UK shift scheduling software compared — pricing, ERA 2025 compliance, mixed workforce management, and who each platform is actually built for.
Deputy is one of the most widely used scheduling platforms globally, with significant market share in the US and Australia. It has expanded into the UK and has a broad feature set. This comparison is specifically about how each platform serves UK shift-based businesses — particularly those with zero-hours workers, casual staff, and agency cover — in 2026 and beyond.
| Feature | FlexiWork | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly fee (no per-user charge) | Per user per month |
| Price for 30 workers | £45.50/mo (early access) | £105–£180/mo (est.) |
| Unlimited venues | ✓ Included | ✗ Additional cost |
| UK employment law focus | ✓ Built for UK from day one | ~ Added over time (US-founded) |
| ERA 2025 compliance records | ✓ Built in — 12-week rolling data | ~ Partial — check current coverage |
| 52-week holiday pay calculation | ✓ Included in Wages | ~ Requires configuration |
| Zero-hours worker tracking | ✓ Per worker, per shift | ~ Available but not UK-specific |
| Agency worker management | ✓ FlexiWork Agency built in | ✗ No agency marketplace |
| Wage calculation included | ✓ Yes — from actual hours | ~ Payroll add-on required |
| Free trial | ✓ 14 days, no card | ✓ Available |
Deputy is a capable platform for straightforward scheduling. For UK businesses with mixed workforces, ERA 2025 compliance requirements, and agency cover, FlexiWork's UK-native design and flat-fee pricing offer a more complete and cost-effective solution — particularly as the guaranteed hours data obligations arrive in 2027.
Deputy's per-user pricing is intuitive but gets expensive quickly for teams of any size. At an estimated £3.50–£6 per user per month, a team of 30 costs £105–£180 monthly. That is before payroll features, which are typically an additional module.
FlexiWork's flat fee of £45.50 per month for up to 50 workers includes both scheduling and wage calculation. For a team of 30, that is a saving of roughly £70–£150 per month, or £840–£1,800 per year.
This is the area where the gap is most significant. FlexiWork was designed around the needs of UK businesses with flexible workforces — including the specific data requirements that ERA 2025 introduces. Every shift logs actual start and end times against the individual worker, building the 12-week reference period records that the guaranteed hours obligation requires from 2027.
Deputy has UK compliance features, but as a US-founded platform, its ERA 2025 coverage is less comprehensive. Businesses with a high proportion of zero-hours or casual workers should verify specifically that Deputy covers their ERA 2025 needs before committing.
ERA 2025 compliance, flat-fee pricing, unlimited venues. No card required.
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