Most teams run scheduling in one tool and time tracking in another, then reconcile the two in a spreadsheet before payroll. ClockOut is employee scheduling software and a GPS time clock in the same app: the schedule you publish is the schedule punches are checked against.
Why scheduling and the time clock belong together
- One source of truth. A schedule in one app and punches in another means someone reconciles them by hand. ClockOut compares worked time against the published schedule automatically.
- Fewer no-shows. Employees see the published week in the same app they clock in with, get notified about new shifts, and can confirm or decline a shift so managers know it was seen.
- Conflicts caught before publishing. Availability and approved time off stay visible while the schedule is built, so shifts do not land on people who cannot work them.
- Overtime you see coming. Overtime-approaching alerts fire from real worked hours, not from the plan alone.
What the scheduling side includes
Shift building and recurring schedules
Create shifts for any location, then publish the week when it is ready. Teams whose weeks repeat can save recurring schedules on Starter and reuse them instead of rebuilding from scratch. Shifts show up on each employee's phone the moment the schedule is published.
Open shifts and shift swaps
Post an open shift and let eligible employees pick it up, or let two employees agree a swap that a manager approves. Coverage gaps get filled without a group-text scramble.
Availability and PTO in the same view
Employees set the times they can work, and approved time off from the PTO tracker appears alongside it. The schedule builder shows both, which is how double-bookings stop happening.
Shift confirmation
On Starter and Pro, employees can confirm or decline an assigned shift. Managers see at a glance which shifts were acknowledged and which need a follow-up, before the day of the shift rather than after.
The time clock checks the schedule
Every punch is GPS-stamped on every plan, and Starter can enforce a geofence around the work area. Because the time clock and the schedule share one system, the exception inbox flags late arrivals, missed clock-outs, and unscheduled time for review before payroll.
Employee scheduling plans compared
| Free | Starter | Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $3 / employee / month | $5 / employee / month |
| Active employees | Up to 2 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Basic scheduling | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| GPS-stamped time clock | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recurring schedules | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open shifts and swaps | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Availability and PTO | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shift confirmation | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Overtime-approaching alerts | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Labor budgeting and forecasting | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payroll runs and formatted exports | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Publish your first schedule in four steps
- 01
Create the business
Start free, set the timezone and pay-period basics, and add the first work location.
- 02
Invite the team
Add employees and let them open ClockOut in a phone browser. They will see shifts and clock in from the same place.
- 03
Collect availability
On Starter, employees set when they can work and request time off, so the builder shows real constraints.
- 04
Build and publish
Create shifts, check them against availability and PTO, publish the week, and watch confirmations come in.
Employee scheduling FAQ
Is there a free employee scheduling app?
ClockOut is free for up to 2 active employees and includes basic scheduling plus the GPS-stamped time clock, pay estimates, and CSV export. The free plan does not expire. Larger teams and features like recurring schedules, open shifts, swaps, and availability are on Starter at $3 per employee per month.
What is the difference between an employee scheduling app and employee scheduling software?
In practice they describe the same product. ClockOut runs in the browser on phones, tablets, and desktops, so it works as a scheduling app for employees on their phones and as scheduling software for the manager building the week at a desk.
Can employees swap shifts themselves?
On Starter and Pro, employees can request a swap with a coworker or pick up a posted open shift, and a manager approves the change. The schedule stays accurate because the approval updates it directly.
Does the schedule connect to time tracking and payroll?
Yes. The time clock checks punches against the published schedule, exceptions surface for review, and approved timesheets export as CSV on every plan. Pro adds payroll runs and export files formatted for ADP, Gusto, and QuickBooks. These are file-based workflows, not a direct payroll API connection.
Do employees need to install anything?
No. ClockOut works in any modern phone browser and can be added to the home screen. Teams that share a device can use PIN-based kiosk mode on Starter and Pro instead.
Related pages
- Time clock for small business covers the time-tracking side in depth.
- Free work schedule maker builds a printable weekly schedule with no signup.
- Restaurant scheduling and healthcare scheduling cover industry-specific workflows.