Comparison
Zentru vs When I Work
When I Work is a polished, mobile-first scheduling app that hourly teams genuinely like — if fast, simple shift scheduling is your main need, it's a strong pick. Zentru is the better fit if you want more than scheduling in one platform (training, guest feedback, performance) and prefer to describe next week's schedule in plain language — and it bundles the time clock and extras instead of charging for them separately. Here's an honest side-by-side.
Start 30-day trialAt a glance
| Feature | Zentru | When I Work |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Multi-location, multi-industry teams wanting ops breadth + natural-language scheduling | Teams that mainly want fast, simple, mobile shift scheduling |
| Time clock | Included | Paid add-on (not in the base per-user price) |
| Scheduling AI | "Ask Amil": describe the week -> full-week draft -> approve | "Auto Assign": button that auto-fills shifts you've laid out |
| Beyond scheduling | Clock-in, training + certificates, tasks, QR guest feedback, performance/rewards | Scheduling, time clock, messaging, light task lists; no training/certs, no guest feedback, no performance/rewards |
| Pricing model | Flat Starter and Growth tiers by team size, with Premium custom pricing through Contact Sales; AI + clock-in included | Per user ($2.50 / $5 / $8) + time-clock add-on |
| Free plan | No (30-day no-card trial) | No (retired; 14-day no-card trial) |
| Maturity / social proof | Newer | 200,000+ workplaces, ~1,300 Capterra + ~375 G2 reviews |
Last verified: 2026-08-07. Competitor pricing and features change — verify on the competitor's own site before deciding.
When When I Work is the better fit
- You mainly need fast, simple shift scheduling with a great mobile app — that's When I Work's core strength, consistently praised by reviewers.
- You want mature employee self-service — swaps, availability, time-off, OpenShifts — that's proven and well-liked.
- You want a low per-user entry price for a scheduling-only need (from ~$2.50/user).
- Proven scale and social proof matter: 200,000+ workplaces and strong directory ratings (Capterra 4.5, ~1,300 reviews).
When I Work is a genuinely good scheduling product — we'll say so.
When Zentru is the better fit
- You want more than scheduling in one platform. Zentru includes training + certifications, tasks, QR guest feedback, and performance/rewards. When I Work is scheduling-first — its task lists are light checklists, and it has no training/certs, guest feedback, or performance module.
- You'd rather ask than auto-fill. Zentru's Ask Amil takes a plain-English prompt -> a validated full-week draft -> you approve. When I Work's "Auto Assign" is a button that fills shifts you've already laid out. (Honest note: both are deterministic planners — the real difference is the input/workflow, natural-language prompt vs auto-fill, not "AI vs no-AI." Zentru's Amil is not LLM-powered.)
- You want the time clock and extras included. When I Work's headline per-user price excludes time tracking (a paid add-on), so a shift business that needs a clock realistically pays more than the sticker. Zentru bundles clock-in + AI + the extra modules in flat tiers — customer-fair billing is a core principle.
- You run multiple industries/locations — restaurants, bars, hotels, gyms, cruise, hospitals — all native to Zentru.
Pricing, honestly
- Zentru: Starter (up to 15) · Growth (up to 50, AI + clock-in included) · Premium custom pricing through Contact Sales (75+). 30-day no-card trial with no automatic charge. EUR.
- When I Work: Essentials ~$2.50 · Pro ~$5 · Premium ~$8 per user/month — plus a Time Tracking & Attendance add-on (~$1.50–$2/user, priced separately). 14-day trial, no card; no free plan. (Add-on price is from third-party trackers; verify at wheniwork.com.)
- Net: for a small scheduling-only team, When I Work's low per-user price can be cheaper. Once you add the time clock and want the extra modules, Zentru's flat tiers are usually more predictable and complete.
FAQ
Is Zentru a good When I Work alternative?
Yes if you want ops beyond scheduling (training, guest feedback, performance) or natural-language scheduling. When I Work remains excellent for a simple, mobile scheduling need.
Does When I Work have AI scheduling?
It has "Auto Assign," a rule-based auto-fill of shifts you've laid out — not a natural-language "ask it to build the week" prompt.
Is the time clock included with When I Work?
No — time tracking is a separate paid add-on. Zentru includes clock-in.
Can I try Zentru free?
Yes — 30 days, no card and no automatic charge.
Try Zentru free for 30 days
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