User Reviews Overview
About SocialSchedules
SocialSchedules is a cloud-based employee scheduling solution designed to help small to large businesses in the restaurant, hospitality, retail and other sectors. It allows managers to communicate with field employees through...
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- Industry: Restaurants
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Great scheduling platform with lots of extras!
Pros
Ease of use. Messaging system and shift swap approvals.
Cons
There wasn't much not to dislike about this product. I've had no user issues with it, nor manager issues with it.
- Industry: Retail
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Great free option for scheduling software with potential for more
I had a great on-boarding session with their training team. They do offer employee data importing as part of their setup but I did it all myself and it wasn’t too bad.
Pros
Super easy to use and set up. It has been as smooth of a transition for our employees One could hope for. Most employees have been able to get it set up and availability updated with no direct instruction other than our expectations.
Cons
A few simple features I would like to see on the app are: view only first initial of last name on printed schedule (privacy issue of employees), hide total hours on printed schedule, select individual rights for remote clock in (paid version).
Alternatives Considered
When I WorkReasons for Switching to SocialSchedules
When I Works app was very glitchy and its expensive for just a scheduling package. Free trial only allows you to schedule out 10 days and that made the testing out process double the work.- Industry: Restaurants
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
iOS compatibility
Everything is great about opensimsim except in January of 2019 the update they did made their system non-compatible with use on iPad.
This is a huge huge downside of the product someone not to smart didn’t keep the system compatible with iOS on an iPad cuz I used it for over a year that way.
I don’t carry or want to carry a laptop with me everywhere which means I get chained to a desk to write schedules now that I can’t use my iPad anymore. Two thumbs down!!!!
Pros
Everything is great about opensimsim except in January of 2019 the update they did made their system non-compatible with use on iPad.
This is a huge huge downside of the product someone not to smart didn’t keep the system compatible with iOS on an iPad cuz I used it for over a year that way.
I don’t carry or want to carry a laptop with me everywhere which means I get chained to a desk to write schedules now that I can’t use my iPad anymore. Two thumbs down!!!!
Cons
Everything is great about opensimsim except in January of 2019 the update they did made their system non-compatible with use on iPad.
This is a huge huge downside of the product someone not to smart didn’t keep the system compatible with iOS on an iPad cuz I used it for over a year that way.
I don’t carry or want to carry a laptop with me everywhere which means I get chained to a desk to write schedules now that I can’t use my iPad anymore. Two thumbs down!!!!
Top SocialSchedules Alternatives
- Industry: Photography
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Multi-Unit Scheduling
Pros
It gives us ease of access to schedules for multiple locations, and easy to identify and contact an employee that is working.
Cons
Setting up mutiple locations and schedule labeling/identification.
Reasons for Choosing SocialSchedules
More centralized location of schedules for multiple locations.Switched From
Microsoft Excel- Industry: Retail
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Weekly for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Volunteer Schedule
This is a very easy to use product.
Pros
I like the price, because we are a non-profit organization with about 20 volunteers. I needed something that would keep track of everyone and with your product I can see the schedule on my phone or computer. It is very handy.
Cons
I'd like to be able to schedule people from my phone.
Alternatives Considered
When I WorkReasons for Switching to SocialSchedules
OpenSimSim allowed me to schedule out for months at a time. The When I Work program only let me go out for 10 days.- Industry: Retail
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Payroll Software
Overall great use and price
Pros
web-based, price, and on-boarding for employees. The software gives you the flexibility that you need when running payroll.
Cons
No phone app. It is difficult to navigate the first uses.
Alternatives Considered
Paychex FlexReasons for Choosing SocialSchedules
Employee visibility of whats happening with their wages.Switched From
QuickBooks Desktop EnterpriseReasons for Switching to SocialSchedules
price- Industry: Nonprofit Organization Management
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Weekly for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Small Non-Profit Employee
Pros
I like that I am able to check my schedule online with ease. I am also able to request time off and that can make it easy so I do not have to come into the office to request.
Cons
I don't know if this was an option that my employer chose, or if it is part of your software, but I would like to be able to see who is scheduled throughout the week. This can solve some confusion if a shift is covered or give you the ease of looking to switch shifts or ask others to cover a shift for you.
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
SocialSchedules - You can trust it
Pros
SocialSchedules is easy to read and manage. Our schedules are published every Friday, and we receive a notification as soon as our manager sends it through. I can see my weekly schedule, and I can see a countdown until my next shift is scheduled to start. I can also rotate my screen sideways to see the schedule for the week along with who else is scheduled to work each day. This makes swapping shifts easier if necessary. I can also message my coworkers in the app and receive managerial notifications in the messaging section or in the "Schedule Notes" section on the home page, which is flagged with a red dot if there is a note that needs to be read. Submitting time off requests is a piece of cake, truly. There is even a segment to leave a note about why you are requesting off, which comes in handy! Overall, I enjoy this product.
Cons
I do not like how I cannot see my total weekly hours after the initial schedule notification is opened. I must manually count my hours if I want to know my exact weekly total. I also do not like how I cannot see the day of the week I am looking at when requesting time off; it would be more convenient if there were a calendar layout as opposed to manually scrolling to the date, month, and year you need.

- Industry: Political Organization
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Great Scheduling Platform
Overall, I think OpenSimSim is beneficial for small businesses who are looking for something that is simple, free, but VERY effective.
Pros
I've been using OpenSimSim now for over a year. I really enjoy all of the benefits of the program. Obviously, the greatest thing about OpenSimSim is that it is free; however, I also really love the ease of use. If I am unable to put in the schedule for my agents, it is easy to instruct one of my mentors to do so. The platform is colorful, fast, and the notifications setting is much appreciated by myself as well as my staff.
Cons
I feel like the platform is geared more towards businesses that consistently have weekly set schedules. With the type of business we handle, I wish there was an easier way to create multiple shift opportunities for one day. We could really benefit from being able to quickly create shift intervals. The mobile app lags a bit when a shift is posted, preventing agents from applying for the shift in a timely manner. I also wish the chat system was an API that could be integrated into other programs so that everything can be uniform.
- Industry: Retail
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
SocialSchedules
SocialSchedules is a great software to use for setting empolyee schedules.
Pros
SocialSchedules allows you to see your workweek schedule at a quick glance and also allows you to see what coworkers are scheduled the same day you are. There is also a chat feature to allow you to send messages to coworkers.
Cons
The chat feature does not do a great job of notifying when someone has sent you a message. A better notification system would make this software perfect.
- Industry: Supermarkets
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Rosters the way they Should be
The managers enjoy using it and wouldn't go back to how we where doing it.
The team have shown an increase in picking up extra shifts and sticking to what agreed changes they had arranged with managers.
Our roster is now more steady and hours worked more accurate to our ideal workflow.
Pros
Its simple and easy to use. It gives you all the information that is required to make informed decisions when planning your teams hours, it gives clarity and removes confusions when dealing with shift swaps and holidays, Both employer and employee are on the same page via a cloud format that automatically updates every one when changes are made. Can roster multiple departments so when in a big retail business you can plan for team members to be working in a different department too. The messaging function is the easiest way to connect with 100+ people in just a few clicks, this helps drive engagement through communication.
Cons
A few upgrades that would improve this further is:
A function to save and print time off requests and approvals so that we could go paperless and keep complient with the IRD -this would also give option for the employee to complete a virtual signature on screen
Also editing a master roster would be great - currently not an option to edit a roster without having it uploaded into an actual week - master rosters are forever changing so would be great to keep these updated simply as things change.
I always found the name OPENSIMSIM "out there" and odd however UBER would have also sounded strange until it was a house hold name, SIMSIM could be as big soon enough!!
- Industry: Nonprofit Organization Management
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Great Product, Easy to Use
The experience has been great. The customer service is fantastic! We are a non-profit with very little money so having a free option that is this in depth is wonderful.
Communication has improved immensely as we can all send out messages.
Pros
Ease of Use. It has a lot of great features, entering as many job positions as you want, accounting for lunches, different print views etc. We use the messaging system a lot too. I have gotten really good feedback from my staff. This is a place where we can send messages and everyone gets them.
Cons
It is extremely slow. That could be just our internet, but it takes me a long time to do the schedule just from sitting and waiting. When I need to edit the time frame, I click, and sit and wait and wait. Eventually the options come up to Assign, Manage, or Delete. The weird thing though is the actual edit comes up immediately. Have the time, I am clicking just trying to get the hover part to come up and the shift edit comes up.
I would like more color options.
The publishing options for the Job Opportunities is time consuming. I would like if I could publish all instead of one at a time.
- Industry: Hospital & Health Care
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Observations from a first time schedule app user
Paper schedules were awful. It wasn't until we went to OpenSimSim that I found out how truly time consuming and wasteful paper schedules really were. After printing the schedule, it was almost always an incorrect copy by the end of the day. It was so frustrating. Now, everyone is up to date 24/7, able to see who is available for swapping and can swap shifts on their own. I appreciate having OpenSimSim as part of our scheduling process. Thank you!!
Pros
1.I love that there is an app! Doggonit, that thing is awesome!! When staff can get on there and swap and not have to call or message me to make that change, that's AWESOME!!
2. The help desk people (bless their hearts) are very patient, knowledgeable and are available to help every time I have messaged them.
3. I really like that I can stay home when someone calls in. I just open my app and send out a message as well as ask individually if needed.
Cons
1. I would like to be able to see/print a month view at a time
2. I would somehow REALLY REALLY like to be able to see what changes were made to each shift ie..who traded with who, who was originally scheduled on a shift, etc...
3. I would also like the ability to shrink the page (on the screen) so that I'm not constantly scrolling and up and down the page through a long list of staff
- Industry: Recreational Facilities & Services
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
OpenSimSim for rostering
extremely positive. Opensimsim has given us increased productivity and efficiency. Communication between all staff is easy and encouraged through this software. Overall it saves so much time, is flexible, is easy, fast and overall reliable.
Pros
Ease of use by managers, administrators and regular staff. Straight forward and up to date, even old timers can quickly gain the skills to use opensimsim. I love how you can select particular staff, times, breaks and see a total hours per week. Shift dropping and swapping is also a function that helps take stress off myself as a coordinator. the messaging tool is great also and saves some time in last minute needs and cuts out emails.
Cons
This software works perfectly for my personal use.
Another department here onsite use opensimsim for their rostering but use the publishing option to send out shifts for the whole department at once. They do seem to have trouble working around this but are quite new to the tool as well
- Industry: Food & Beverages
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Honest review
We use this every week with scheduling everyone for who's working and when. It's really great because before we used this we just had an Excel sheet and it had to be emailed out and with this, we can also see if they have acknowledged the shift where as with emailing it, it would be such a hassle with making sure everyone knew when they worked.
Pros
I like that I can have this on my phone and check it whenever I want to, and that I can edit shifts from my manager account from my phone. It's really easy to add availability and to teach new employees on how to use it as well. I really like that I can color code position titles as well.
Cons
I don't like that it shows all employees for our team members at one location, because it confuses them on who they can contact about getting a shift covered. I recommend adding their location or main location underneath their name in the messages part of it, or only be able to send a message to others at the location they have access to.
- Industry: Hospital & Health Care
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Product Review
Helps us communicate available shifts with staff who are sleeping from night shifts or currently busy with a customer where we cannot communicate with them, during our 9-5 hours in the office
Pros
It's easy to train staff to use it. It is reasonable customisable for how we need to use it as an agency. We use positions for each possible customer location that might request our services. There are too many locations for each to have its own schedule. Half of our potential customers listed use our services less than once a month. We are not staffing every location throughout the week with different managers like some of your users might be.
Cons
Please make it so that it is easier to add positions to staff in bulk, or groups. I spend too much time setting up new staff with all of the positions they need, or setting up new positions with all applicable staff.
- Industry: Restaurants
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
This APP saves me tons of time and frustration
Overall I am super excited that this APP exists and I have been using it for over a year now. I cant even begin to describe the benefits, its easy to use, simple to deploy, provides a great staff communication platform and has help tremendously in the overall accountability of my employees and ownership of their schedule.
Pros
Well thought out solid platform with all the bells and whistles of way more costly APPS but functions better, integrates easier, and the fluidity of the data is unsurpassed for an online scheduling APP !!
Cons
Seems a little slow to maneuver at times and ctrl copy function seems a bit glitchy at times. The availability and time off feature works well but its not very intuitive for my staff ... so far I have had people doing it reverse and others squaring me into a position where I have to conform to their specific availability but that is my own HR issue :-/
- Industry: Retail
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Scheduling & Sharing Made Easy
This software is very easy to use. It allows me to schedule employees on days when they absolutely must be here, offer up optional shifts, and immediately tells employees that a new schedule has been published (this has dramatically reduced the amount of texts I get at 10:30 Sunday night asking when an employee is scheduled to work). Employees also have the option to request days off, mark days they're absolutely unavailable, and send messages through the app. It's really nice to be able to communicate with a whole team with very little effort.
Pros
This software is very easy to use. It allows me to schedule employees on days when they absolutely must be here, offer up optional shifts, and immediately tells employees that a new schedule has been published (this has dramatically reduced the amount of texts I get at 10:30 Sunday night asking when an employee is scheduled to work). Employees also have the option to request days off, mark days they're absolutely unavailable, and send messages through the app.
Cons
The app can be flakey at times, and doesn't always notify me as the scheduler of changes. Time-off requests don't always show up immediately, and messages can be easily missed.
- Industry: Hospitality
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
A Restaurants Dream Come True!
I first used OpenSimSim when I was a server at Urge Gastropub & Whiskey Bank. It was a convenient app that let all the employees swap shifts, pick up shifts and request time off. It was so great not having to call 10 people just to get one shift covered!
I then brought this amazing time-saving tool to the restaurant as a GM. My staff was used to the old-school way of using a printed excel spread sheet and then calling or texting a bunch of people trying to switch shifts, cover shifts, time-off requests, etc.. Once I brought in OpenSimSim, they raved about how useful and easy it was to use! If you are looking for a smooth running app that saves you time and money, then GET THIS PRODUCT!!! Thanks our reps & OpenSimSim for your outstanding training, support and all around awesomeness! I'm recommending this to anyone that will listen!
Pros
It's Free! It's a smooth running app. It's convenient, user friendly and my staff loves using it!
Cons
Nothing.
Response from OpenSimSim
Thanks for the fantastic review! The team is thrilled to hear that you have had such a great experience. Please reach out to us if you have any issues :-).
- Industry: Mental Health Care
- Company size: 201–500 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Open Simsim
Excellent, specially in the organization of the businees.
Pros
I have been using it for more than a year to organize my 25 workers and it has been incredible!! Every worker can easily access his/her schedule on the app and the administrators can easily modify schedules or add/delete shifts as necessary.
I don't know how we survived without this app for so long. Obviously there was a great deal less organization back then.
I recommend it to everybody that needs to have the schedule always at hand, specially when you have multiples sites and workers on a day to day basis.
Cons
If I had a doubt it took me a bit to solve it, although when I needed extra help I could do it with a live chat.
- Industry: Food & Beverages
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Easy and user friendly.
I am very happy with Open Sim Sim. I have used this scheduling software at two different locations and it has been a lifesaver. All of my employees love it too. Saves time and money. Making communication a breeze.
Pros
Schedule is alway at your fingertips ok your phone
You can edit and add shifts between employees.
Send out group messages.
Complete shift swaps
And manage all requests off.
It’s brilliant and bang for your buck is unparalleled
Cons
The program at times has technical difficulties which renders it useless.
- Industry: Retail
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
OpenSimSim for the win!
I think that the business I work at has benefited from OpenSimSim when it comes to communication. We are easily able to request off and put in our availability. We are also able to easily communicate in the messaging section of the application.
Pros
My favorite thing about OpenSimSim is the mobile app. It is very accessible at home and on the go, so if I need to ask off really quickly, this application lets me do so efficiently. another aspect of this application that I really like is that it is easy to maneuver through the app and I am able to understand where I need to go to do something.
Cons
I don't think that there is anything I do not like. However, it would be neat to be able to see what reason you put down for asking off (on a computer) after you submit it. I am able to see that on my phone, but not the computer.

- Industry: Food & Beverages
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 1+ year
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Review Source
Super easy scheduling with SimSim
Overall, I love this scheduling tool. It's easy for me to use, and easy for my staff. Saves me lots of time creating/recreating schedules manually.
Pros
Makes it super easy to create weekly employee schedules and to create templates that make future scheduling easy. I love that it can be set to allow employees to swap and drop shifts, and to easily submit timeoff requests. The ability to limit certain periods for timeoff requests is also very helpful. Overall, a lot of great functionality with an interface that is very intuitive to use.
Cons
Employees can't see timeoff already requested and approved for other employees. They might be able to adjust their timeoff requests if they could see periods when multiple timeoff requests had already been submitted by other employees (and thus would know their request won't get approved). Would also be nice if the entire schedule view could be seen on the desktop interface (rather than just on the phone).
- Industry: Food & Beverages
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Great software, easy to use and connect with staff.
When I began using OpenSimSim I had been previously scheduling my staff on a spreadsheet and then emailing it to everyone. I discovered OpenSimSim through a google search and decided to give it a try. It was super easy to setup, super easy to connect my staff to it and eliminated so many scheduling frustrations I had been dealing with.
Pros
I love the ability to message my entire staff or individual staff members. I love the ease of the app. I love adding shift opportunities and staff being able to request time off, drop shifts and pick up shifts as they wish.
Cons
I have no negative opinions of this software. It did take me a while to realize that I could turn my device sideways to view the entire schedule but that's just on me for not taking the time to learn its features.
- Industry: Retail
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
One of the best scheduling solutions
Pros
OpenSimSim is incredibly easy to implement. Adding new employees to schedules takes a few minutes, so overall very quick and straight forward. Managing multiple locations is convenient and simple.
Overall, no complaints. Great experience so far.
Cons
Nothing noteworthy. If I had to pick I would say I wish the iOS phone app had better UI for managing the schedule. It seems like the website it still best for creating schedule conveniently.
But not something that is a concern for us, using the website is easy enough.