling Software
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Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Planday

Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, efficient employee scheduling.

Choose if
  • You manage a 50-1000 employee operation in hospitality, retail, or healthcare.
  • You want easy schedule updates, time off tracking, and labor cost reporting.
  • You value responsive customer support and a user-friendly, low-complexity setup.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your business requires advanced messaging or team communication features.
  • You need seamless integration with external calendar systems like iCal.

MakeShift

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Planday typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. MakeShift tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Planday is employee scheduling software built specifically for small business owners. The software allows to easily update hourly staffing needs across the entire business including ... Read More about Planday

MakeShift is an employee scheduling and communications platform that focuses on shifting schedules, on-the-fly shifts, and secure communication between business and employees. It records ... Read More about MakeShift

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $2 , yearly

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.7/10

8.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

50-500 employees501-1,000 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Planday

  • Streamlined Scheduling: With Planday, managers can easily create and adjust employee schedules in real-time, ensuring that staffing levels are optimized without the hassle of manual adjustments. You’ll appreciate how this saves time and reduces scheduling conflicts.
  • Enhanced Communication: Planday fosters seamless communication between team members and management. Your employees can receive updates, swap shifts, and ask questions directly through the platform, which cultivates a more engaged and informed workforce.
  • Powerful Analytics: Leverage Planday’s robust reporting tools to gain insights into labor costs, employee performance, and attendance trends. You can make data-driven decisions that enhance operational efficiency and ultimately improve your bottom line.
Best fit

Best fit

Planday

  • 50 to 1,000 employees
  • Hospitality, Retail, Healthcare, and Construction
  • Operations Managers, Shift Supervisors, HR Managers, and Team Leaders
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Planday

  • Users may seek alternatives to Planday if they require more customizable scheduling options, allowing for tailored workflows that better fit their unique business needs and employee preferences.
  • Some businesses might find Planday's pricing structure less favorable, prompting them to explore cost-effective solutions that provide similar functionalities without compromising on features.
  • Companies with specific industry requirements may look for alternatives that offer specialized tools or integrations, ensuring seamless operations within their existing systems and processes.

MakeShift

No alternatives guidance available yet.

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

MakeShift has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

Need a second opinion?

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Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do Planday and MakeShift Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

7 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Planday and MakeShift on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • Not Available
      • $2 , yearly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Planday pricing
      MakeShift pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      ✗ No

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      Planday User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      No reviews available for the product

      Rating Distribution

      205

      40

      3

      3

      22

      112

      63

      16

      3

      3

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall positive sentiment highlights Planday's ease of use, helpful support, and effective scheduling features, tempered by some usability and integration limitations.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Customer support responsiveness
      • Reporting and payroll efficiency

      Common complaints

      • Performance issues on mobile
      • Limited external calendar integration

      What buyers like

      • On-the-fly shift management
      • Secure employee communication
      • Time tracking features

      Common complaints

      • Limited reporting capabilities
      • May lack advanced integrations
      • Not suitable for large teams

      Pros and Cons

      • User-friendly interface that simplifies schedule planning and communication

      • Responsive and helpful customer support team

      • Robust reporting tools that streamline payroll and labor cost management

      • Occasional lagging and loading issues, especially on mobile devices

      • Limited integration with external calendar applications

      • Flexibility in scheduling enhances operational efficiency.

      • Secure communication fosters better employee engagement.

      • Time tracking features ensure accurate payroll management.

      • Reporting features may be too basic for some.

      • Limited integrations with other software.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      Best Western

      Best Western

      ELLARY’S GREENS

      ELLARY’S GREENS

      International SOS

      International SOS

      Jenis

      Jenis

      Virgin

      Virgin

      Alberta Health Service

      Alberta Health Service

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      MakeShift

      4 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      No videos available.

      Top Alternatives to Planday and MakeShift in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Planday or MakeShift?
      Planday edges out the other on user ratings (4.1 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Planday and MakeShift offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Planday and MakeShift offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Planday vs MakeShift?
      Planday starts at Contact for pricing. MakeShift starts at $2 per employee per month.
      What are the top alternatives to Planday?
      Top alternatives to Planday include 7shifts, Findmyshift, TrackSmart Scheduling, eSchedule, MakeShift.
      What are the top alternatives to MakeShift?
      Top alternatives to MakeShift include ShiftBase, Findmyshift, TrackSmart Scheduling, eSchedule, My Work Scheduler.

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