FREE TO START / STAFF SCHEDULING
Find a free way to make the next staff rota clearer.
Small teams often need a quick answer before they need another subscription. Start with free checks and templates, then see whether a focused scheduling workflow is worth joining early.
Three useful free starting points
Compare the people required with the people assigned for each period.
Open the free calculator →Make a scheduleFollow a practical workflow from roles and availability to a publishable rota.
Use the schedule maker →Collect availabilityGive everyone the same format for available, unavailable and preferred times.
Open the template →What free tools can—and cannot—solve
A calculator can reveal an uncovered period. A template can hold the answer. Neither automatically keeps a team aligned when availability changes, a shift is swapped or an owner publishes a new version.
Use the tools for a first rota, a one-off check or a small team with few changes.
Notice when information moves between a sheet, a calendar and group chat.
Shift Helper is being built for the recurring collect-review-publish workflow.
A focused alternative to a free spreadsheet
Shift Helper is not presented as a payroll, time-clock or enterprise HR system. It focuses on availability, role coverage, owner review and a current published rota for small teams.
See the small-team workflow → · Choose by team size → · Join early access →
Questions about free scheduling tools
Is there a free staff scheduling option?
Yes. You can start with Shift Helper’s free coverage calculator, schedule maker and availability template. Shift Helper itself is presented as an early-access product, so check the current access details before relying on it for a live rota.
Can a free tool collect employee availability?
A template can collect available, unavailable and preferred times in one format. The important next step is reviewing that information against role coverage before publishing the schedule.
When should a small team move beyond a free spreadsheet?
Consider a focused scheduling workflow when availability lives in messages, changes are overwritten, or the team cannot tell which rota is current.
More free scheduling resources
Browse all scheduling tools → · Open the resources hub → · Read the scheduling guides →