When I Work vs SmartRecruiters
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
When I Work
When I Work is an employee scheduling and time tracking platform designed for hourly and shift-based teams. It makes it easy for managers to build schedules, communicate with staff, and track attendance. When I Work is one of the most affordable scheduling tools on the market.
SmartRecruiters
SmartRecruiters is an enterprise talent acquisition platform that offers a genuinely free plan alongside paid enterprise tiers. Its free plan includes unlimited job postings, candidate tracking, and team collaboration — making it one of the most generous free ATS options available. SmartRecruiters is used by global enterprises including Visa, Bosch, and LinkedIn.
Pros
- ✓Very affordable pricing starting at just a few dollars per user
- ✓Easy-to-use scheduling with drag-and-drop interface
- ✓Good team messaging and shift swap tools
- ✓Simple time clock with GPS tracking
Cons
- ✗Limited features beyond scheduling and time tracking
- ✗No payroll processing or full HR suite
- ✗Reporting is basic compared to more comprehensive workforce tools
Pros
- ✓Genuinely useful free plan with unlimited jobs and users
- ✓Enterprise-grade features available as you scale
- ✓Strong AI candidate screening on paid plans
- ✓Used by large global enterprises giving it credibility with candidates
Cons
- ✗Free plan has limited analytics and automation
- ✗Enterprise pricing can be expensive
- ✗Interface can feel complex for small teams
- ✗Implementation requires dedicated time for enterprise features
When I Work vs SmartRecruiters: Side by Side
| Factor | When I Work | SmartRecruiters |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Applicant Tracking |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $2.50/user/mo | Free |
| Best For | Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers | Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise |
| Our Pick | — | — |
When I Work Features
- ✓Shift scheduling
- ✓time clock
- ✓team messaging
- ✓attendance tracking
- ✓payroll export
SmartRecruiters Features
- ✓Unlimited job postings
- ✓candidate tracking
- ✓collaborative hiring
- ✓AI screening
- ✓interview scheduling
- ✓offer management
- ✓analytics
- ✓career page
- ✓mobile app
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose When I Work if small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. Choose SmartRecruiters if companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
Best For
Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers
Best For
Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise
Also Consider
If neither When I Work nor SmartRecruiters is the right fit, Justworks is worth evaluating.
Justworks
Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits
From $59/employee/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between When I Work and SmartRecruiters?
When I Work is best for small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. SmartRecruiters is best for companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
Which is better, When I Work or SmartRecruiters?
Choose When I Work if small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. Choose SmartRecruiters if companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
How much does When I Work cost?
When I Work starts at $2.50/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does SmartRecruiters cost?
SmartRecruiters starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use When I Work?
Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers
Who should use SmartRecruiters?
Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise