Free Shift Planning App for Restaurants, Retail & Hospitality

Have you ever had to call ten people at 7 AM to cover a shift? I have, and let me tell you - it’s not fun. Picture this: a busy Friday night at a restaurant, the schedule says you’re fully staffed, but two servers don’t show up. You scramble, texting, calling, begging anyone to come in. By the time you patch it together, the dinner rush is in full swing, customers are frustrated, and your team is burned out. Sound familiar?

Here’s the kicker: this kind of chaos is avoidable. Too many businesses are still stuck using spreadsheets, whiteboards, or handwritten schedules. They’re clunky, impossible to update quickly, and leave employees in the dark. I’ve seen it firsthand - missed shifts, overtime surprises, and managers wasting hours fixing last-minute problems. That’s why we built Pebb.

At Pebb, we know scheduling isn’t just about filling shifts - it’s about keeping your team happy, your costs under control, and your operations running smoothly. In this article, I’ll walk you through how our free shift planning app can save you time, cut down on no-shows, and make your life a whole lot easier. Let’s dive in.

Pebb's Free Shift Scheduling Solution for Frontline Teams

Pebb vs Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Feature and Pricing Comparison for Frontline Teams

Let me tell you a story about why we built Pebb the way we did. Picture this: you're managing a busy frontline team, juggling shift schedules, time-off requests, and group chats across three or four different apps. Sound familiar? It’s a headache, right? Traditional scheduling tools are either too expensive, too complicated, or just plain incomplete. We knew there had to be a better way, so we created Pebb - a free, all-in-one solution designed with frontline teams in mind.

Here’s the kicker: Pebb is completely free for teams of up to 1,000 employees. No strings attached, no credit card required. With Pebb, everything you need - shift scheduling, PTO management, team chat, company updates, task tracking, and more - is right there in one app. And yes, it all fits in the palm of your hand.

What's Packed Into Pebb's Free Plan

This isn’t one of those "free plans" that feels like a trial version with half the features missing. Nope, you’re getting the full package. Here’s what’s included:

• Shift Scheduling: Create schedules with drag-and-drop ease, use templates for recurring shifts, and add notes like “VIP event at 7 PM” or “restock inventory for the weekend.”

• Employee-Friendly Features: Team members can check their schedules anytime, request time off, or even swap shifts with coworkers (with your approval, of course).

• Communication Tools: A news feed for company updates, private groups for departments, and even read indicators so you know exactly who’s seen the latest schedule.

• Knowledge Library: Store training materials and standard procedures so your team has instant access to what they need.

• AI-Powered Translation: Got a multilingual team? No problem - our translation feature ensures everyone stays on the same page, no matter what language they speak.

It’s everything your team needs to stay connected and organized, all in one app. And because we know your team is busy, we’ve made it ridiculously simple to use - no training required.

How Does Pebb Stack Up Against Slack, Firstup, and Teams?

Let’s be real: the competition doesn’t even come close when it comes to frontline teams. Here’s how Pebb compares:

Here’s the thing: Slack is great for desk workers, but at $7.25 per user per month, it doesn’t even include scheduling - you’ll need to pay extra for that. Microsoft Teams? Sure, it starts at $4.00 per user, but it’s built for Office 365 power users. It’s not exactly tailored for fast-paced, high-turnover frontline environments. And while Firstup has some solid communication features, it’s missing the integrated scheduling frontline teams rely on.

With Pebb, we’ve designed a platform that feels as familiar as your favorite social apps - think "Facebook for Work." It’s mobile-first, meaning there’s no need for email addresses or desktop setups. Just download the app, join with a custom invite link, and you’re good to go in minutes. No fuss, no confusion, just a tool that works for your team.

So, if you’re tired of juggling multiple apps and paying extra for features you don’t need, give Pebb a try. It’s everything your frontline team needs, all in one place - and it’s free. What’s not to love?

Key Features for Shift Management

At Pebb, we designed our shift management tools with one goal in mind: to make scheduling as easy as possible for teams like yours. Whether you're juggling a packed restaurant during the dinner rush, managing a retail team on Black Friday, or coordinating hotel staff across multiple shifts, you deserve a scheduling tool that works just as hard as you do.

Drag-and-Drop Scheduling and Shift Templates

Let me walk you through how effortless scheduling can be with Pebb. Open the app, head to your schedule, and start assigning shifts by dragging employees directly into their slots. Need to move someone from a morning shift to an evening one? Just drag and drop - no complicated menus, no endless forms. It’s as simple as rearranging apps on your phone.

And here’s where it gets even better: shift templates. If your restaurant runs the same lunch and dinner shifts every week or your retail store has consistent opening and closing coverage, you can create a template once and reuse it. Add notes like “prep catering order for 50” or “train new hire on the POS system,” so your team knows exactly what’s expected before they even clock in. It’s like having your instructions baked right into the schedule.

PTO Management and Shift Swaps

We’ve all been there - late-night texts about time-off requests or last-minute shift changes. With Pebb, those headaches are history. Employees can request PTO directly through the app, and you’ll get a notification on your phone to approve or deny it. No more back-and-forth or missed messages.

What about when someone needs to swap a shift? Say Sarah can’t make her Saturday shift. She can request a swap in the app, and eligible coworkers will get notified. Once someone accepts and you approve, the schedule updates automatically. It’s seamless for your team and keeps you in control without micromanaging.

Real-Time Notifications and Mobile Access

Here’s the thing about frontline work: it’s unpredictable. Someone calls in sick, a last-minute reservation pops up, or you realize you need extra hands. With Pebb, any shift updates send instant notifications to everyone affected. No one is left in the dark, and your team stays on the same page.

Plus, employees can check their schedules anytime, anywhere - whether they’re commuting, on break, or just double-checking their next shift. This kind of access cuts down on no-shows and miscommunications. As Cristen Gros, our VP of Special Projects, put it:

"I had people that we would just schedule for work and hope and pray that they show up. And now, we have an average of a 90-95% attendance rate."

With tools like these, you can focus less on chasing down schedules and more on running your business.

Benefits of Pebb for Restaurants, Retail, and Hospitality

Let’s get into the good stuff - how Pebb simplifies your operations and helps you run a smoother, more profitable business.

Smoothing Out Scheduling and Cutting Labor Costs

In the fast-paced worlds of restaurants, retail, and hospitality, every labor hour counts. Think about it: too many staff during a quiet Tuesday lunch? That’s money slipping away. Not enough people on a packed Friday night? You’re looking at lost sales and unhappy customers. That’s where Pebb’s drag-and-drop scheduling comes in - it’s like having a magic wand for your staffing needs. You can tweak schedules in real time, ensuring you’ve got the right coverage when and where you need it.

Here’s what makes it even better: every schedule adjustment is automatically documented. No more “he said, she said” about who was supposed to show up. Plus, Pebb integrates with tools like QuickBooks, so your time clock data feeds straight into payroll. Fewer errors, less admin work - win-win.

And let’s talk about shift swaps. With just a tap, employees can trade shifts, and the schedule updates instantly. No back-and-forth, no confusion. It’s a game-changer for keeping your team in sync and your staffing optimized.

Making Communication Easy and Keeping Teams Engaged

Great scheduling is just the start. Pebb also transforms how your team communicates and stays connected. The News Feed is a simple but powerful way to share updates, celebrate wins, and keep everyone in the loop. Pair that with Work Chat, and you can finally ditch those messy group texts. By setting up dedicated channels - think #kitchen-updates or #shift-swaps - your team will always know exactly where to go for the info they need.

Here’s another thing that’s huge, especially in hospitality: Pebb’s AI-powered translation. Whether it’s safety protocols, policy updates, or daily announcements, every team member gets the info in their own language. Add in the Knowledge Library, where employees can access training materials anytime, and you’ve got a workforce that’s informed, engaged, and ready to deliver their best every shift.

All of this ties back to Pebb’s mission: bringing all your operational communication into one easy-to-use, mobile-first platform. It’s about making life easier for you and your team, so you can focus on what really matters - keeping your customers happy.

Pebb Premium Plan: Scaling for Larger Teams

When your team grows from 10 to over 100 employees, you need tools that can keep up without breaking the bank. That’s where Pebb Premium steps in. Designed with growing restaurants, retail chains, and hospitality businesses in mind, this plan offers everything you need for just $4 per user per month - a price that’s tough to beat for the features it delivers.

What You Get with the Premium Plan

Building on the solid foundation of our free plan, the Premium plan is packed with features tailored to support teams operating across multiple locations. Here’s what’s included:

• Advanced Analytics: Make smarter staffing decisions with insights into attendance patterns, engagement rates, and communication trends.

• Voice and Video Calls: No need to juggle multiple apps or pay extra fees - improve communication among frontline employees instantly, all in one place.

• Unlimited Admins and Permissions Control: Whether you’re managing departments or locations, you’ll have granular control over who can access sensitive information, approve shift swaps, or view specific data.

• Enterprise Integrations: Sync seamlessly with tools like QuickBooks and ADP, ensuring your data flows effortlessly between systems.

• Premium SLA Support: When you need help, you’ll get priority assistance - because we know downtime isn’t an option.

These tools aren’t just about convenience - they’re about giving you the power to scale effectively without unnecessary complexity.

Why $4 Per User is a Game-Changer

At just $4 per user, Pebb Premium is nearly half the cost of competitors like Slack Pro ($7.25 per user) or Microsoft Teams Frontline ($8 per user). But here’s the kicker: our plan includes features those platforms don’t even offer, like shift scheduling, PTO management, and a mobile-first design built specifically for frontline teams. That’s something Slack and Teams can’t claim.

Let’s break it down further. Platforms like Connecteam charge $29 per month for 30 users, and 7shifts runs $29.99 per location per month with a cap of 30 employees. With Pebb, you only pay for what you use - no hidden fees, no per-location charges, and no surprises.

But it’s not just about being affordable; it’s about being complete. While competitors like Workvivo and Staffbase cater primarily to desk workers and charge premium prices for basic features, Pebb Premium gives frontline teams everything they need in one package. From voice and video calls to analytics, scheduling, chat, and a news feed - it’s all included.

And the results speak for themselves. Restaurants using digital scheduling tools like Pebb report attendance rates as high as 90–95%. When your team has everything they need in one place, they’re not just more efficient - they’re more engaged.

Getting Started with Pebb's Free Shift Planning App

Getting started with Pebb is a breeze - no need for complicated setups, lengthy manuals, or IT headaches. Whether you're running a cozy café or managing a small retail crew, you can have your first schedule live before you even finish your lunch break.

How to Onboard Your Team

The first step? Create your workspace and organize your team by department - think "kitchen", "service", or "management" for streamlined communication. Then, send out custom invite links to get everyone on board. It’s quick and works across any device.

Once your team is in, set up dedicated scheduling channels in work chat apps like Pebb. A "Weekly Schedules" channel serves as your go-to hub, while channels like "Shift Swaps" or "Weekend Shifts" help keep specific conversations tidy. With everything in place, you’re ready to make the most of Pebb’s tools.

Tips for Using Pebb's Features Effectively

Here’s how to get the most out of Pebb:

• Stick to a routine: Post schedules consistently - say, every Wednesday at 2:00 PM. Upload them as PDFs or images directly to your channel, and don’t forget to share the same schedule on the News Feed. This way, it’s the first thing your team sees when they log in.

• Track confirmations: Use read indicators to spot who hasn’t viewed the schedule yet and follow up right away. Need instant acknowledgment? Ask team members to react with a thumbs-up emoji to confirm their shifts.

• Handle time-off requests smartly: Create a dedicated channel for these requests and pin a message with your policies - something like "two weeks' notice required" works well.

• Use @mentions wisely: Tag individuals for specific shift updates or "@everyone" for broader announcements. If someone calls in sick, post an urgent message in the relevant channel to trigger push notifications instantly.

• Leverage the Calendar and Tasks features: Set reminders to ensure employees submit their availability on time. Use Tasks to track changes - like "John covering for Mike" - so everything stays clear and organized.

With these tips, managing schedules becomes less of a hassle and more of a routine you can count on.

Conclusion

Let’s face it - managing schedules for restaurants, retail stores, or hospitality teams can feel like solving a never-ending puzzle. That’s exactly why we created Pebb: to replace the chaos of scattered texts, handwritten schedules, and endless email threads with a simple, mobile-first app designed specifically for frontline teams.

Here’s the deal: with our free plan, you get all the essentials - shift scheduling, PTO management, team chat, and real-time notifications - for up to 1,000 employees. And yes, it’s completely free. No hidden fees, no gimmicks. This means fewer no-shows, reduced labor costs, and a team that’s always on the same page. Need more? Our Premium plan, at just $4 per user, adds analytics, voice and video calls, and advanced permissions for those who want to take things to the next level.

What makes Pebb a game-changer? Instant push notifications, read receipts, and mobile access allow your team to swap shifts, request time off, or stay updated no matter where they are. It’s not just about making scheduling easier - it’s about saving you hours every week while keeping your team connected and engaged. And when you’re not drowning in scheduling chaos, you can focus on what really matters: delivering top-notch service.

Whether you’re running a busy restaurant, juggling retail operations, or managing a hotel, Pebb pulls everything together in one place. We make scheduling simple, improve communication, and help boost team morale - all without draining your budget.

FAQs

How does Pebb make shift swaps easy for employees and managers?

Pebb’s shift swap feature is built right into our free, mobile-friendly scheduling tool, making it super easy for employees to trade shifts when life happens. All they need to do is tap the “Swap” option on their schedule, pick a teammate, and send the request - either directly through the app or via the work chat. It’s that simple.

For managers, it’s just as effortless. They get an instant notification and can approve or decline the swap with a single tap. No back-and-forth emails or endless follow-ups.

Here’s the best part: once a swap is approved, the schedule updates automatically in real time for everyone on the team. No more juggling spreadsheets or messy email chains. Plus, every swap request and chat is saved in Pebb’s unlimited-history chat feature, keeping everything transparent and organized. That means fewer mistakes and no miscommunication. It’s a win-win for everyone.

How is Pebb different from other scheduling tools?

Pebb stands out as a free, all-in-one platform crafted with the fast-moving worlds of restaurants, retail, and hospitality in mind. It brings together everything a team needs - shift scheduling, work chat, PTO management, a people directory, voice and video calls, and more - into a single, mobile-friendly app. By consolidating these tools, Pebb eliminates the hassle of juggling multiple apps, making team communication and daily operations smoother than ever.

Here’s what really sets Pebb apart: our free core plan for frontline workers and a premium plan priced at just $4 per user. That’s not just affordable - it’s a game-changer. With features like instant push notifications and multi-language messaging, Pebb ensures everyone stays in the loop about schedule updates, cutting down on missed shifts and last-minute chaos. It’s the only platform that brings scheduling and communication together in such a simple and cost-effective way.

Does Pebb offer a free plan for businesses with up to 1,000 employees?

Currently, I can’t confirm whether Pebb’s free plan supports up to 1,000 employees. To get the most accurate and up-to-date details about the plan's limits, I’d suggest checking directly on Pebb’s website or reaching out to their support team for clarification.

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