Full comparison of pricing, features, AI scheduling, compliance, and time clock. Senzii is free and open-source with AI-powered shift matching — Deputy charges $4.50–$9/user/month across paid tiers.
Senzii wins on price (free and open-source vs $4.50–$9/user/month), AI-powered shift matching (included vs not available), and MCP integration for managing schedules via ChatGPT or Claude. Deputy has an excellent GPS time clock with biometrics, comprehensive labor law compliance monitoring, demand forecasting, built-in task management, native iOS and Android apps, and payroll integrations. For teams that need AI scheduling and shift matching at zero cost, Senzii delivers. For teams that need time clocking, compliance, and an all-in-one platform, Deputy is the stronger choice.
Senzii is free and open-source — no per-seat fees, no tiers, no add-ons. Deputy splits features across Lite, Core, and Pro tiers, plus paid add-ons.
| Feature | Senzii | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free / Open-source | Lite: $4.50, Core: $6.50, Pro: $9/user/month |
| 10-person team cost | $0/month | $45/month (Lite) / $65/month (Core) / $90/month (Pro) |
| 20-person team cost | $0/month | $90/month (Lite) / $130/month (Core) / $180/month (Pro) |
| 50-person team cost | $0/month | $225/month (Lite) / $325/month (Core) / $450/month (Pro) |
| All features included | ✓ Yes — no tiers | ✗ Split across tiers + paid add-ons |
| Add-on costs | $0 — no add-ons | Payroll ($8/user + $49/mo), HR ($2/user), Messaging+ ($1.95/user), Analytics+ ($1.50/user) |
| Free trial | Free forever — no trial needed | 31 days |
| Setup fee | $0 | $0 |
| Contract required | No — open-source | No (monthly) / Yes (annual discount) |
| Source code available | ✓ Apache License 2.0 | ✗ Proprietary |
Deputy pricing verified August 2026 from deputy.com/pricing. Senzii is free and open-source under the Apache License 2.0.
| Capability | Senzii | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| AI-powered shift matching | ✓ Included (find_candidates + assignment engine) | ✗ Not available (auto-scheduling on Core+, not AI matching) |
| Auto-assign by skills & certifications | ✓ AI-powered | ✓ Auto-scheduling (Core+) |
| Cross-location smart assignment | ✓ AI-powered | ✓ Manual / auto-scheduling (Core+) |
| Shift templates | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag-and-drop schedule builder | Not yet | ✓ |
| Shift swap | ✓ Basic | ✓ Find replacement |
| Shift bidding | ✓ | Not yet |
| PTO / time-off requests | ✓ | ✓ Leave management |
| Certification tracking | ✓ With expiration alerts | ✓ |
| Availability management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coverage gap detection | ✓ | Not yet |
| Multi-location support | ✓ | ✓ |
| MCP integration (ChatGPT/Claude) | ✓ Manage schedules via AI assistants | ✗ Not available |
| Audit trail | ✓ | ✓ |
| API access | ✓ Open-source | ✓ |
| Time clock | Not yet | ✓ GPS + biometrics + geofencing |
| GPS location verification | Not yet | ✓ |
| Biometrics (facial recognition) | Not yet | ✓ Core+ |
| Geofencing | Not yet | ✓ |
| Compliance monitoring | Not yet | ✓ All plans (advanced on Core+) |
| Labor law compliance | Not yet | ✓ |
| Overtime alerts | Not yet | ✓ |
| Break enforcement | Not yet | ✓ |
| Demand forecasting | Not yet | ✓ Core+ |
| Traffic-based staffing | Not yet | ✓ Demand forecasting (Core+) |
| Labor optimization / budgets | Not yet | ✓ Core+ |
| Task management | Not yet | ✓ Built-in |
| Workplace communication | Not yet (no built-in messaging) | ✓ News feed + Messaging+ |
| Mobile app | ✓ Mobile-first web app | ✓ Native iOS + Android |
| Push notifications | ✓ (via web) | ✓ Native |
| Analytics | Not yet (no advanced dashboard) | ✓ Basic (Lite) / Analytics+ add-on |
| Labor cost reporting | Not yet | ✓ |
| Payroll integrations | Not yet | ✓ QuickBooks, ADP, Xero, Gusto, Square |
| Slack / Teams / Zapier | Not yet | ✓ (via integrations) |
| Self-serve onboarding | Not yet | ✓ |
| Support | Community (GitHub) | ✓ 24/7 live chat (Pro) + dedicated CSM |
Deputy's auto-scheduling (Core+) uses rules and templates. Senzii's AI matching engine — find_candidates and the assignment engine — considers skills, availability, certifications, and coverage needs to suggest the optimal employee for each shift. One click replaces 30 minutes of manual work. And it's free and open-source.
Senzii is free under the Apache License 2.0. No per-seat fees, no tiers, no add-ons, no trial limitations. Deputy charges $4.50–$9/user/month, plus add-ons for payroll ($8/user + $49/mo base), HR ($2/user), messaging ($1.95/user), and analytics ($1.50/user). For a 50-person team on Deputy Pro, that's $450/month before add-ons. Senzii costs $0.
Senzii supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), so you can manage schedules through AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude. Ask your AI assistant to find coverage, check gaps, or assign shifts — all through natural language. Deputy does not offer MCP integration.
Deputy shows your schedule but doesn't proactively identify problems. Senzii detects uncovered shifts and understaffed periods — with actionable recommendations to fix them before they impact operations.
Senzii includes shift bidding, letting employees bid on open shifts based on their availability and qualifications. Deputy does not currently offer shift bidding — it relies on shift swap and find replacement features instead.
Senzii is open-source — you can self-host and retain complete control of your workforce data. No vendor lock-in, no data export limits, no subscription to cancel. Deputy is proprietary SaaS; your data lives on their servers and access depends on your subscription.
Fair comparison — Deputy has real strengths that Senzii doesn't match yet:
Deputy's time clock is one of the best in the industry — GPS verification, facial recognition biometrics, and geofencing (Core+). Senzii does not have a time clock. If built-in time clocking is essential, Deputy is the clear winner.
Deputy includes labor law compliance on all plans, with advanced compliance on Core and Pro. This includes overtime alerts, break enforcement, and compliance reporting. Senzii does not currently offer compliance monitoring. For regulated industries, Deputy is the safer choice.
Deputy Core+ includes demand forecasting, traffic-based staffing, and labor optimization with wage and labor budgets. Senzii does not offer demand forecasting. If you need data-driven staffing predictions, Deputy delivers.
Deputy includes task assignment and checklists within shifts. Senzii does not have built-in task management. If your team needs tasks tied directly to shifts, Deputy's built-in approach is cleaner.
Deputy offers native iOS and Android apps — refined over years of development, with offline support and push notifications. Senzii is a mobile-first web app, not native. For teams that need a native mobile experience, Deputy is stronger.
Deputy integrates with QuickBooks, ADP, Xero, Gusto, and Square, plus offers Deputy Payroll as an add-on. Senzii does not currently have payroll integrations. If seamless payroll processing is a must, Deputy has broader coverage.
Deputy has a built-in communication channel (News feed) for announcements and team updates, plus Messaging+ as an add-on. Senzii does not have built-in team messaging. Some teams prefer an all-in-one platform.
Deputy includes basic reporting on Lite and advanced analytics via the Analytics+ add-on. Senzii does not have an advanced analytics dashboard. For teams that need deep labor cost reporting and performance insights, Deputy is the better option.
In Deputy, go to Locations → Export to download your employee data, areas, and shift patterns. Deputy provides CSV exports for all core data.
Use Senzii's CSV import wizard. Map Deputy's "Areas" to Senzii locations, and shift patterns to templates. The wizard flags any mismatches for review.
Configure employee certifications, availability, and skills in Senzii. These power the AI matching engine — the more accurate your data, the better the shift suggestions.
Click "Auto-Generate" and let Senzii's AI build the optimal schedule. Compare it to your Deputy schedule — most teams find the AI version covers more shifts with fewer conflicts.
Once your team is active on Senzii, cancel your Deputy subscription. No cancellation fees. Your historical data stays available in Deputy for 90 days after cancellation. Since Senzii is open-source, your data stays yours.
Try these free scheduling tools — no signup required:
Color-coded weekly coverage heatmap. Spot gaps, overstaffing, and optimization opportunities at a glance.
Benchmark your labor costs vs industry averages
CalculatorTrue cost per shift: wages, breaks, OT risk, gap risk, payroll taxes, and productivity loss breakdown.
PlannerCompare team capacity vs weekly demand. Spot gaps and surpluses with visual bars and cost impact estimates.
Scorecard8-dimension scheduling efficiency scorecard with letter grade, dimension breakdown, and prioritized improvement playbook.
BudgetSet your monthly labor budget, add shifts, and see if your schedule fits. Daily cost breakdown, overrun alerts, overtime analysis.
ComparatorCompare 6 common shift patterns (5x8, 4x10, 3x12, 2-2-3 Panama, DuPont, Pit) side by side: cost, coverage, overtime, satisfaction, compliance.
Auto-generate balanced weekly schedules from your roster
ROI EstimatorOptimize open shift assignments
Senzii is free and open-source under the Apache License 2.0. AI-powered shift matching, certification tracking, coverage gap detection, shift bidding, and MCP integration — all included at $0.