Automatic scheduling costs extra
At ShiftJuggler, automatic roster creation is an add-on, available on request.
Comparison, updated October 2026
ShiftJuggler alternatives: 6 options compared (2026)
ShiftJuggler is a solid, German-hosted tool for shift planning and time tracking. Here are six alternatives for teams that need more forecasting, automation, payroll export or API access, and the cases where ShiftJuggler is still the right call.
Disclosure
We make Soon and run this page. Soon is listed first because this is our page; the other tools follow in the order of our review. This is not a ranking. All details come from the vendorsโ own pages and were last checked on 28 October 2026.
The short answer: which ShiftJuggler alternative fits?
It depends on why you are switching. If you need demand forecasting, automatic scheduling, freelancer planning and an open API for 24/7 operations, look at Soon. If you want a suite with DATEV/LODAS export, look at Papershift or Ordio. If you want to start small and pay nothing, look at Shiftbase. Larger multi-location businesses should check Planday and Quinyx.
When ShiftJuggler is still the right choice
ShiftJuggler is a focused tool: shift planning, time tracking, leave and working-time accounts, built in Berlin and hosted only in Germany. Surcharges for night, Sunday and public holidays and the check against the German Working Time Act are documented.
The price is a package by team size with no base fee and support included: โฌ34 per month for up to 15 people when billed yearly (โฌ39 monthly), โฌ139 or โฌ149 for 31 to 60 people, excluding VAT, plus a 30-day trial without payment details. If that fits your operation, there is little reason to switch.
Why teams look for a ShiftJuggler alternative
Each card is a documented point with a source. None of them makes ShiftJuggler a bad tool; they are the places where teams start looking.
No demand forecasting found
The number of people needed is set per shift; we found no demand forecasting on the pages we read.
API and integrations not described
A public API, SSO, directory sync or an integration overview is not described on the pages we read.
Hosting and language: Germany and German only
ShiftJuggler hosts only in Germany, and the pages we read are in German only. For teams that want EU-wide or US hosting, or need content in several languages, that can be a reason.
Which alternative fits which reason?
Read the first column from top to bottom. Every row that is true for your team leads to a shortlist.
| If this is true | You probably need | Shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| You schedule around the clock under strict working-time rules. | Configurable rules and overtime equalisation | Soon, Quinyx |
| You want to forecast staffing needs. | Demand forecasting | Soon (Scale), Quinyx, Shiftbase (early access) |
| You plan with freelancers or for several clients. | Freelancer planning, BPO | Soon |
| You need a DATEV or LODAS export. | Payroll export in the scheduling tool | Papershift, Ordio, Shiftbase (add-on); for Soon, ask us for the status |
| You want an open API and SSO. | API, SCIM, SAML/OIDC | Soon (Enterprise), Ordio (Pro) |
| You have several locations and want to pay per location. | Location-based pricing model | Ordio, Planday |
| You want to start free. | Free plan | Shiftbase (up to 15 employees) |
The 6 alternatives in detail (not ranked)
Soon comes first, then the tools in the order of our review. The number is the order, not a rating.
1
Soon (our product)
Workforce management platformBest for: Round-the-clock operations and teams that plan with freelancers, for example in AV and multimedia, security and care, that need forecasting, automatic scheduling and an open API
Soon has been on the market since 2019, is fully remote and EU-based (Netherlands). The focus is the plan itself: how many people are needed and who takes which shift under hard working-time rules.
- How it charges
- Per user per month, billed yearly: Grow โฌ8, Scale โฌ16 (monthly billing โฌ10 and โฌ20); Enterprise on request
- Demand forecasting
- AI-supported demand forecasting on the Scale plan
- Automatic scheduling
- AI-supported automated shift scheduling from the Grow plan
- API / integrations
- Open REST API and integrations; SSO (SAML/OIDC) and Directory Sync (SCIM) on the Enterprise plan
- Time tracking
- Coming soon
- Hosting
- EU; US on request
- Trial
- 14, 30 or 60 days depending on the plan, no credit card
DACH points: Company based in the Netherlands, EU hosting. We make no statement on this page about working-time accounts, surcharges or DATEV export; ask us for the current status.
Limits: Time tracking is not available yet (coming soon). No real-time adherence. The Teams app shows no schedule notifications. For small teams that do not need forecasting or automation, the list price is higher than ShiftJugglerโs.
Strengths
- AI-supported demand forecasting and automatic scheduling, part of the plans at Soon rather than an add-on.
- Built for 24/7 operations, with configurable working-time rules and overtime equalisation.
- Strong at planning with freelancers; clients in the AV and multimedia industry, among others.
- Open REST API, integrations and a Teams app; BPO and multiple clients are supported.
Sources: Soon pricing, Automatic scheduling, Demand forecasting ยท Soon vs ShiftJuggler in detail
When Soon is not the right choice
- You need time tracking today (clock in/out, timesheets); at Soon it is coming soon.
- You need working-time accounts, surcharges or a DATEV export as a confirmed feature. We make no statement on that here; ask us for the current status.
- You are looking for the lowest list price for a small team without forecasting or automation needs.
- You need a German-only product from Germany with hosting exclusively in Germany.
2
Papershift
Scheduling, time tracking and payroll preparationBest for: Teams that want time tracking, absences, personnel files and a DATEV/LODAS export in one suite alongside scheduling
Papershift is the closest alternative for teams that mainly want a German suite with payroll preparation. ShiftJuggler compares itself with Papershift on its own page and says Papershift suits teams that want DATEV/LODAS export and an HR suite.
- Demand forecasting
- Not described on the package page we read
- Automatic scheduling
- Premium: automatic shift assignment; Professional: fully automatic roster filling
- API / integrations
- Integrations (including DATEV, Personio); public API not described on the page we read
- Time tracking
- Yes, digital time tracking by smartphone, tablet and browser
- Hosting
- EU hosting, GDPR-compliant data storage
- Trial
- 14 days
DACH points: DATEV and LODAS export in the Professional package according to the package page; a light variant for teams of up to 15 people.
Limits: The support package (from โฌ39 per month) is part of every booking, and fully automatic roster filling sits in the most expensive package.
Strengths
- Scheduling, time tracking, absences and payroll preparation from one vendor.
- DATEV and LODAS export in the Professional package, according to the package page.
- Price per employee, tiered by package.
Sources: Packages and prices
3
Ordio
Scheduling for teams with several locationsBest for: Teams with several locations (Ordio names "over 72 industries") that want a price per location instead of per person
Ordio charges per location and targets teams with several sites. Its own marketing mentions AI-supported shift plans; we have not tested how deep the automation goes.
- How it charges
- Per location per month, billed yearly: Starter โฌ89, Plus โฌ129, Pro โฌ169; Enterprise from 70 employees on request
- Demand forecasting
- Not described on the pricing page we read
- Automatic scheduling
- AI-supported shift plans according to Ordio
- API / integrations
- Pro: public REST API (JSON), partner integrations
- Time tracking
- Yes, from the Plus plan (including GPS check and terminal)
- Hosting
- Servers in Germany according to Ordio
- Trial
- Not stated on the pricing page we read
DACH points: DATEV and payroll export on the Pro plan; servers in Germany.
Limits: Time tracking only starts on the Plus plan, and API and DATEV export only on the Pro plan. The price is per location, not per person.
Strengths
- A price per location can be low when there are many employees per location.
- Public REST API and DATEV/payroll export on the Pro plan.
- Time tracking with GPS check and terminal from Plus.
4
Shiftbase
Scheduling and time tracking for small teamsBest for: Small teams that want to start free, and businesses with mini-jobs
Shiftbase is the obvious choice for small teams that do not want to pay at first. Features such as forecasting and auto-scheduling are still early access according to the pricing page.
- Demand forecasting
- AI revenue forecast as early access in Premium and Enterprise
- Automatic scheduling
- Auto-scheduling as early access in Premium and Enterprise
- API / integrations
- API via the App Center+ add-on (flat โฌ20 per month) or Enterprise; payroll integrations (including DATEV) via App Center+
- Time tracking
- Yes, including clocking in and out
- Hosting
- EU data storage according to its own table
- Trial
- 14 days (Enterprise 30 days)
DACH points: Mini-job management (Germany); ISO/IEC 27001 and EU data storage according to its own security table.
Limits: Forecasting and auto-scheduling are marked as early access, and API and DATEV integration cost an add-on.
Strengths
- Free plan for up to 15 employees.
- Mini-job management and time tracking included.
- Tiered by team size with a low entry point.
Sources: Pricing
5
Planday
Scheduling for multi-location businessesBest for: Businesses with several locations that want reporting, integrations and a German interface
Planday is an established scheduling tool focused on multi-location businesses. The site lists prices in pounds; DACH teams should ask the vendor about hosting and payroll export.
- How it charges
- Starter (from 5 users), Plus and Pro plans; the pricing page lists prices in pounds ("from ยฃ2.99"), Pro on request
- Demand forecasting
- Not described on the pricing page we read
- Automatic scheduling
- Auto-scheduling on the Pro plan
- API / integrations
- Plus: access to integrations and API; integrations include Personio and PAXml
- Time tracking
- Yes, simple time tracking from Starter
- Hosting
- Not stated on the pages we read
- Trial
- 30 days, no credit card
DACH points: German-language site available; integrations with Personio and PAXml; DATEV and hosting not clarified on the pages we read.
Limits: According to the pricing page, auto-scheduling only comes with the Pro plan, and we found no statement on hosting or DATEV.
Strengths
- Reporting and integrations (Plus) for multi-location businesses.
- German-language site and Personio integration.
- 30-day trial without a credit card.
Sources: Pricing, German site, Integrations
6
Quinyx
Enterprise workforce management suiteBest for: Large multi-location businesses (retail, logistics, hospitality, facility management, health) that want an enterprise suite
Quinyx targets large businesses and describes an AI-supported platform with forecasting, scheduling automation, time tracking and analytics. Prices and details are only available in a conversation.
- Demand forecasting
- Forecasting module according to Quinyx
- Automatic scheduling
- Scheduling automation according to Quinyx
- API / integrations
- Not described in detail on the page we read
- Time tracking
- Yes, Time & Attendance according to Quinyx
- Hosting
- Not stated on the pages we read
- Trial
- Not stated on the pages we read
DACH points: Interface also in German according to Quinyx; hosting and payroll export not clarified on the pages we read.
Limits: Prices on request only; the pages we read give no details on API, hosting or trial.
Strengths
- Broad scope from forecasting to time tracking and analytics.
- Aimed at large multi-location businesses.
- Interface also in German.
Comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Demand forecasting | Automatic scheduling | API / integrations | Time tracking | Hosting | Trial | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soon (our product) | Round-the-clock operations and teams that plan with freelancers, for example in AV and multimedia, security and care, that need forecasting, automatic scheduling and an open API | AI-supported demand forecasting on the Scale plan | AI-supported automated shift scheduling from the Grow plan | Open REST API and integrations; SSO (SAML/OIDC) and Directory Sync (SCIM) on the Enterprise plan | Coming soon | EU; US on request | 14, 30 or 60 days depending on the plan, no credit card | Soon pricing |
| Papershift | Teams that want time tracking, absences, personnel files and a DATEV/LODAS export in one suite alongside scheduling | Not described on the package page we read | Premium: automatic shift assignment; Professional: fully automatic roster filling | Integrations (including DATEV, Personio); public API not described on the page we read | Yes, digital time tracking by smartphone, tablet and browser | EU hosting, GDPR-compliant data storage | 14 days | Packages and prices |
| Ordio | Teams with several locations (Ordio names "over 72 industries") that want a price per location instead of per person | Not described on the pricing page we read | AI-supported shift plans according to Ordio | Pro: public REST API (JSON), partner integrations | Yes, from the Plus plan (including GPS check and terminal) | Servers in Germany according to Ordio | Not stated on the pricing page we read | Pricing |
| Shiftbase | Small teams that want to start free, and businesses with mini-jobs | AI revenue forecast as early access in Premium and Enterprise | Auto-scheduling as early access in Premium and Enterprise | API via the App Center+ add-on (flat โฌ20 per month) or Enterprise; payroll integrations (including DATEV) via App Center+ | Yes, including clocking in and out | EU data storage according to its own table | 14 days (Enterprise 30 days) | Pricing |
| Planday | Businesses with several locations that want reporting, integrations and a German interface | Not described on the pricing page we read | Auto-scheduling on the Pro plan | Plus: access to integrations and API; integrations include Personio and PAXml | Yes, simple time tracking from Starter | Not stated on the pages we read | 30 days, no credit card | Pricing |
| Quinyx | Large multi-location businesses (retail, logistics, hospitality, facility management, health) that want an enterprise suite | Forecasting module according to Quinyx | Scheduling automation according to Quinyx | Not described in detail on the page we read | Yes, Time & Attendance according to Quinyx | Not stated on the pages we read | Not stated on the pages we read | Home page |
| ShiftJugglerAusgangspunkt | Lean German tool for shift planning, time tracking and working-time accounts | Not described on the pages we read | Add-on, price on request | Not described on the pages we read | In the standard package; time-clock app and terminal interface as add-ons | Germany only | 30 days, no payment details | ShiftJuggler pricing |
Compared on 28 October 2026 from vendor pages. "Not described on the pages we read" means not found, not absent. Prices are deliberately not in the table; they appear as a sourced line in each profile.
Broadcasting, AV, multimedia, control rooms and freelancers: what to check
Operations with on-air, production, event-technology or control-room teams plan around the clock, mix permanent staff and freelancers, and have to re-plan at short notice. Check with every vendor: shift sequences and rest periods under working-time law, surcharges by collective agreement, qualifications per duty, availability of freelancers and the hand-over to HR and planning systems through an API.
Soon is built for 24/7 operations, strong at planning with freelancers and has clients in the AV and multimedia industry. Quinyx describes a platform for large multi-location businesses. ShiftJuggler has no industry page for broadcasting, media or control rooms on the pages we read.
Pricing models compared
The vendors charge in different units, so we compare the models instead of totals: a package by team size (ShiftJuggler), a price per employee plus a support fee (Papershift), a price per location (Ordio), a base price with included employees plus a surcharge per extra one (Shiftbase), a price per user (Soon), or a quote on request (Quinyx, Planday Pro).
Add the add-ons and mandatory parts: at ShiftJuggler automatic scheduling, at Papershift the support package, at Shiftbase API and payroll integrations, at Ordio the plan level for API and payroll export. Also check which plan holds the feature that triggers your switch.
Also considered (not reviewed)
These tools appear on third-party lists. We have not reviewed their vendor pages for this comparison and will only add them to the main set after a review.
- Aplano
- plano
- Planerio
- Crewmeister
- gastromatic
- medishift (by its own description specialised in medical practices)
- Factorial
- shyftplan
How we chose these tools
We started from the reasons teams leave ShiftJuggler or do not choose it in the first place, and reviewed tools with a link to the German-speaking market. The basis is only the vendorsโ public pages on 28 October 2026; we did not test any of the tools hands-on. Soon runs this page and is one of the tools. Corrections are welcome.
01
Automatic scheduling under working-time and rest-period rules
02
Demand forecasting
03
API, SSO and integrations
04
Time tracking and payroll export (DATEV/LODAS)
05
Hosting and data storage in Germany or the EU
06
Pricing model, trial and transparency
Last reviewed:
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to ShiftJuggler?
It depends on why you are switching. Soon suits 24/7 operations that need AI-supported scheduling, demand forecasting, freelancer planning and an open API; Papershift suits teams that want DATEV/LODAS export in one suite; Ordio suits businesses with several locations; Shiftbase suits a free start; Planday and Quinyx suit larger multi-location businesses. We make Soon.
Is there a free alternative to ShiftJuggler?
Shiftbase has a free plan for up to 15 employees (checked 28 October 2026). ShiftJuggler has no free plan but offers a 30-day trial without payment details. Soon offers a trial of 14, 30 or 60 days depending on the plan, with no credit card.
Which scheduling software has a DATEV export?
Papershift names DATEV and LODAS export in its Professional package, Ordio names DATEV and payroll export on its Pro plan, and Shiftbase lists payroll integrations such as DATEV via its App Center+ add-on. ShiftJuggler names PDF/CSV reports for payroll but no DATEV interface on the pages we read. We make no statement about Soon here; ask us for the current status.
Which ShiftJuggler alternative offers demand forecasting?
Soon offers AI-supported demand forecasting on the Scale plan. Quinyx names a forecasting module, and Shiftbase an AI revenue forecast as early access in Premium and Enterprise. We found no demand forecasting on ShiftJugglerโs public pages (checked 28 October 2026).
Which scheduling software suits 24/7 operations and freelancers?
Soon is built for round-the-clock operations under strict working-time rules and for teams with freelancers: configurable rules, overtime equalisation, self-scheduling and an open API; Soon has clients in the AV and multimedia industry. Quinyx targets large multi-location businesses. ShiftJuggler also plans night and continuous shifts with working-time checks.
Which alternatives host in Germany or the EU?
ShiftJuggler hosts only in Germany. Ordio names servers in Germany, Papershift EU hosting and Shiftbase EU data storage; Soon hosts in the EU, with US hosting on request. We found no hosting statement for Planday and Quinyx on the pages we read, so ask the vendor.
When should I stay with ShiftJuggler?
Stay with ShiftJuggler if you mainly need German-language scheduling, time tracking and working-time accounts at a low package price: from โฌ34 per month for up to 15 people, with a 30-day trial. Switch if you need forecasting, built-in automatic scheduling, an API or hosting outside Germany.
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