SimpleStaff vs 7shifts
Both schedule restaurant staff well. The real difference is what you pay and how much there is to learn — SimpleStaff is one pooled subscription with unlimited employees, where 7shifts charges per location and caps staff by tier.
If you run one large restaurant and want the deepest restaurant-specific tooling, 7shifts is a strong, mature choice. If you want the same everyday scheduling — swaps, availability, coverage, time-off — for a fraction of the price, and especially if you run more than one location, SimpleStaff is usually the cheaper and simpler pick.
What you'd actually pay
| Scenario | 7shifts | SimpleStaff · Team | SimpleStaff · Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
15 staff · 1 location | $39.99 Essentials | $19/mo −52% | $29/mo |
30 staff · 1 location | $39.99 Essentials | $30.25/mo −24% | $44/mo |
60 staff · 1 location | $79.99 Pro | $52.75/mo −34% | $74/mo |
3 locations × 20 staff | $119.97 Essentials × 3 | $52.75/mo −56% | $74/mo |
Each provider's list price as published. 7shifts prices from 7shifts.com/pricing (July 2026) and are billed per location; SimpleStaff figures are computed live from our current plans and count account-holders pooled across all your locations. Currencies and taxes may differ — check current pricing before you decide.
Why the bill is so different
Per location vs one pooled bill
7shifts charges for each location separately. SimpleStaff pools every location and employee under one owner into a single subscription — so a second or third location barely moves your bill.
Employee caps vs unlimited
7shifts tiers cap how many employees you can schedule — 30 on Essentials, 60 on Pro. Every paid SimpleStaff plan is unlimited, so you're never pushed up a tier just for hiring.
Pay for size, not for locks
You start at $19/mo including your first 15 people, then a small per-user rate beyond that. No everyday scheduling feature is held behind a location count.
Feature by feature
| SimpleStaff | 7shifts | |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop scheduling | ||
| Staff-run shift swaps | ||
| Availability & time-off requests | ||
| Open-shift coverage | ||
| Mobile app (iOS & Android) | ||
| Unlimited employees on every paid plan | ||
| Unlimited locations on one pooled bill | ||
| Seniority-based shift picking | Pro | |
| Time & attendance | Add-on | Add-on |
| Built-in payroll | Pro | Premium |
| Starting paid price | $19 / mo | $39.99 / location |
When 7shifts might be the better fit
- You run a single large location and want the deepest restaurant-specific analytics, tip pooling, and POS integrations on the market.
- You already rely on 7shifts' built-in payroll or its specific POS partners and would rather not change them.
- You want the longest track record with large restaurant chains, and that matters more to you than pooled per-user pricing.
Common questions
Is SimpleStaff cheaper than 7shifts?
For almost every small and mid-sized business, yes. SimpleStaff starts at $19/month including 15 employees, versus $39.99 per location on 7shifts' entry paid plan. The gap widens quickly if you run more than one location, because SimpleStaff pools all of them into one bill while 7shifts charges per location.
Does SimpleStaff cap how many employees I can schedule?
No. Every paid SimpleStaff plan has unlimited employees. You pay a small per-user rate beyond the first 15, but you're never blocked from adding staff or forced up a tier the way 7shifts' 30- and 60-employee caps work.
Can I switch from 7shifts to SimpleStaff?
Yes. You can set up your team, build a week, and publish in minutes — and it's free for up to 15 staff, so you can run it beside 7shifts before committing. No credit card required to start.
Is SimpleStaff good for restaurants?
Yes. Roles and colours keep front and back of house readable on one board, staff handle their own swaps and no-show coverage, and you can save openers and closers as templates. See our restaurants page for the details.
The cheapest way to find out is to try it
Set up your team, build the week, publish. Free for up to 15 staff — run it beside your current tool before you spend a dollar.
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