Squadra

Overview

Managers can build a week on a scheduling grid, copy the prior week in one click, and share the schedule by link. Employees can check shifts without an app or account, which removes setup friction for occasional or less tech-oriented staff. Availability and time-off management round out the scheduling workflow.

Time tracking is optional. When enabled, employees clock in and out from a phone or tablet, and Squadra totals their hours automatically. PIN clock-ins, random verification photos, GPS checks at clock-in, and lunch-break management give employers more attendance oversight; teams that only need to publish shifts can leave these controls unused.

Key features

• Recurring schedules: The weekly grid and one-click copying help managers reproduce familiar patterns without rebuilding each week. Link sharing is convenient, though staff access remains web-only.
• Clock-in controls: Phone and tablet clock-ins with automatic hour totals cover basic timekeeping. PINs, photos, GPS checks, and break management suit employers with attendance requirements, but may be more control than a small team needs.
• HR integrations and API: Native live connectors are available for BambooHR, HiBob, Personio, Factorial HR, PayFit, and Lucca. Pro also includes a read-only, scoped REST API using OpenAPI; its documented ceiling is 1,000 calls per hour, with permission-scoped keys and immediate revocation. That should suit controlled data access, not systems that need to write changes back through the API.
• Migration and support: Assisted migration from When I Work, 7shifts, and Deputy is described as completing within 24 hours and includes 12 months of history. Human support responds in under four hours on business days, a useful commitment for managers resolving operational issues.
• Data handling: Squadra says data is hosted in Europe, is fully exportable at any time, and remains retained for 30 days after cancellation. It describes its approach as GDPR-native.

Pricing

Squadra has a free plan, paid plans from $29/mo, and a 14-day trial. The free tier is a credible starting point for a small operation: it costs $0 forever and supports up to 10 employees at one location, weekly scheduling, phone and tablet clock-in, schedule sharing by link, and email support. Those employee and location caps are the key constraint; teams exceeding either must move to a paid plan.

Pro costs $29/month, or $289/year with annual billing, a stated 17% saving. Both offer unlimited employees and locations plus priority email support. The free plan gives up that scale and priority support, while Pro's listed plan features otherwise center on those differences.

Enterprise has custom pricing and is aimed at organizations with 200+ employees. It adds SSO/SAML, a contractual SLA, advanced audit logs, dedicated onboarding, priority support, and custom integrations. That package is more appropriate for larger organizations with security, service-level, or integration requirements than for a small business choosing a rota tool.

Platforms

Squadra runs on the web. Employees can open a shared schedule link without an app or account, but staff mobile access is web-only rather than through native Android or iOS apps.

Who it's for

Squadra describes its focus as retail workforce management for store managers, and names retail, restaurants, salons, pharmacies, and hotels among its industries. It is best suited to shift-based teams that value quick weekly scheduling, link-based access, and optional attendance controls. The free plan fits a small single-location team; multi-location businesses can use Pro, while organizations over 200 employees may need Enterprise's controls and onboarding. Businesses that require native staff apps should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Employees can view shifts without creating accounts or downloading an app, reducing barriers to schedule access.
• Pro: Automatic hour totals and optional PIN, photo, GPS, and lunch-break controls combine scheduling with attendance management when needed.
• Pro: The free plan includes scheduling and clock-in for up to 10 employees at one location, making it usable for a small team rather than only a trial workspace.
• Con: The free plan's 10-employee and one-location caps make growth a paid decision.
• Con: Web-only staff access excludes teams that rely on native mobile apps.
• Con: Pro's read-only API cannot write updates back, limiting its role in integrations that need two-way data exchange.

Alternatives

For salons comparing specialist scheduling tools, see Salon Staff Scheduling Software. Salonist is a salon appointment option with Android, iOS, and web access; its free Market Place Listing plan includes 50 appointments per month, online booking, calendar and scheduling, and staff shift management, while Essential costs 59.00 USD per mo. Choose it when appointment booking and native mobile access matter more than Squadra's workforce-focused web scheduling.

Zoho Shifts offers a free tier for up to 25 users, with basic scheduling, multiple locations, team messaging, break scheduling, time-off requests, and schedule reports, and supports Android, iOS, web, and API access. It is worth considering when a larger free user allowance or broader platform coverage is the priority.

EasyGrox is another option to compare. TrimTime is also available.

Salonized is a paid salon platform with a free trial and a 21.00 EUR per month Appointments plan; it may suit buyers seeking a salon-specific paid option. Saloning is another paid option with a free trial. Altegio is a paid option with a free trial. Calendall is a paid option with a free trial.

Verdict

Squadra is a strong fit for small and growing shift-based businesses that want straightforward weekly scheduling, easy link-based staff access, and optional clock-in oversight. Its free tier is useful for a single location with up to 10 employees, and Pro removes those scale limits for $29/month or $289/year. Look elsewhere if native mobile apps are essential, or if your integration needs require write access through an API.