When I Work alternative
Looking for a When I Work alternative that's just hours?
Kangaroo Clock skips the scheduling-first workflow, track hours without learning a shift planner.
Updated June 2026
What When I Work does well
When I Work is genuinely good at shift scheduling. The drag-and-drop schedule builder, shift swap requests, and team messaging all work well for businesses that need to plan shifts in advance. The mobile experience is polished. If your job centers on filling and managing a recurring shift schedule, When I Work is a defensible choice.
Kangaroo Clock vs When I Work at a glance
High-level capability comparison. For exact pricing and feature checklists, check When I Work's site, it stays more current than anything we'd cache here.
| Capability | When I Work | Kangaroo Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling / shift planning | The design center. | None, time tracking only. |
| Worker login | Required, each worker needs an account. | None. Tap a name, scan a QR, or open a personal URL. |
| Pricing model | Per-seat + module tiers ($2.50+/user/mo + add-ons). | Flat pricing (free at launch). |
| Time tracking | Secondary module to the scheduling product. | The whole product. |
| Shift swap / messaging features | Built in. | Out of scope. |
Where Kangaroo Clock fits instead
When I Work and Kangaroo Clock serve different jobs. When I Work optimizes the planning step (who's on shift when). Kangaroo Clock optimizes the recording step (who actually worked, when, for how long).
If your scheduling is already settled, a paper schedule, a Google Calendar, a spreadsheet, or even no schedule at all (volunteers show up when they show up), When I Work's whole left half is wasted overhead. Kangaroo Clock is the just-the-hours version: five-minute setup, three clock-in modes, clean CSV out.
You should stay with When I Work if…
Stay with When I Work if you actively manage a recurring shift schedule, if your team uses the in-app messaging and shift-swap features, or if you need integrated scheduling + tracking + payroll in one tool. When I Work is also better-suited to businesses with predictable rolling shifts (chain retail, restaurants with fixed shift rotations).
Common questions
Does Kangaroo Clock have shift swaps or shift requests?
No, KC has no scheduling at all. Workers clock in when they actually show up; the system records what happens, not what was planned.
Can I track multiple locations?
Yes, one workspace per location, or use tags within a single workspace to slice by location. There's no per-location surcharge.
How does Kangaroo Clock handle hourly + salaried mixed teams?
KC tracks clock-in events for whoever clocks in. Salaried staff who don't track hours simply don't appear in reports. We don't try to be a unified HR system.
See for yourself
No signup needed. Add workers, share a kiosk, watch hours roll in.