Online shift scheduler – plan shifts, master your hours.
From the early shift to the night shift: plan every shift model digitally and keep rest periods, the hours account and rotation in view – with shift scheduling software built for shift work.
No credit card · Built on GDPR principles · Hosted in Frankfurt
Every shift model under control – no matter how complex
2-shift model
Early/late – ideal for retail and hospitality
3-shift model
Early/late/night – standard in care and manufacturing
Rolling system
Fair rotation, scheduled automatically
Split shifts
For hospitality with a midday break
Fully continuous
24/7 operation in security and industry
Shift scheduling that thinks ahead
Drag-and-drop shift scheduler
Assign shifts visually, copy weeks and use templates for 2-, 3- and 4-shift systems.
ArbZG alerts for shift work
Alerts on rest periods between shifts, maximum working hours and night work – right in the schedule.
Shift templates and copy function
Create recurring shift patterns once and reuse them every week. Automate your rotation.
Open shifts and shift swaps
Employees can pick up shifts themselves or swap them with each other.
Integrated time tracking
Target-actual comparison per shift, automatic break calculation under the ArbZG.
Hours account with balances
Keep overtime and undertime in view – for payroll preparation and balancing.
Simple, transparent pricing
A base fee plus a fair per-employee tier. All prices net, plus VAT.
Basic
per month · 6 employees included
- Shift scheduling with drag and drop
- Time tracking (timer + manual)
- Absences with leave balance
- Up to 3 locations
Pro
per month · 12 employees included
- All Basic features
- Unlimited locations
- Payroll preparation & DATEV
- Tablet time clock (kiosk mode)
Enterprise
per month · 30 employees included
- All Pro features
- Public REST API
- Budget management & custom fields
- SLA support (8-hour response time)
All prices exclude VAT · Cancel anytime · No credit card required
What is an online shift scheduler?
An online shift scheduler – also called shift scheduling software or an online shift planner – is a specialized application for planning shift work. Unlike a general schedule planner, the focus is on recurring shift models: early shifts, late shifts, night shifts, rolling systems and fully continuous operation.
While a schedule planner flexibly assigns individual times, a shift scheduler works with defined shift types that rotate in patterns. That makes it especially valuable for industries with genuine shift operations: manufacturing, care, security, logistics and industrial production. Shift workers need different tools than office staff – a shift schedule app that works on a smartphone even at 3 a.m.
Since the German Federal Labour Court ruling of 2022, employers are generally required to record their employees' working hours systematically (more on this under the time-recording obligation). For shift operations, this means: combining shift scheduling and time tracking in one system can provide a sound basis – both for documentation and for day-to-day planning.
Shift scheduling vs. general scheduling: what's the difference?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things:
| Criterion | Shift scheduling | General scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Working-time pattern | Fixed shifts (early/late/night) | Flexible, individual times |
| Rotation | Yes – rolling, cyclical | No – planned anew each week |
| Night work | Frequent, with § 6 ArbZG rules | Rare |
| Typical industries | Manufacturing, care, security, logistics | Hospitality, retail, office |
| Complexity | High (rotation, balancing, premiums) | Medium (availability, preferences) |
Looking for a more general solution for flexible staff scheduling instead? Then take a look at our page on general scheduling. Or read the guide: how to create a schedule.
What to look for in an online shift scheduler
7 criteria that make the difference when choosing a shift scheduler:
ArbZG alerts for night and rotating shifts
The ArbZG provides special rules for night workers (including § 6 ArbZG). A good shift scheduler displays alerts on rest periods and night-work limits.
Shift templates for recurring patterns
Set up early-late-night-off as a template and apply it every week with a single click. This saves considerable time with rolling systems.
Automatic rotation
Fair distribution of night and weekend shifts. Forward rotation (early → late → night) is gentler than backward rotation according to work-science findings.
Hours account per employee
Target-actual comparison with positive and negative balances. Especially important for shift work with premiums and changing weekly hours.
Mobile app for shift workers
Shift workers are rarely at a desk. A shift schedule app gives access to the plan directly on a smartphone – anytime, anywhere.
Built on GDPR principles, EU hosting
Personnel data belongs in the EU. Look for EU hosting, encryption, role-based access control and a data processing agreement.
Export for payroll
Recorded hours, premiums and shift types can be exported – as CSV for payroll preparation.
More on the legal foundations: rest periods and breaks in shift work.
Night work in shift operations: what employers should know
Night work places special demands on shift scheduling. Under § 6 ArbZG, night workers are generally entitled to regular occupational health checks, appropriate compensation – either as premiums or time off in lieu – and, on request, the option to move to a daytime job, provided no operational reasons stand in the way.
In practice, this means: night shifts should be distributed as evenly as possible across the team. Work-science findings favor forward rotation (early → late → night), as this places less strain on the natural sleep-wake rhythm than backward rotation. An online shift scheduler can help design rotation patterns fairly and automatically keep an eye on rest periods between a night shift and the following one.
The specific arrangement of night work depends on the individual case and, where applicable, on collective bargaining agreements. When in doubt, we recommend consulting a specialist employment lawyer.
Frequently asked questions about the online shift scheduler
What is an online shift scheduler?▼
Which shift models does an online shift scheduler suit?▼
What's the difference between shift scheduling and general scheduling?▼
Which ArbZG rules apply specifically to shift work?▼
Can I also create my shift schedule with Excel?▼
What does an online shift scheduler cost?▼
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