7shifts
Restaurant workforce platform that handles scheduling, time tracking, tip management, and payroll in one place.
Independent overview by new Mantra · updated July 22, 2026
- Category
- HR
- Pricing
- Free Comp plan (1 location); Entree $29.99/location/mo; The Works $49.99/location/mo; Gourmet custom (AI auto-scheduling)
- Implementation
- Under 1 week
- Adoption risk
- Low
- Integrates with
- Toast, Square, Clover, QuickBooks, Gusto
What 7shifts does
7shifts is built specifically for restaurants and covers the full employee lifecycle from hiring and onboarding through scheduling, time clocking, pay, and team communication. Rather than stitching together separate solutions for each task, it keeps those workflows connected so managers spend less time switching between systems.
The scheduling side uses machine learning to read sales forecasts and guest traffic data, then builds shift plans that aim to avoid overstaffing and the overtime costs that come with it. Managers can still adjust drafts manually, approve shift swaps, and monitor labor compliance before publishing. On the pay side, the platform calculates wages and tips automatically and supports on-demand pay so employees can access earned wages before payday.
7shifts connects with common restaurant POS systems — Toast, Square, and Clover among them — as well as payroll and accounting solutions like QuickBooks and Gusto. Most teams are up and running in under a week, and a free single-location plan lets you test the basics before committing to a paid tier.
Key capabilities
AI-assisted shift scheduling
A machine-learning auto-scheduler reads sales forecasts and guest traffic to draft schedules, available on the Gourmet (custom) plan. Shift swaps with manager approval and built-in labor compliance solutions are available on lower tiers.
Time clocking and attendance
Employees clock in and out through the platform, giving managers a real-time view of attendance and the data needed for accurate pay calculations.
Tip management and payroll
The platform handles tip pooling, wage calculations, and tax filing, and it includes on-demand pay so staff can draw earned wages before the regular pay cycle.
Hiring and onboarding
Job postings, applicant tracking, digital document storage, and onboarding workflows are built in, reducing the manual back-and-forth between a job opening and a first shift.
Training and skill building
An AI course builder can turn existing documents into training courses with auto-generated quizzes, and managers can assign, track progress, and send reminders from the same platform.
Team communication and retention solutions
In-app chat, shift feedback, performance and attendance insights, and a manager log book give operators a structured way to communicate with staff and identify retention risks early.
Best for
- Independent restaurants or small groups that currently manage scheduling, time tracking, and payroll across disconnected solutions and want to consolidate them.
- Multi-location operators — the pricing model is per location, and the platform explicitly supports franchise and enterprise groups alongside single-site independents.
- Restaurant types ranging from quick-service and cafes to bars, bakeries, pizzerias, and catering operations — the vendor lists all of these as supported segments.
- Owners or managers who want labor cost visibility built into the scheduling process, rather than discovering overruns after timesheets are submitted.
- Teams that need employees to self-manage availability, time-off requests, and shift swaps from a mobile app without manager involvement at every step.
Worth knowing
- The AI auto-scheduling feature is only available on the Gourmet plan, which is custom-priced — so if that capability is your primary interest, you will need to contact 7shifts for a quote rather than signing up directly.
- Pricing is charged per location per month ($29.99 or $49.99 depending on tier), which adds up quickly for multi-location groups on higher plans — model your total cost against your location count before committing.
- The free Comp plan covers only one location and offers basic features; meaningful automation and pay solutions require a paid subscription.
- 7shifts is designed exclusively for restaurants and food-service businesses — if your operation is outside that sector, this solution is not a fit and you should evaluate a general-purpose workforce management platform instead.
- Connecting the auto-scheduler to real sales data requires a POS integration (Toast, Square, or Clover are supported); if your POS is not on the integration list, the forecasting features may be limited or unavailable.
Related solutions
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