If you run a restaurant, you know how fast things move. Between flipping tables, managing no-shows, and staff calling out last-minute, it’s chaos. You probably also use Toast or Square for your POS system—and now you’re wondering, “What scheduling or HR tools work best with those?” Great news: You’re in the right place.

TL;DR 🧾

We’ve rounded up the top 6 scheduling + HR tools for restaurants that work seamlessly with Toast or Square. These tools save time and reduce headaches from staff scheduling, payroll, HR tasks, and time-off requests. Based on Reddit discussions, these are real tools used by baristas, managers, and owners alike. So if you’re trying to build a more organized, less chaotic setup, we’ve got you covered.

1. 7shifts – The Fan Favorite 🍔

This one comes up over and over again on Reddit. Especially in communities like r/restaurant and r/smallbusiness. Servers, line cooks, and GMs swear by it. Why? It’s made just for restaurants.

  • Integrates with: Toast, Square (via Zapier or native apps)
  • Features: Drag-and-drop scheduling, labor forecasting, mobile app, tip pooling
  • Reddit Love: “Changed our staffing life. I can post a schedule in 5 minutes now.” – u/doughbringer

It’s also great for syncing your schedule directly with your POS sales data. That helps a lot during slow weeks or busy seasons.

2. Sling – The Budget Option 🛠️

If you’re a smaller joint and want something affordable, Sling is a solid pick. Many users on Reddit mention using it before switching to 7shifts or because it’s free to start.

  • Integrates with: Toast (via manual exports); Square (via third-party API connections)
  • Features: Scheduling, employee messaging, time clock, shift alerts
  • Reddit Love: “We used Sling for over 2 years. It saved our sanity.” – u/sandwichengineer

The free version already gives you solid tools. Paid plans get you more automation, but many shops don’t need it starting out.

3. Homebase – The All-In-One 🧰

This tool comes up a lot in combo with Square. That’s because Square actually acquired Homebase’s technology to integrate more smoothly into their POS!

  • Integrates with: Native integration with Square, partial support for Toast via exports
  • Features: Scheduling, time tracking, payroll, hiring
  • Reddit Love: “Homebase made onboarding so much easier. No more paper forms!” – u/bunsandbeyond

It’s great for owners who don’t have time to juggle different platforms. You can do shift planning, pay employees, post job openings, and even track time-off all in one place.

4. Push Operations – Made for Grown-Up Ops 📈

Running a larger bar or multi-concept location? Redditors on r/restaurant say Push is amazing for streamlining both HR and scheduling together. Especially in Canada, it’s a top choice, but it works just as well in the U.S.

  • Integrates with: Toast (native), Square (via Zapier or CSV)
  • Features: HR tools, payroll, scheduling, compliance tracking
  • Reddit Love: “It saves us hours every week. Plus, onboarding is smooth AF.” – u/superjugs

The platform shines if you manage multiple locations or have over 50 employees. It gives you more power without getting too complex.

5. Deputy – Built for Flexibility 🕒

With lots of customization options, Deputy is another Reddit-favorite that supports all types of food businesses—from food trucks to full-service restaurants.

  • Integrates with: Toast and Square (natively and via integrations)
  • Features: Smart scheduling, time-off requests, shift swaps, labor compliance
  • Reddit Love: “Deputy makes vacation planning painless.” – u/espressoforthesoul

Its real power is in labor law compliance alerts and shift flexibility. Plus, the mobile app is top-notch, which your team will appreciate.

6. Nowsta – On-Demand Staff? Let’s Go! 🚀

If you have last-minute events or ever need backup staff fast, Redditors say Nowsta’s your secret weapon. It allows you to schedule your regular crew—or pull in extras on demand if someone flakes.

  • Integrates with: Toast (via API), Square (via spreadsheet import or Zapier)
  • Features: On-demand labor, scheduling, automated reminders, shift alerts
  • Reddit Love: “We staff our private events side hustle with Nowsta. Smooth AF.” – u/taxitaco

Perfect for caterers, pop-ups, or places that do weekly events or parties. It also lets staff clock-in via facial recognition, which is kind of wild but super accurate.

Choosing the Right Tool: What Reddit Users Recommend

If you’re looking for just scheduling, Sling, 7shifts, or Deputy are your best bets. If you want Scheduling + HR + Payroll, go for Homebase, Push, or Nowsta.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

  • Best for Budgeting: Sling
  • Best for Growing Teams: Push
  • Best for Busy Managers: 7shifts or Deputy
  • Best if You Use Square: Homebase
  • Best for Events or Flexible Staffing: Nowsta

Bonus Tips from Redditors 🍕

We combed several threads and here are things real restaurant folks wish they’d known sooner:

  • Get buy-in from your staff early—or they’ll ignore the app
  • Test integrations on a small scale before going all-in
  • Take time to set up roles and labor laws correctly to avoid compliance issues
  • Use push notifications for shift changes—it saves texts and late-night calls
  • Use tools with shift swap features—they’ll free up hours of your time

Wrap-Up 🧾

Running a restaurant is wild, but tech can help you tame the chaos. Whether you’re looking for simple shift planning or full-blown HR tools, there’s something out there for everyone—especially if you already use Toast or Square.

So figure out what your top needs are: better communication? Faster scheduling? Onboarding? Then pick the tool that gives your team the most support. Because when your staff is in sync, biz is just better.

Now, back to flipping burgers and pouring espresso like the scheduling boss you were meant to be 💪.