When I Work vs Wrike
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Wrike is our recommended pick for most teams — marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Try Wrike →Read our full Wrike review →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.
Wrike
Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management platform designed for marketing, creative, and professional services teams. It offers advanced features like request forms, proofing and approvals, and resource management alongside traditional project management tools. Wrike is used by over 20,000 companies including Google, Walmart, and Siemens.
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
- ✓Strong enterprise features including resource management and proofing
- ✓Highly customizable workflows and request forms
- ✓Excellent for marketing and creative teams managing complex approvals
- ✓Robust reporting and analytics
Cons
- ✗Expensive for small teams — free plan is very limited
- ✗Steep learning curve for full feature set
- ✗Interface can feel complex for simple project management
- ✗Some features only available on higher enterprise tiers
When I Work vs Wrike: Side by Side
| Factor | When I Work | Wrike |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | 4.5/5 ★ |
| Category | HR Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $2.50/user/mo | Free |
| Best For | Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers | Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing |
| Our Pick | — | 🏆 Recommended |
When I Work Features
- ✓Shift scheduling
- ✓time clock
- ✓team messaging
- ✓attendance tracking
- ✓payroll export
Wrike Features
- ✓Project planning
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓request forms
- ✓proofing and approvals
- ✓resource management
- ✓time tracking
- ✓dashboards
- ✓automation
- ✓integrations
Pricing Comparison
Wrike
FreemiumFree to start
Free: $0 · Starter: $40/mo · Business: $80/mo · Enterprise: custom
See full pricing →Best Use Cases
Wrike
- →Marketing teams managing campaigns and creative projects
- →Professional services firms tracking client deliverables
- →Enterprises needing advanced project management with reporting
Who Should NOT Use These Tools
Wrike is NOT ideal for:
- ✗Small teams wanting a simple task manager
- ✗Businesses with tight budgets
- ✗Teams that prefer Kanban-only workflows
Integrations
Wrike
Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, GitHub, Jira
Our Take
Choose When I Work if small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. Choose Wrike if marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Best For
Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers
Best For
Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing
Also Consider
If neither When I Work nor Wrike 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 Wrike?
When I Work is best for small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. Wrike is best for marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Which is better, When I Work or Wrike?
Choose When I Work if small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. Choose Wrike if marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
How much does When I Work cost?
When I Work starts at $2.50/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Wrike cost?
Wrike starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use When I Work?
Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers
Who should use Wrike?
Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing