Deputy pricing: per-user costs, Premium vs Enterprise, free trial, and buyer questions

Deputy is one of the few scheduling platforms that publishes pricing transparently on its website. The Premium plan costs $6 per user per month, and that number includes the full feature set — scheduling, time tracking, break planning, auto-scheduling, labor cost forecasting, and integrations with payroll and POS systems. No hidden module fees, no feature gating behind higher tiers, and no surprises at checkout. For a market where many workforce management tools hide pricing behind sales conversations, Deputy's transparency is a meaningful advantage for buyers who want to model costs before committing.

This pricing breakdown covers what the $6 per user price actually includes, when the Enterprise plan makes sense over Premium, and how Deputy's total cost of ownership compares to When I Work, Homebase, and Connecteam — including the fact that Deputy does not include payroll, which changes the total cost calculation.

Written by Maya PatelFact-checked by ChandrasmitaLast updated Mar 22, 2026

Use this Deputy pricing page to understand what buyers actually pay, what changes the cost, and what to verify before procurement.

31-day free trial, no credit card required. No commitment required.

Deputy pricing overview: what the published pricing actually includes

Deputy's pricing structure is refreshingly simple: one published plan at $6 per user per month with all features included, and a custom-priced Enterprise tier for larger organizations. There are no per-location fees, no per-feature add-ons, and no tiered feature gating that forces upgrades for basic capabilities. At $6 per user per month, a 50-person business pays $300 monthly, a 100-person business pays $600, and the math scales linearly.

The $6 PUPM covers the full scheduling suite — drag-and-drop schedule builder, auto-scheduling, shift swapping, open shift posting, and team availability management. Time and attendance tracking includes mobile clock-in, web clock-in, iPad kiosk with facial recognition, and geofencing. Break planning compliance tools enforce state-specific and local break regulations. Labor cost forecasting shows projected costs against revenue targets as you build the schedule. And integrations with payroll platforms (ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Xero, QuickBooks) and POS systems (Square, Toast, Clover, Lightspeed) are all included at no extra charge.

The Enterprise plan adds advanced compliance management, custom API access, SSO, a dedicated account manager, and priority support. Buyer reports suggest Enterprise pricing runs $8 to $12 per user per month depending on organization size and contract terms. For businesses under 200 employees, the Premium plan covers virtually every need. Enterprise becomes relevant when you require custom integrations, complex multi-jurisdiction compliance rule enforcement, or SLA-backed support response times.

The pricing transparency extends to the trial period. Deputy offers a 31-day free trial with no credit card required — long enough to run the platform through two or three scheduling cycles with real employee data. This trial length is more generous than most competitors and provides enough time to evaluate auto-scheduling, break compliance, and payroll integration before committing.

Premium: $6/user/month (Scheduling, time and attendance, break planning, auto-scheduling, integrations, labor cost forecasting, mobile app, reporting)
Enterprise: Custom pricing (Everything in Premium plus advanced compliance tools, custom API access, SSO, dedicated account manager, priority support)

Pricing source: official pricing page, verified 2026-03-17.

How to evaluate Deputy pricing before you talk to sales

Deputy pricing should be evaluated in the context of team size, operating complexity, and the commercial metric that makes cost rise over time.

Buyers should use this page to understand more than the headline price. The real decision usually depends on implementation scope, support level, add-on exposure, and whether the pricing model still makes sense once the team grows.

  • Clarify whether cost scales by employee count, recruiter seats, payroll runs, locations, or another metric.
  • Confirm what implementation, premium support, compliance, or service add-ons do to total spend.
  • Model pricing against the actual team size and operating complexity expected over the next 12 months.

Deputy plan breakdown: Premium vs Enterprise

For the vast majority of shift-based businesses with 20 to 200 employees, the Premium plan at $6 per user per month is the right and only choice. It includes everything the platform offers except enterprise-specific features that most businesses do not need. Do not overthink the plan selection — start with Premium, use the 31-day trial to validate the fit, and only explore Enterprise if you encounter a specific limitation around SSO, custom API access, or dedicated support.

Enterprise makes sense for multi-location operations with 200-plus employees where custom compliance configurations across multiple jurisdictions, priority support with guaranteed response times, and a dedicated account manager add operational value. If you operate 10-plus locations across states with different break laws and scheduling regulations, the Enterprise compliance tools may justify the premium. For everyone else, Premium delivers the full product.

Deputy Premium — what it includes and why it covers most use cases

Premium at $6 per user per month includes the complete scheduling suite (drag-and-drop builder, auto-scheduling, shift swapping, templates, multi-location support), time and attendance (mobile, web, iPad kiosk, facial recognition, geofencing), break planning compliance (jurisdiction-specific rules, violation flagging, documentation), labor cost forecasting (real-time cost projection, budget tracking, revenue-to-labor ratio), and all integrations (payroll, POS, HR, Slack, Teams, Zapier, REST API). There is no meaningful feature limitation on Premium — the only things reserved for Enterprise are admin-level capabilities like SSO and dedicated account management.

Deputy Enterprise — when the upgrade is actually necessary

Enterprise adds the features that matter at scale: advanced compliance management for complex multi-jurisdiction operations, custom API access for building proprietary integrations, SSO for enterprise access management and security requirements, a dedicated account manager who knows your business, and priority support with faster response times than the standard email and chat channels. At an estimated $8 to $12 per user per month, the Enterprise premium of $2 to $6 per user over Premium translates to real money at scale — for a 500-person business, the difference is $1,000 to $3,000 per month. That premium should only be paid when one of the Enterprise-specific features is a genuine requirement, not a nice-to-have.

Deputy hidden costs and what the per-user price does not cover

Deputy does not include payroll, which means a multi-tool stack and integration dependency

The most important cost consideration with Deputy is what it does not include: payroll processing, HR management, onboarding, performance reviews, and applicant tracking. Deputy is a scheduling and time tracking tool, full stop. For a complete workforce management solution, you need Deputy plus a payroll provider (Gusto at $40/month base plus $6 PEPM, or ADP, Paychex, etc.) plus potentially an HR tool. A 50-person business paying $300/month for Deputy and $340/month for Gusto's Simple plan is already at $640/month total — compared to Homebase's free scheduling with paid payroll at $39/month base plus $6/person. The multi-tool math matters.

iPad kiosk hardware is a separate expense for on-site time clocks

Deputy's iPad kiosk mode with facial recognition is included in the subscription, but the iPad hardware is not. Each kiosk location requires an iPad (approximately $329 to $449 per device). For multi-location operations with 5 to 20 sites, the hardware cost adds $1,645 to $8,980 in one-time expenses. The hardware investment is modest compared to dedicated time clock devices from competitors, but it should be budgeted.

How Deputy pricing compares to When I Work, Homebase, and Connecteam

Deputy vs When I Work on price

When I Work offers a Standard plan at $2.50 per user per month (basic scheduling and messaging) and an Advanced plan at $6 per user per month (scheduling, time tracking, and labor forecasting). Deputy Premium at $6 per user per month includes break compliance, auto-scheduling, and deeper POS integrations that When I Work Advanced lacks or limits. For businesses that only need basic shift scheduling, When I Work Standard at $2.50 per user saves 58 percent compared to Deputy. For businesses that need break compliance, labor cost management, and auto-scheduling, Deputy at $6 delivers more value at the same price as When I Work Advanced.

Deputy vs Homebase on price

Homebase offers a free plan that includes basic scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging for one location. Paid plans range from $24.95 to $99.95 per location per month (not per user). For a single-location business with 20 employees, Homebase's free plan costs $0 compared to Deputy's $120/month. For a 5-location business with 100 total employees, Homebase's paid plans run $125 to $500 per month compared to Deputy's $600. Homebase wins on price for small and multi-location operations but lacks Deputy's auto-scheduling, break compliance depth, and POS integration breadth.

What the pricing gap means for shift-based businesses

Deputy sits at the value tier of scheduling software — more capable than free and budget tools, but a fraction of the cost of enterprise WFM platforms like UKG ($15-plus per user) or Dayforce ($28-plus PEPM). The $6 per user price point is competitive for what you get: a complete scheduling and time tracking platform with real labor cost management capabilities. The key question is whether you need Deputy's scheduling depth enough to justify the separate payroll and HR tools, or whether an all-in-one platform that includes basic scheduling alongside payroll and HR provides better total value.

Deputy pricing buyer checklist: what to evaluate during the 31-day trial

Calculate the total cost of Deputy plus your payroll provider before comparing to all-in-one alternatives

Deputy at $6 per user per month does not include payroll. Add your payroll provider's cost to get the true total. Compare that combined number against all-in-one platforms like Homebase (free scheduling plus paid payroll) and Connecteam (bundled scheduling, training, and communication). If the all-in-one total is lower and the scheduling capabilities are adequate for your needs, the integrated approach may deliver better economics.

Use the 31-day free trial with real employee data, not test data

Import your actual team roster, set up real availability, and build schedules for the upcoming two weeks. Run Deputy in parallel with your current scheduling method to compare time spent, schedule quality, and manager satisfaction. Pay attention to the auto-scheduling feature — it needs a few cycles of real data before producing useful results.

Test the payroll integration during the trial to verify data flow accuracy

Connect your payroll provider during the trial and verify that approved timesheets sync correctly. Check that overtime calculations, break deductions, and custom pay categories transfer accurately. Integration issues found after committing are harder to resolve than during the trial when you have alternatives.

If you are in California or another state with complex break laws, validate the compliance tools

Configure the break compliance rules for your specific jurisdiction during the trial and test them against actual shift patterns. Have employees use the break tracking feature for at least one full week. Verify that the compliance documentation captures what you would need for an audit or wage dispute. For California businesses, the meal period penalty protection alone can justify the subscription cost.

Assess whether Premium is sufficient before considering Enterprise pricing

Start the trial on Premium. Only request Enterprise pricing if you encounter a specific limitation around SSO, custom API access, dedicated support, or advanced compliance. Most businesses under 200 employees find Premium fully sufficient. The Enterprise premium adds real cost — make sure it adds real value for your specific situation.

Frequently asked questions about Deputy pricing

Deputy pricing is straightforward, transparent, and fair. The $6 per user per month Premium plan includes the full scheduling, time tracking, and labor cost management platform with no feature gating. For shift-based businesses with 20 to 500 employees, it is one of the best values in the scheduling market. The caveat is the multi-tool stack: Deputy plus a payroll provider plus an HR tool can approach the cost of an all-in-one platform. Run the total-cost math before committing. If scheduling quality and labor cost management are your primary needs and you already have payroll covered, Deputy's pricing is hard to beat.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Deputy cost per user per month?

Deputy's Premium plan costs $6 per user per month billed monthly. This includes scheduling, time and attendance, break planning, auto-scheduling, labor cost forecasting, and integrations with payroll and POS systems. The Enterprise plan is custom-priced and typically relevant for organizations above 200 employees that need SSO, advanced compliance, and dedicated support. Annual billing discounts may be available.

Does Deputy offer a free plan?

Deputy does not offer a permanent free plan, but it does offer a 31-day free trial with full access to Premium features. No credit card is required to start the trial. This is generous compared to competitors — Homebase offers a free plan with limited features, while When I Work requires a paid subscription for most functionality.

Is Deputy cheaper than When I Work?

Deputy's Premium plan at $6 per user per month includes labor cost forecasting, break compliance, and auto-scheduling — features that When I Work reserves for its Advanced plan at the same $6 per user rate. When I Work's Standard plan at $2.50 per user is cheaper for basic scheduling. If you need break compliance and labor cost forecasting, Deputy provides more value at the same price. If you just need basic shift scheduling, When I Work Standard is more economical.

Does Deputy include payroll?

No. Deputy is a scheduling and time tracking tool, not a payroll platform. You need a separate payroll provider — Deputy integrates with ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Xero, QuickBooks, and MYOB. Approved timesheets flow directly to the connected payroll system. The total cost of Deputy plus a payroll provider should be compared against all-in-one platforms like Homebase that include basic payroll.

How much does Deputy cost for a team of 50 people?

At $6 per user per month on the Premium plan, a 50-person team pays $300 per month or $3,600 per year. This includes all scheduling, time tracking, break planning, and integration features with no additional per-feature charges. Enterprise pricing for 50 users would be custom but is typically only necessary for organizations above 200 employees.

What does the Deputy Enterprise plan include that Premium does not?

Enterprise adds advanced compliance management tools, custom API access, single sign-on (SSO), a dedicated account manager, and priority support with faster response times. For most businesses under 200 employees, Premium covers all necessary features. Enterprise becomes relevant when you need custom integrations, multi-jurisdiction compliance rule sets, or SLA-backed support.

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