Top ESO Scheduling Alternatives & Competitors For 2024

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Looking for alternatives to ESO Scheduling? Many users crave user-friendly and feature-rich solutions for tasks like Schedule Management, Mobile Capabilities, and Shift Management. Leveraging crowdsourced data from over 1,000 real Employee Scheduling Software selection projects based on 400+ capabilities, we present a comparison of ESO Scheduling to leading industry alternatives like Planday, Homebase, honeybeeBase, and Doodle.

honeybeeBase Software Tool

Product Basics

ESO Scheduling is a robust software solution designed to streamline employee scheduling, particularly for emergency medical services, fire departments, and hospitals. It offers features like automated shift assignments, time-off management, and real-time schedule updates, making it ideal for organizations that require precise and flexible scheduling to ensure optimal staffing levels. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and the ability to integrate with other systems, enhancing overall operational efficiency. The software stands out for its ability to handle complex scheduling needs, such as accommodating varying shift patterns and managing certifications and training requirements. This ensures that only qualified personnel are scheduled for specific tasks, reducing the risk of errors. Pricing typically varies based on the size of the organization and the specific features required, with options for monthly or annual payments. Compared to similar products, ESO Scheduling is praised for its reliability and comprehensive support, making it a preferred choice for critical service providers.
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Planday provides tools to businesses of all sizes across all industries. It automates administrative tasks like workforce schedule building and report generation for growing businesses.

Organizations can make use of built-in messaging features to improve team communication. It helps manage hourly workers, track employee activity and builds reports that provide a comprehensive overview of the business.
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Homebase is a cloud-based solution that helps manage employee schedules, maintain timesheets and streamline payroll processes. Managers can create staff shifts using drag-and-drop scheduling tools and pre-built templates. They can also define rules to put schedules on autopilot for recurring tasks based on employee availability, skills and labor budget.

The platform is mobile-optimized and offers a native app for employees to view schedules, communicate, set preferences and trade shifts. You can use a POS system to track employee attendance and work hours or use the app to let staff log time from their phones. The platform maintains timesheets while integrating with payroll modules for wage calculation.

Verify employee identity and location with the built-in photo capture or GPS time clock functionality. Additionally, you can automate break tracking and overtime calculations to comply with shift worker regulations. It sends automatic alerts for employee absences or late logins while allowing managers to record daily summaries using the manager log.


Pros
  • Ease of setup
  • Efficient scheduling and time tracking
  • Robust mobile app
  • Cost-effective
Cons
  • Limited customization
  • Customer service issues
  • System update bugs
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honeybeeBase is a cloud-hosted solution that helps businesses schedule employees, manage tasks, monitor employee attendance, track time, foster communication and more. Suitable for businesses of all sizes, it can be accessed from any internet-connected device.

Businesses can monitor employee work hours and get notified when employees start or finish their shifts and take paid or unpaid breaks. Users can get reports of all notifications compiled in emails and access weekly time card reviews to approve logged hours. Its attendance module closely monitors all early departures, late arrivals, absences and generates customized reports of employee leaves. Employees can check available leaves, request time off and get approvals through the vacation module. An activity stream notifies team members automatically of all important activities that require attention.
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Doodle is an enterprise scheduling platform that empowers teams to collaborate based on individual availability for quicker scheduling of one-on-one and group meetings through polls. It syncs across Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Office 365 and iCal. Meeting hosts can choose to send poll links to team members directly or through its email client. Email alerts notify the meeting host of the team’s replies and provides a clear snapshot of individual availability. In addition, it enables update broadcasts and meeting reminder setup to keep the team in the loop.

It integrates with Zoom to include a unique link for every scheduled meeting. Available on Android and iOS devices, it integrates with Slack through an AI-powered bot. It is hosted on AWS which is certified for compliance under ISO/IEC 27001:2013, 27017:2015 and 27018:2014. In addition, it leverages Cloudflare for DDoS protection. Besides the free version, the vendor offers business and enterprise subscriptions.
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$795
$2.49
$24.95
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Chromebook
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On-Premise
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On-Premise
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Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
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Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
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24/7 Live Support
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24/7 Live Support

Product Ranking

#58

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Employee Scheduling Software

#18

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

#6

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

#27

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

#16

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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84
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100
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87
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Collaboration
Employee Management
Leave and Absence Management
Mobile Capabilities
Platform Capabilities
Schedule Management
Integrations and Extensibility
Security and Compliance
Collaboration
Integrations and Extensibility
Mobile Capabilities
Leave and Absence Management
Schedule Management
Collaboration
Employee Management
Leave and Absence Management
Mobile Capabilities
Platform Capabilities
Collaboration
Employee Management
Leave and Absence Management
Mobile Capabilities
Platform Capabilities

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

ESO Scheduling
Planday
Homebase
honeybeeBase
Doodle
+ Add Product + Add Product
Collaboration Employee Management Leave and Absence Management Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Reporting and Analytics Schedule Management Security and Compliance Shift Management Time and Attendance Management 78 79 65 83 73 83 98 89 75 72 100 87 91 93 61 50 88 83 86 74 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 31 reviews
Great User Sentiment 154 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 1169 reviews
Great User Sentiment 219 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 4442 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

ESO Scheduling has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 31 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

87%
of users recommend this product

Planday has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 87% when considering 154 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

91%
of users recommend this product

Homebase has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 91% when considering 1169 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

82%
of users recommend this product

honeybeeBase has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 82% when considering 219 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

90%
of users recommend this product

Doodle has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 4442 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

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4.6 (13)
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4.9 (18)
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4.4 (51)
4.2 (108)
4.5 (1)
4.4 (2024)
4.48 (31)
4.31 (52)
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4.07 (110)
4.61 (1349)
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4.6 (1027)
4.1 (108)
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4.5 (22)

Awards

User Favorite Award
Integrations and Extensibility Award
User Favorite Award
Collaboration Award
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User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Easy to Use: Users find the interface intuitive and easy to navigate, making it simple to create and manage schedules.
Flexible Scheduling: The system allows for various scheduling options, including shift swaps, time-off requests, and different shift types, accommodating diverse employee needs.
Mobile Access: Employees can access and manage their schedules from their mobile devices, enhancing flexibility and communication.
Real-Time Updates: The system provides real-time updates on schedule changes, ensuring everyone is informed and on the same page.
Automated Reminders: The system sends automated reminders for shift changes, time-off requests, and other important events, reducing the risk of missed shifts.
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Easy-to-Use: The system offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface that helps group employees according to their skills for skill-specific shifts. It simplifies scheduling, payroll and break allocation, saves man hours by automating tasks, improves access to schedules and provides an overview of all projects in progress, noted 83% of users who talked about the product’s usability.
Customization: The system offers customizable fields for employee information, which makes scheduling easily. It can also personalize reports to reveal data according to user requirements, as reported by nearly 81% of the users who mentioned customizations.
Communication: Nearly 81% of the reviewers said that the product fosters team communication through its built-in messenger and sends notifications for important project milestones and deadlines.
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Ease of Setup and Use: Many users found Homebase easy to set up and navigate. The platform is intuitive, making it simple for both managers and employees to use.
Scheduling and Time Tracking: The platform simplifies employee scheduling, making it easy to create, modify and track schedules. It includes useful features like a time clock, timesheets and attendance tracking.
Integration with Other Tools: Users appreciated its integration with various payroll processors and POS systems.
Accessibility: You can access the software from various devices, including desktops, tablets and smartphones, enhancing flexibility for managers and employees on the go.
Cost-Effectiveness: Several reviews mentioned that the free basic plan suffices for smaller businesses, providing essential features without extra cost.
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Functionality: The system is easy to navigate and access information, simplifies tracking employee working hours and accurately calculates total hours worked. The set-up process is uncomplicated and can be configured to restrict user access, noted 84% of reviewers who talked about the product’s functionality.
Scheduling: Nearly 80% of the users who mentioned scheduling said that the system takes the pain away from the scheduling process and enhances operational efficiency. It keeps a tab on shift swaps, employee availability and provides real-time information of work progress.
Mobile App: The system’s mobile platform offers accessibility to field workers to view their shifts from anywhere and clock-in and out from their phones or any other web-connected device, said approximately 82% of the users who talked about the mobile app.
Affordable: Nearly 77% of the reviewers who mentioned cost said that the product is economical, especially for the smaller teams, as it charges a flat monthly fee rather than per user.
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Usability: According to 100% of users who reviewed this pro, the software is easy to use, straightforward and simple for both senders and responders.
Polling Functionality: About 83% of users who mentioned this pro said the polls make meeting coordination easier, help participants to find common times and streamline scheduling for those who are busy.
Scheduling Meetings: Regarding this feature, approximately 97% of users said scheduling is easier, saves time and is more efficient with the software.
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Limited Customization: Some users find the scheduling options too rigid, making it difficult to accommodate unique employee needs or business requirements. For example, they may not be able to easily adjust shift lengths or create specific break schedules.
Complex Interface: The interface can be overwhelming for new users, with a steep learning curve and a lack of intuitive navigation. This can lead to frustration and wasted time trying to understand the system.
Poor Mobile Experience: The mobile app is often reported as clunky and difficult to use, making it challenging for employees to manage their schedules on the go. This can be a major inconvenience for employees who rely on their phones for scheduling information.
Lack of Integration: ESO Scheduling may not integrate well with other business systems, such as payroll or time tracking software. This can lead to data duplication and manual workarounds, increasing the risk of errors and inefficiencies.
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Integrations: The system offers limited integrations with popular third-party applications and cannot be integrated with special features, noted nearly 72% of reviewers who mentioned integrations.
Glitches: Nearly 79% of reviewers said that the system is prone to glitches and doesn’t offer smooth cross-platform use between the desktop version and the mobile app.
Support: Support for technical or other issues related to the product is sluggish, with many users receiving a response only after a week or more, said nearly 75% of the reviewers who talked about support.
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Undo and Modification Limitations: The lack of an undo feature can be problematic if accidental changes or deletions occur.
User Interface Issues: Some users found the new updates and interface changes cumbersome, with issues like light markings, lack of lines and frequent refresh rates. Others mentioned that the iPad app is not optimized and often mimics the mobile website, limiting its functionality.
Customer Support: Several reviews highlighted delayed responses from customer support and insufficient support hours, which can be challenging for businesses operating outside regular hours. Also, the platform heavily targets the U.S. market and offers limited support for international users.
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Bugs: The system is prone to bugs and freezes while clocking-in or out causing time log errors. It is slow to load and inconsistent, noted nearly 83% of reviewers who talked about the system’s glitches.
Reporting: Nearly 80% of the users who mentioned reporting said that the product offers limited reporting functionalities to track staff attendance and encounters issues while running reports.
Layout: The system offers a basic layout with limited customizations, and has unnecessary stuff on the home page with outdated icons, said approximately 79% of reviewers who mentioned layout and design.
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Ads: According to 100% of users who reviewed this con, advertisements are distracting, sometimes embedded in the middle of the webpage and the free version has tons of them.
Edit Functionality: Regarding this feature, 100% of users said that it requires enhancement, needs improvement and has a few glitches.
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User reviews from the past year on ESO Scheduling are largely positive, highlighting its suitability for EMS and fire departments. Users particularly appreciate its comprehensive suite of features, including employee scheduling, time and attendance tracking, payroll management, and certification tracking, all within a single platform. This integration simplifies administrative tasks and reduces the need for multiple software solutions, saving time and money. Users rave about the significant reduction in payroll processing time, citing a decrease from an entire workday to under 30 minutes. The ability for employees to access schedules and submit requests from anywhere is also frequently commended. However, some users find the software's navigation to be convoluted due to its extensive menu options, making it challenging to locate specific functions quickly. While acknowledging this drawback, ESO Solutions states that their development team is actively working on simplifying the user interface for improved ease of use. Overall, ESO Scheduling is best suited for EMS and fire departments seeking an all-in-one solution to streamline operations and reduce administrative burden, particularly those prioritizing efficient payroll processing and flexible employee access.

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Planday simplifies scheduling by segregating employees according to their skills and automates recurring tasks. It offers an easy-to-use, intuitive interface that prevents double booking employees, gives a clear picture of costs against revenue and stores all employee information in one place. Businesses can use the in-built messenger to foster team communication, get budget control assistance and manage remote teams transparently. However, the system offers limited third-party integrations, encounters glitches and isn’t backed by prompt customer support.

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In my research, I was particularly impressed by the guided onboarding process. The intuitive setup allowed me to get the platform up and running within minutes, enabling easy scheduling without a steep learning curve. This ease of use also extends to onboarding employees.The auto-documentation request feature stood out to me. I could define the required documents for each employee, and the system automatically sent follow-up reminders. This automation significantly streamlined the process of maintaining up-to-date employee profiles with all the necessary paperwork.Homebase’s integration with other tools, such as payroll processors, accounting solutions and POS systems, is a huge plus. It saves time and reduces the hassle of manual data transfers, making the overall management process smoother. Additionally, the system can handle basic hiring, onboarding, payroll and compliance management, making it an all-in-one HR suite for small businesses.However, I encountered some drawbacks. One notable issue was the auto-scheduling feature. While the idea behind it is great, it proved complicated in practice and lacked customization options to meet my specific needs.Users have reported facing issues with the vendor’s customer support team. There were reports of delayed responses, and the support hours were insufficient for businesses operating outside regular U.S. business hours. Despite these issues, the platform’s cost-effectiveness, especially with the free basic plan, makes it a viable option for small and medium enterprises. It offers essential scheduling and time-tracking features without hidden costs and implementation complexities.

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honeybeeBase organizes processes, streamlines scheduling and strengthens team communications. It manages tasks, tracks employee work hours, accurately calculates total hours to compute payroll while eliminating manual calculations. It provides easy access to information anytime, anywhere, and employees can log in and out of their workplaces using mobile phones. The system is affordable and is backed by helpful technical support and an extensive knowledge base. However, the system is riddled with glitches and freezes while clocking in and out, is slow to load, encounters errors while generating reports and doesn’t have an appealing design. Its homepage is cluttered with unnecessary information, and the system comes with some unresponsive functionalities.

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Doodle has garnered significant praise for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design, making it a breeze to schedule meetings and appointments. Users particularly appreciate the platform's flexibility, allowing them to create polls with various options for dates, times, locations, and even custom questions to gather additional information. The ability to integrate with popular calendar applications like Google Calendar and Outlook further streamlines the scheduling process, eliminating the need for back-and-forth emails or phone calls. Additionally, Doodle's mobile app ensures that users can manage their schedules and respond to polls on the go, providing a seamless experience across devices. However, some users have noted that the free version of Doodle comes with limitations, such as advertisements and restricted editing functionality. While the paid versions offer more features and customization options, the pricing structure may not be suitable for all businesses, particularly smaller ones or those with limited budgets. Additionally, while Doodle excels at scheduling meetings and appointments, it may not be as comprehensive as some other employee scheduling software options that offer features like time tracking, payroll integration, and shift management. Overall, Doodle appears to be an excellent choice for businesses and teams of all sizes who primarily need a simple and efficient way to schedule meetings and appointments. Its ease of use, flexibility, and integration capabilities make it a valuable tool for streamlining communication and improving productivity. However, businesses with more complex scheduling needs or those seeking a free solution may want to explore alternative options that offer a broader range of features.

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Top Alternatives in Employee Scheduling Software


7shifts

Deputy

Findmyshift

Homebase

Humanity

OpenSimSim

Planday

Quinyx

ScheduleFlex

Shiftbase

Shiftboard

Sling

TimeForge

When I Work

WhenToWork

ZoomShift

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