Written by
Steve Harris
Deputy and Connecteam are both popular workforce management platforms, but they take very different approaches. This guide compares the two for Australian businesses looking to choose between them—or explore alternatives like RosterElf.
Deputy focuses on site-based shift scheduling with strong rostering features and established Xero integration. Connecteam targets mobile and deskless workforces with communication-first features and job-based scheduling.
Overall: Deputy wins 5 of 6 categories, making it the stronger choice for most Australian businesses—especially those in hospitality and retail with site-based operations. Connecteam excels at team communication and offers a free tier for small teams.
Quick summary
Deputy is an Australian-founded platform designed for shift-based businesses. It offers intuitive rostering, reliable time tracking with GPS, and a polished mobile app that staff find easy to use. Deputy integrates with Xero (4/5, 179 reviews) and MYOB for payroll export.
Connecteam is a global platform built for mobile and deskless workforces. It uses a hub-based pricing model (Operations, Communications, HR) and excels at team communication features like chat, updates, and forms. Connecteam's Xero integration is newer (4.7/5, 50 reviews).
Key difference: Neither platform offers built-in Australian award interpretation. Both require manual pay rule configuration for penalty rates and allowances. For automatic award compliance, consider RosterElf's award interpretation.
Pricing comparison
Both platforms use per-user pricing, but their structures differ significantly:
Deputy pricing (AUD)
- Core plan: $9.75/user/month — rostering, time tracking, basic features
- HR add-on: $3.50/user/month
- Messaging+ add-on: $2.75/user/month
- Analytics+ add-on: $2.00/user/month
- Payroll add-on: $5.00/user/month
Deputy uses modular pricing. The Core plan is $9.75/user but most businesses need add-ons, bringing total costs to ~$23/user/month for full functionality.
Connecteam pricing (USD, converted)
- Free: $0 for up to 10 users (basic features)
- Basic: ~$47 AUD/month for first 30 users, then ~$1.30/additional user
- Advanced: ~$77 AUD/month for first 30 users
- Expert: ~$170 AUD/month for first 30 users (per hub)
Connecteam uses a hub-based model. Full functionality requires purchasing multiple hubs (Operations + Communications + HR), which can add up for larger teams.
⭐ Pricing verdict: For very small teams (≤10 users), Connecteam's free tier wins. For teams of 20+, Deputy's per-user pricing is typically more cost-effective. Neither includes Australian award interpretation at any price point.
Rostering & scheduling
Deputy uses site-based scheduling designed for businesses with fixed locations like cafes, retail stores, and aged care facilities. The scheduler shows staff vertically with shifts horizontally, making it easy to see who's working when.
Connecteam uses job-based scheduling better suited for mobile workforces like cleaning, construction, or field services where staff move between job sites rather than working at fixed locations.
Key differences
| Feature | Deputy | Connecteam |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling approach | Site-based | Job-based |
| Views available | Daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly | Daily, weekly |
| Auto-scheduling | ||
| Shift templates | ||
| Award-aware rostering |
⭐ Rostering verdict: Deputy (9/10) beats Connecteam (7/10). Deputy's site-based scheduler with auto-scheduling and fortnightly views suits most Australian hospitality and retail businesses. Connecteam's job-based approach works better for field services.
Time tracking
Both platforms offer GPS-verified clock-ins, but with different approaches to geofencing and verification.
Key differences
| Feature | Deputy | Connecteam |
|---|---|---|
| GPS clock-in | ||
| Geofencing | ||
| Photo verification | ||
| Kiosk mode | ||
| GPS breadcrumb tracking |
⭐ Time tracking verdict: Deputy (8.5/10) edges out Connecteam (7.5/10). Deputy's time clock is faster and more reliable. Connecteam's GPS breadcrumb tracking is useful for mobile workforces who travel between sites.
Payroll integration
Both platforms integrate with Xero and MYOB, but their integration maturity and user ratings differ:
Xero App Store ratings
| Platform | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy | 4/5 | 179 |
| Connecteam | 4.7/5 | 50 |
Key limitation: Neither platform includes built-in Australian award interpretation. Both require manual configuration of pay rules for penalty rates, overtime, and allowances.
⭐ Payroll verdict: Deputy (7.5/10) wins over Connecteam (5/10). Deputy's Xero integration is more established with significantly more reviews. For award-ready timesheets with automatic penalty calculations, see RosterElf's award interpretation.
Mobile apps
Both platforms offer iOS and Android apps, but the user experience differs significantly.
Deputy's app focuses on core functions: viewing rosters, clocking in/out, requesting leave, and swapping shifts. Staff find it fast and intuitive. The interface is clean without being cluttered.
Connecteam's app includes more features: forms, tasks, training, chat, and updates. This makes it powerful but also more complex. Some users find it overwhelming for simple rostering tasks.
Connecteam mobile app - feature-rich but more complex
⭐ Mobile verdict: Deputy (9/10) beats Connecteam (8/10). Deputy's app is faster and easier for daily rostering tasks. Connecteam's app offers more features but can feel cluttered for basic use.
Communication tools
This is where Connecteam excels. The platform was built communication-first with features like:
- Team chat with channels and direct messages
- Company updates feed (like an internal social media)
- Surveys and polls
- Knowledge base for documents
- Training course builder
Deputy offers basic team messaging and shift notes, but communication isn't its primary focus.
⭐ Communication verdict: Connecteam (9/10) wins over Deputy (7/10). If team communication is a priority, Connecteam offers more comprehensive tools. For basic shift communication, Deputy is sufficient.
HR features
Neither platform is a full HRIS, but both offer some HR functionality:
| Feature | Deputy | Connecteam |
|---|---|---|
| Employee profiles | ||
| Leave management | ||
| Document storage | ||
| Onboarding checklists | Basic | |
| Training courses |
⭐ HR verdict: Deputy (5/10) slightly edges Connecteam (4/10). Both offer basic HR functionality. For comprehensive HR with digital contracts and onboarding workflows, consider RosterElf.
Australian compliance
Critical limitation: Neither Deputy nor Connecteam offers built-in Australian award interpretation. Both require manual configuration of pay rules.
Deputy has stronger Australian roots and more experience with local payroll integrations. Connecteam is a global platform with US-centric defaults.
For businesses covered by Modern Awards who need automatic penalty rate calculations, consider Australian-built alternatives like RosterElf which includes award interpretation as standard.
User ratings comparison
Both platforms have established review profiles across major software directories. Here's how they compare:
Xero App Store ratings
| Platform | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy | 4/5 | 179 |
| Connecteam | 4.7/5 | 50 |
Deputy Xero reviews
Deputy has a longer Xero integration history with more reviews. Feedback is mixed:
"Deputy simplifies our payroll… big time saver."
"Integration is complicated… took a while to set up correctly."
Connecteam Xero reviews
Connecteam's Xero integration is newer with fewer reviews:
"Works well for basic time tracking. Good value."
G2 ratings
| Platform | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy | 4.6/5 | 700+ |
| Connecteam | 4.7/5 | 800+ |
Other platforms
| Platform | Deputy | Connecteam |
|---|---|---|
| Capterra | 4.6/5 | 4.8/5 |
| 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
⭐ Ratings verdict: Both platforms score well across review sites. Deputy has more established reviews on Xero (179 vs 50), while Connecteam scores slightly higher on G2 and Capterra.
Best fit & use cases
Choose Deputy for:
- Hospitality (cafes, restaurants, hotels)
- Retail with fixed store locations
- Healthcare and aged care
- Teams prioritising rostering simplicity
- Established Xero payroll workflows
Choose Connecteam for:
- Mobile workforces (cleaning, construction)
- Field services with job-based scheduling
- Teams needing strong communication tools
- Very small teams (≤10) wanting free access
- Businesses outside Australia
Final verdict
Deputy wins for most Australian businesses. Its site-based scheduling, polished mobile app, and established Xero integration make it the better choice for hospitality, retail, and healthcare. Deputy's Australian heritage means better local support and understanding of Australian payroll requirements.
Connecteam wins for mobile workforces and businesses prioritising team communication. Its free tier for small teams is a genuine advantage, and job-based scheduling suits field services well.
Neither platform offers Australian award interpretation. For automatic penalty rate calculations and Fair Work compliance, consider RosterElf.
Consider RosterElf?
If you're comparing Deputy and Connecteam, you may also want to consider RosterElf—an Australian-built alternative that includes features neither platform offers:
- Built-in award interpretation — automatic penalty rates for 130+ Modern Awards
- Award-ready timesheets — export to Xero/MYOB with penalties pre-calculated
- Simpler pricing — $10/employee/month for rostering + time tracking
- Australian support — local team with award knowledge
RosterElf pricing
Review methodology
Related resources
Deputy vs Connecteam FAQ
- Deputy is generally better suited for Australian businesses with site-based operations like hospitality and retail, thanks to stronger scheduling tools and more established local presence. Connecteam excels for mobile workforces like field services and construction. Neither platform offers built-in Australian award interpretation — for that, consider RosterElf.
- Connecteam offers a free tier for up to 10 users, making it cheaper for very small teams. However, for 30+ users needing full functionality, Deputy's modular pricing (Core + add-ons at ~$23/user/month) can be comparable to Connecteam's 3-hub Expert tier (~$18.90/user beyond 30 users). Compare total costs for your specific team size.
- Both integrate with Xero, but Deputy has a more established Xero integration with a 4/5 rating (179 reviews) on the Xero App Store. Connecteam's Xero integration is newer with a 4.7/5 rating but only 50 reviews. For seamless Xero payroll with Australian award interpretation, consider RosterElf.
- Deputy scores higher for mobile apps (9/10 in our testing) with a polished, intuitive interface that staff find easy to use. Connecteam's mobile app (8/10) is feature-rich but can feel cluttered. For shift-based staff who primarily interact via mobile, Deputy offers a smoother experience.
- Yes, both platforms allow CSV exports of employee data. The main consideration is workflow differences — Deputy uses site-based scheduling while Connecteam uses job-based scheduling. Ensure your operational model aligns with your chosen platform before switching.
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