Comparison · verified 2026-11-02
ExpoShift vs 7shifts
7shifts is built for restaurants, from a single location to multi-location groups and franchises and prices per location per month, four plans capped by employee count, with several features sold as add-ons or on higher plans. ExpoShift is built for independent full-service restaurants and is $49 a month per location, every feature included, any team size.
Pricing model
- ExpoShift
- $49 per location per month. One plan, every feature, any team size. 30 days free, no credit card.
- 7shifts
- Essentials $44.99 (up to 30 employees), Pro $89.99 (up to 60), Premium $149.99 (unlimited), per location per month, billed monthly. Comp plan free for one location, up to 15 employees.
Built for
- ExpoShift
- Independent full-service restaurants, roughly 20–100 staff, owner still in the building.
- 7shifts
- Restaurants, from a single location to multi-location groups and franchises.
Platforms
- ExpoShift
- IOS, Android and web.
- 7shifts
- IOS, Android and web.
Side by side
Feature by feature
ExpoShift's column comes from the ExpoShift FAQ, pricing page and release notes. 7shifts's column comes from 7shifts's own pricing page, product pages and help center, read on November 2, 2026. Where 7shifts doesn't publish something, the cell says "Not listed", not "no".
| Feature | ExpoShift | 7shifts |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
| Pricing model | One plan: $49 per location per month, every feature included, any team size. No tiers, no per-seat fees, no add-ons. | Per location per month. Four plans: Comp (free), Essentials, Pro, Premium, capped at 15 / 30 / 60 / unlimited employees. Tip pooling, task lists, the log book and payroll are add-ons or on higher plans. |
| Published monthly price for scheduling + time clock | $49 per location per month, billed monthly. | Essentials $44.99 (up to 30 employees), Pro $89.99 (up to 60), Premium $149.99 (unlimited), per location per month, billed monthly. $39.99 / $79.99 / $134.99 when billed annually. |
| Free trial | 30 days, every feature. | 14 days with the Pro plan's features; then the free Comp plan or a subscription. |
| Credit card to start | No. | No credit card to start the trial. |
| Contract or commitment | None. Month-to-month, cancel anytime. | Monthly or annual billing; no contract unless you take an Enterprise term agreement. |
| Add-ons that cost extra | None. Every feature shipped next is included. | Tip Management $49.99, Manager Log Book $14.99, Task Management $12.99, 7shifts Payroll $39.99 + $6 per employee paid (all per location per month), Employee Onboarding $2.99 per package. Several are included on Pro or Premium. |
| Free plan | No free plan; 30-day free trial. | Comp: free for a single location, up to 15 employees, basic scheduling, availability and time off requests, one-way announcements. |
| Built for | ||
| Restaurant-specific | IncludedBuilt for independent full-service restaurants, by people who run one. | Included"Built exclusively for restaurants"; single location through multi-location and franchise. |
| Tip handling included | IncludedTip pools, declared and POS tips, included. | Add-onTip Management is a $49.99 per location per month add-on, included on Premium. |
| Position / station scheduling | IncludedEvery shift carries a position; swap rules, pay and tip pools follow the position. | IncludedSchedules by role and department; section stations on Essentials and up. |
| Scheduling & availability | ||
| Schedule builder with auto-draft | IncludedAuto Draft fills the week from availability, school calendars and fair hours; conflicts flagged before publish. | IncludedDrag-and-drop with templates and auto-fill from past schedules; schedules created for you from labor targets on Premium. |
| Availability rules (cutoff, blackout dates, advance window, reminders) | IncludedYou set how far ahead staff submit, the weekly cutoff and blackout dates; staff get a reminder before the window closes; weeks lock at the deadline. | PartialRecurring and temporary availability with optional manager approval. No submission cutoff, blackout dates, advance window or reminder before a deadline described. |
| Time-off requests | IncludedStaff mark dates unavailable from the Work tab. | IncludedTime-off requests on every plan; PTO accruals and balances on Pro and up. |
| Open-shift claims | IncludedPut a shift up for grabs; qualified teammates are notified, first to claim takes it. | IncludedShift Pool: employees offer up shifts and claim open ones, on every plan. |
| Shift hand-offs to a teammate | IncludedHand a shift to one qualified teammate. | IncludedTrade requests between two employees through the Shift Pool. |
| Partial shift swaps | IncludedOffer just part of a shift, say the second half. | Included'Partial shifts' setting lets employees offer up part of a shift. |
| Manager approval option for swaps | IncludedInstant or approval required, set per position group. | IncludedOne account-level setting: manager approval required for Shift Pool changes, or not. |
| Labor cost preview while scheduling | IncludedThe Labor tab shows what the week will cost before you publish. | IncludedLabor targets on projected sales while scheduling, on Essentials and up; hourly forecasts and recommendations on Premium. |
| Minor labor guardrails | IncludedUnder-16 school-calendar limits flagged before publish; school calendars on each minor's record. | Higher planMinor scheduling restrictions (under 16/18) listed with labor compliance; labor compliance tools are on Pro and up. |
| Time clock & timesheets | ||
| Built-in time clock | IncludedStaff clock in and out from their Home screen; turn it on when you're ready. | Included7punches time clock on tablets, computers, smartphones and POS devices, on Essentials and up. |
| Missed clock-out fix | IncludedOne tap: 'I left at my scheduled end' or the real time; the manager approves. | Not listedSite mentions catching missed clock-ins with punch audit reports; no missed clock-out fix described. |
| Punch corrections with approval | IncludedStaff flag a punch; managers approve corrections. | IncludedEmployees review, approve or dispute punches in the mobile app; managers edit and approve. |
| Timecard split by position | IncludedServer → Expo → Server on one timecard. | Not listedNot found on their site or help center. |
| Geofence on punches | IncludedOptional geofence around the building; location is checked on the phone, not stored. | Higher plan'Prevent employees from clocking in and out outside of the restaurant' on Pro and up; photo at punch (Buddy Punch Prevention) 'may require an upgrade'. |
| Exception-only timesheet review | IncludedTimesheets show only what needs a look: missing punches, corrections, big variances. | PartialPay periods flag unapproved punches as 'Ready for Review'; punch audit reports. |
| Tips, payroll & comp | ||
| Tip pools from real punches | IncludedSplit by the hours each person actually worked on the receiving position. | Add-onTip Management add-on ($49.99 per location per month, included on Premium) calculates pools from POS or 7punches data; time clocking must be on. |
| Pay periods that lock | IncludedBuilt from real hours, locked once reviewed. | IncludedPay periods move to Ready for Payroll, then Closed: no further edits. |
| Payroll export file | IncludedExports a file your payroll provider imports, plus a generic CSV; more formats added as customers need them. | Higher planExports and integrations for 14 named payroll providers on Pro and up; native 7shifts Payroll (US) as an add-on or on Premium. |
| Per-position wages | IncludedRates by position, admin-only; each employee sees only their own. | Included'Set and track wages for different roles' on Essentials and up. |
| Raises and bonuses recorded in-app | IncludedGive a raise in two taps; bonus budget and reasons on the Team tab. | Not listedNot found as a feature on their site. |
| POS & insights | ||
| POS sales pull | IncludedConnect once; sales and tips pull in nightly where the POS offers an API; manual entry in the meantime. | IncludedPOS integration on every plan, including Comp; a dozen POS systems named. |
| Labor % vs sales | IncludedLabor % next to each day's sales. | Included'Real-time labor vs. sales tracking'; labor cost controls on Essentials and up. |
| Sales, kitchen and team reports | IncludedTop items, server rankings, ticket times by hour, station pace, on-time clock-ins. | Higher planLabor and budget reporting on paid plans; 'advanced operational insights and reporting' on Premium. |
| Team communication & culture | ||
| Direct messages, groups, broadcasts | IncludedDMs, group chats by position, broadcasts, daily schedule notes. | IncludedDirect and group messaging, announcements with read receipts, on Essentials and up (Comp has one-way announcements). |
| Scheduled messages | IncludedWrite now, send later. | Not listedNot found on their site or help center. |
| Polls and quizzes | IncludedPolls, surveys and quizzes in the News tab. | PartialPost-shift feedback surveys on Pro and up; polls not listed. |
| Recognition and rewards | IncludedShoutouts, points for the things you want, monthly winners pick a reward you set. Off until you turn it on. | Higher plan'Recognize team members for a job well done' on Pro and up; rewards not listed. |
| Monthly team newsletter | IncludedDrafts itself each month. | Not listedNo staff newsletter found on their site. |
| Staff records & compliance | ||
| Certifications with photos and expiry reminders | IncludedA photo of the card on file; reminders before it lapses. | Higher planCertifications with expiry notifications on Pro and up; a photo of the card is not listed. |
| Documents with acknowledgements | IncludedDocument Center tracks who has acknowledged each handbook or policy. | Higher planSecure document storage on Pro and up; acknowledgement tracking not listed. |
| Staff profiles | IncludedPositions, contact and emergency info, school calendars for minors. | IncludedEmployee profiles with contact details, roles, wages (permissioned), documents. |
| Offboarding and rehire record | IncludedHow they left, notice given, eligible for rehire, last day worked. | IncludedInactive profiles keep termination date, reason, who deactivated and rehire status. |
| Ops tools | ||
| Food & supplies order guide | IncludedVendors, storage areas, pars, count walk, shop by vendor; works offline. | Not listedNo ordering or order guide found on their site. |
| Equipment maintenance calendar | IncludedAn example maintenance calendar you customize for your restaurant, plus an equipment registry and service log. | Not listedThe Manager Log Book can hold maintenance records; no maintenance calendar described. |
| Red Book / shift notes | IncludedRed Book entries and daily schedule notes, included. | Add-onManager Log Book: $14.99 per location per month add-on, included on Pro and up. |
| Tasks | IncludedTask completions that managers verify from the Manager Hub. | Add-onTask Management: $12.99 per location per month add-on, included on Premium. |
| Platforms & support | ||
| iOS, Android, web | IncludedApp Store and Google Play; web browser for admin work. | IncludediOS and Android apps, web app. |
| Support | IncludedEmail support@exposhift.com; a human who has run a shift answers. | IncludedIn-app chat: automated answers 24/7, live agents weekdays 6 AM–4 PM and weekends 8 AM–4 PM Pacific; Comp plan gets live support for the first 60 days. |
| Data ownership | IncludedYour restaurant's data belongs to your restaurant; never sold or used for marketing. | IncludedTerms: 'Customer retains all of its rights, title, and interest ... in and to Customer Data.' |
Included on the plan named
Partial some of the row, as described
Add-on priced separately
Higher plan on a 7shifts plan above Essentials
Not listed not found on 7shifts's site or help center
7shifts prices and features as published on https://www.7shifts.com/pricing/ and 7shifts's help center on 2026-11-02. Monthly billing shown where both are listed; 7shifts' pricing page defaults to annual billing, which is about 10% less. "Essentials" is 7shifts' lowest plan that includes a time clock. 7shifts is a trademark of 7shifts Inc.; ExpoShift is not affiliated with or endorsed by 7shifts Inc.
Where 7shifts may be the better fit
- You run a single location with 15 or fewer employees and only need basic scheduling, availability and time-off requests, and one-way announcements: the Comp plan is free.
- You run a multi-location group or a franchise: 7shifts sells multi-location and franchise tools, quotes enterprise pricing, and offers term agreements for an enterprise discount.
- You want payroll run inside the same product (US only): 7shifts Payroll is $39.99 per location per month plus $6 per employee paid, and is included on Premium.
- Your POS or payroll provider is on their published integration list: a dozen named POS systems and 14 named payroll providers, with POS integration on every plan including Comp.
- You want hiring and training in the same tool: job postings and applicant tracking on Pro and Premium, and course-building on Premium. ExpoShift doesn't post jobs or run training courses.
Where ExpoShift is the better fit
- One price, every feature: $49 a month per location, any team size, no tiers and no add-ons. On 7shifts, tip pooling, the log book, task lists and payroll are add-ons or higher plans, and each plan is capped by employee count.
- Built for full-service: tip pools split by the hours each person actually worked on the receiving position, from real punches; per-position wages; raises recorded in-app.
- Availability rules you set once: how far ahead staff submit, the weekly cutoff, blackout dates, and a reminder before the window closes. Managers see a 7-day grid split by lunch and dinner.
- Staff cover themselves: hand a shift to a qualified teammate, put it up for grabs, or give away just part of it, instant or with approval per position group. The person whose shift changes is always told.
- Team culture and staff info in the same app: shoutouts, points and monthly rewards, polls and quizzes, a monthly newsletter, certifications with a photo of the card and expiry reminders, documents with acknowledgements.
- Ops tools included: a food and supplies order guide, an example maintenance calendar you customize for your restaurant, the Red Book, and tasks.
Switching
Moving from 7shifts to ExpoShift
- 1Export your teamFrom 7shifts: Team → Employees → Bulk actions → Export employees (CSV).
- 2Import it hereTeam tab → Import. One row per person, positions comma-separated; there's a one-tap template.
- 3Publish the same dayAdd your positions, build the first week, publish. Staff get an email invite, no codes.
- 4Decide in 30 daysFree for 30 days, no credit card, cancel anytime. A human who has run a shift answers at support@exposhift.com.
Questions
ExpoShift vs 7shifts: common questions
Is there a free plan?
No. ExpoShift is free for 30 days with every feature, no credit card, then $49 a month per location. 7shifts has a free plan: Comp plan: free for a single location with up to 15 employees (basic scheduling, availability and time off requests, one-way announcements).
Do I pay per employee?
No. ExpoShift is $49 a month per location, any team size, every feature included. 7shifts prices per location per month, four plans capped by employee count, with several features sold as add-ons or on higher plans.
Does ExpoShift connect to my POS and payroll?
POS: connect once; sales and tips pull in nightly where the POS offers an API, with manual entry in the meantime. They fill your tip pools and feed the sales, kitchen, team and labor insights. Payroll: pay periods build from real hours, lock once reviewed, and export a file your payroll provider imports, plus a generic CSV.
Can I bring my team over from 7shifts?
Yes. Export your team from 7shifts (Team → Employees → Bulk actions → Export employees (CSV)), then import the roster into ExpoShift from CSV or Excel (there's a one-tap template), add your positions, and publish your first schedule the same day. 30 days free, no credit card, cancel anytime. Questions: support@exposhift.com.
How current is this page?
7shifts's prices and features were read from 7shifts's own pricing page and help center on November 2, 2026. This page is re-checked quarterly. If something here is out of date, email support@exposhift.com and we'll fix it.