Looking for a Deputy alternative?
Join hundreds of Australian businesses who switched from Deputy to RosterElf for simpler rostering, better local support, and significant cost savings.
15-day free trial. No credit card required.
Deputy is a well-established workforce management platform, but it's not the right fit for every business. If you're finding Deputy too complex, too expensive, or struggling to get timely support, you're not alone.
Many Australian SMEs are switching to RosterElf — a simpler, more affordable alternative built specifically for shift-based businesses in Australia and New Zealand.
RosterElf vs Deputy at a glance
| Feature | RosterElf | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Support | ||
| Award interpretation | ||
| Xero rating | 4.0/5 (143 reviews) | |
| HR tools | ||
| Best for | Australian SMEs (5-200 staff) | Large enterprises, multi-country ops |
Read our Deputy review
In-depth analysis of Deputy's features, pricing, and limitations.
Read review vs 
Full comparison
Side-by-side feature, pricing, and support comparison.
View comparisonWhy businesses leave deputy
Deputy is a capable platform, but we consistently hear the same pain points from businesses making the switch:
Pricing complexity
The Core plan ($9.75/user/month) doesn't include HR tools, messaging, or analytics. Add-ons push real costs to $20-23 per user.
Support frustrations
Slow response times and difficulty reaching knowledgeable staff who understand Australian awards and regulations.
Overkill for SMEs
Features like AI demand forecasting and detailed labour analytics are great for large chains but unnecessary for a café with 20 staff.
Complex award setup
Getting penalty rates, allowances, and overtime rules configured correctly requires significant effort.
How RosterElf compares
Here's how RosterElf addresses the common frustrations Deputy users face, with detailed comparisons across key areas.
Pricing
One of the biggest reasons businesses switch from Deputy is cost. Here's how the pricing actually compares when you include the features most businesses need:
RosterElf pricing
Core
Rostering and time & attendance
Payroll-ready timesheets & awards
per employee per month
+ GST, billed monthly
Start free trial See all featuresFull Suite
Rostering, payroll & HR in one
Payroll & HR tools in one system
per employee per month
+ GST, billed monthly
Start free trial See all featuresHR
HR tools only
Onboarding, documents & policies
per employee per month
+ GST, billed monthly
Start free trial See all features$25 minimum monthly spend applies to all plans. All prices exclude GST. Contact us for enterprise pricing (250+ employees).
| What you get | RosterElf | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Core rostering & scheduling | Included | $9.75/user |
| Time & attendance | Included | Included in Core |
| HR tools | +$3-4/user (or Full Suite) | +$3.50/user |
| Team messaging | Included | +$2.75/user |
| Analytics | Included | +$2.00/user |
| Xero/MYOB integration | Included | Included |
| Australian support | Included | Premium plans only |
| Total per user/month | $8 - $10 | $18 - $23 |
★ Bottom line
For a business with 20 staff, switching from Deputy (with add-ons) to RosterElf could save $260-320 per month — that's $3,000-4,000 per year.
Rostering & scheduling
Both platforms offer solid rostering, but RosterElf is designed for speed and simplicity:
- RosterElf: Drag-and-drop builder, AI "Perfect Match" suggestions, one-click copy from previous weeks, real-time cost visibility
- Deputy: More granular controls, AI demand forecasting — better for large enterprises with complex forecasting needs
★ Verdict
RosterElf is simpler and faster for most SMEs. Deputy offers more power for large enterprises with complex forecasting needs.
Time & attendance
Both platforms provide GPS clock-in, tablet kiosk mode, geofencing, break tracking, and manager timesheet approval. Deputy has facial recognition; RosterElf uses photo verification. For most businesses, both approaches effectively prevent buddy punching.
Award interpretation
This is where many Australian businesses struggle with Deputy. While both support Australian awards, the experience differs:
- RosterElf: Pre-configured for common awards, free training included, simpler interface, Australian support team who understand local awards
- Deputy: Highly configurable for complex scenarios, but requires more technical setup — better for organisations with unique EBAs
★ Verdict
Standard Australian award? RosterElf is easier. Complex EBA with unique rules? Deputy's flexibility may be worth the extra effort.
Customer support
Support quality is one of the most common reasons businesses switch:
| Support aspect | RosterElf | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Team location | Global (varies) | |
| Phone support | Premium+ plans only | |
| Setup assistance | Self-service or paid | |
| Award help | Documentation only |
Mobile apps
Both platforms offer mobile apps for iOS and Android. Staff can view rosters, clock in/out, request leave, and swap shifts from their phones.
What switchers say
Don't just take our word for it — here's what businesses who switched from Deputy say:
Xero App Store
Xero App Store
Moving from Deputy to RosterElf was one of the best decisions I've made, with a better product, better support and fair pricing.
After issues with Deputy, RosterElf has given us great support and the confidence we can call to resolve any issue.
We switched to RosterElf and are so pleased; integration with Xero is faultless and payroll runs smoothly.
4.8+ stars See all RosterElf reviews
Verified reviews from Google, Xero App Store, and G2.
Read customer reviewsHow to make the switch
Switching from Deputy to RosterElf is easier than you might think. Most businesses are fully operational within a week:
Start your free trial
Sign up for a 15-day free trial. No credit card required.
Book an onboarding call
Our Australian team will help you set up your account, import staff data, and configure your award rates.
Import your data
We'll help you migrate employee data from Deputy via CSV export/import.
Run parallel for a pay period
Optionally run both systems for one pay period to verify everything is correct.
Go live
Switch over completely. Most businesses are fully operational within a week.
Switched from Deputy to RosterElf
"Transition from Deputy to RosterElf was super easy. Seamless Xero integration—no manual exports. In just a couple of weeks, everyone was happy and fully up & running."
BagelOs switched from Deputy to RosterElf
"RosterElf is easier than Deputy. We can talk to real people when we need help. No complaints — we're happy with RosterElf."
Deputy alternatives FAQ
- Businesses switch primarily for three reasons: significant cost savings (RosterElf costs 50-60% less than Deputy with add-ons), better local support from an Australian-based team, and simpler award setup. Many Deputy users find the pricing complex and support response times slow, while RosterElf includes features like team messaging and analytics in the base price that Deputy charges extra for.
- RosterElf is purpose-built for Australian businesses with pre-configured award templates, free training, and an Australian support team who understand local compliance requirements. While Deputy is a global platform, RosterElf focuses specifically on Australian and New Zealand shift-based businesses. The award interpretation setup is simpler, and the Xero integration is rated higher (${xeroRating.rating}/5 vs 4.0/5).
- Yes. RosterElf is designed for simplicity with an intuitive drag-and-drop roster builder, one-click copying from previous weeks, and AI-powered staff matching. Deputy offers more granular controls and enterprise features, but many SMEs find this complexity unnecessary. RosterElf gives you everything you need without the overwhelming interface.
- For a business with 20 staff needing rostering, time tracking, HR tools, and messaging, Deputy costs $18-23 per user/month while RosterElf costs $8-10 per user/month. That is a saving of $200-260 per month, or $2,400-3,120 per year. The savings increase with team size, as RosterElf includes features in the base price that Deputy charges separately for.
- RosterElf includes all core features Australian SMEs need: shift scheduling, time and attendance tracking, award interpretation, leave management, HR tools, team communication, and payroll integration. Deputy has more enterprise features like AI demand forecasting and detailed labour analytics, but these are often overkill for businesses under 200 staff. RosterElf provides complete workforce management focused on what matters most to SMEs.
- Both platforms offer robust mobile apps for iOS and Android with similar core functionality. Staff can view rosters, clock in/out with GPS tracking, request leave, and swap shifts on both platforms. Deputy includes more advanced features like task management and newsfeed communications, while RosterElf focuses on simplicity with team messaging and quick access to essential rostering functions. For most Australian SMEs, RosterElf mobile app provides everything needed without overwhelming complexity.
- Yes. RosterElf supports businesses with multiple locations, allowing you to create separate rosters for each site while managing everything from one account. Staff can be assigned to specific locations, and you can track GPS clock-ins by site. Deputy offers more granular location-based controls and area management, which may benefit larger multi-site operations, but RosterElf provides all the multi-location features most Australian businesses require.
Trusted by Australian businesses
From local cafes to national retail chains, thousands of businesses rely on RosterElf for rostering, HR and payroll.
Real support from people who understand your business
At RosterElf, support isn't a ticket system — it's part of the product. Our Australian-based team helps you set up correctly, understand award rules, and stay compliant as your business changes. No scripts. No offshore handoffs. Just real help when you need it.
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Guided setup and onboarding
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Award and payroll questions answered
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Ongoing help as your team grows
5.0 average rating Rated 5.0 by Australian businesses