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Industry Comparisons

Relentify Timesheets vs Deputy: Shift Management Software Compared

29 January 2026·Relentify·7 min read
Shift management software comparison showing schedule and timesheet views

Deputy is a workforce management platform used by hospitality, retail, and service businesses across the world. It combines scheduling, timesheets, communication, and compliance tools in a single platform. It is well-designed, well-established, and trusted by over 300,000 workplaces.

Relentify Timesheets tackles the same problem space — managing when your team works and getting accurate time records — but with a different balance of features and pricing that suits small and medium businesses looking for more value.

Here is how the two compare.

Pricing

| Plan | Relentify Timesheets | Deputy | |------|---------------------|--------| | Free tier | Yes (up to 5 workers) | Free (up to 100 shifts/month) | | Starter | £3/worker/month | $4.50/user/month (~£3.50) | | Professional | £5/worker/month | $6/user/month (~£4.70) | | Enterprise | Custom | Custom | | Scheduling add-on | Included | Included |

Pricing is competitive on both sides. Deputy's per-user cost is slightly higher, but both platforms are affordable for small teams. The real difference is in what you get at each level.

Feature comparison

| Feature | Relentify Timesheets (Starter) | Deputy (Premium) | |---------|-------------------------------|-----------------| | Clock in/out | Yes (mobile, web, kiosk) | Yes (mobile, web, kiosk) | | GPS verification | Yes | Yes | | Photo verification | Yes | No | | Shift scheduling | Yes | Yes | | Break tracking | Yes (automatic rules) | Yes | | Overtime calculations | Yes (automatic) | Yes | | Timesheet approval | Yes | Yes | | Leave management | Yes | Yes | | Team communication | Basic (announcements) | Yes (news feed) | | Compliance alerts | Yes (UK Working Time Regulations) | Yes (varies by region) | | Payroll export | Yes | Yes | | Reporting | Full | Full | | Multi-site | Yes | Yes | | Geofencing | Yes | Yes |

Both platforms cover the core functionality comprehensively. The differences are in specific features and regional focus.

GPS and verification

Accurate time records depend on knowing that workers are where they say they are when they clock in. Both platforms address this, but differently.

Deputy uses GPS location to verify clock-in location. You can set up geofences around work sites, and the system flags when someone clocks in outside the expected area.

Relentify Timesheets uses GPS verification and also supports photo verification — a selfie taken at clock-in that confirms the worker's identity and presence. This dual verification is particularly valuable for businesses with concerns about buddy punching (one worker clocking in for another).

| Verification | Relentify Timesheets | Deputy | |--------------|---------------------|--------| | GPS location | Yes | Yes | | Geofencing | Yes | Yes | | Photo capture | Yes (clock-in/out) | No | | Facial recognition | Planned | No | | IP restriction | Yes | No | | Kiosk mode | Yes | Yes |

Shift scheduling

Deputy built its reputation on scheduling. Its scheduling interface is one of the best in the market — drag-and-drop, shift templates, auto-scheduling based on availability and skills, demand forecasting, and shift swapping. If scheduling is your primary pain point, Deputy's scheduling depth is hard to beat.

Relentify Timesheets includes scheduling functionality that covers the needs of most small and medium businesses — shift creation, templates, availability management, and shift assignment — but does not match Deputy's scheduling sophistication for large, complex rosters.

| Scheduling feature | Relentify Timesheets | Deputy | |--------------------|---------------------|--------| | Drag-and-drop schedule | Yes | Yes | | Shift templates | Yes | Yes | | Auto-scheduling | Basic | Advanced (AI-powered) | | Availability management | Yes | Yes | | Shift swapping | Yes | Yes | | Open shifts | Yes | Yes | | Demand forecasting | No | Yes | | Cost optimisation | Basic | Advanced | | Schedule publishing | Yes | Yes | | Notifications | Yes | Yes |

Break tracking and compliance

UK Working Time Regulations require specific break entitlements, and accurate tracking protects both employer and employee.

Relentify Timesheets is built with UK compliance in mind. Break rules are configurable based on shift length (e.g., 20-minute break after 6 hours), automatic break deductions can be applied, and the system flags when breaks are missed or shorter than required.

Deputy handles breaks competently but is designed for a global audience. UK-specific compliance features may require configuration rather than being available out of the box.

| Compliance | Relentify Timesheets | Deputy | |------------|---------------------|--------| | UK Working Time Regulations | Built-in | Configurable | | Automatic break rules | Yes | Yes | | Break violation alerts | Yes | Yes | | Overtime rules | UK-specific defaults | Configurable | | Holiday entitlement tracking | Yes | Yes | | Right to work reminders | Yes | No |

Timesheet approval

Both platforms support manager approval workflows.

Deputy offers a clean approval interface where managers review timesheets, make adjustments, and approve for payroll. The process is straightforward and well-designed.

Relentify Timesheets provides a similar approval workflow with additional features:

  • Disputed timesheet handling (workers can flag disagreements)
  • Bulk approval across multiple sites
  • Approval audit trail
  • Automatic escalation if approval is overdue
  • Notes and adjustments with history tracking

Payroll integration

Both platforms export timesheet data for payroll processing.

| Payroll feature | Relentify Timesheets | Deputy | |-----------------|---------------------|--------| | CSV export | Yes | Yes | | Payroll software integrations | Growing | Extensive (Xero, MYOB, Gusto, ADP) | | Custom export templates | Yes | Yes | | Pay rate management | Yes | Yes | | Overtime calculations | Automatic | Automatic | | Holiday pay | Automatic | Configurable |

Deputy has more native payroll integrations, reflecting its longer time in the market. Relentify Timesheets provides CSV export and API access that works with most payroll systems, with direct integrations being added over time.

Reporting

| Report type | Relentify Timesheets | Deputy | |-------------|---------------------|--------| | Hours worked | Yes | Yes | | Overtime | Yes | Yes | | Labour costs | Yes | Yes | | Attendance | Yes | Yes | | Site comparison | Yes | Yes | | Worker performance | Yes | Yes | | Custom reports | Yes | Yes | | Scheduled reports | Yes | Yes | | Export | CSV, PDF | CSV, PDF |

Both platforms provide comprehensive reporting. The depth is comparable, with both offering the metrics that managers need to track labour costs and attendance.

Mobile experience

Both platforms have mobile apps for iOS and Android. Workers use the app to clock in/out, view schedules, and request leave. Managers use it to approve timesheets, adjust schedules, and monitor attendance.

Deputy's mobile app is mature and well-reviewed. Relentify Timesheets' app is designed with a mobile-first philosophy, particularly for the clock-in experience — large buttons, GPS feedback, and photo capture in a workflow designed for one-handed use on a construction site or in a busy kitchen.

Who should choose which?

Choose Relentify Timesheets if:

  • Photo verification for time records is important
  • UK Working Time Regulations compliance out of the box matters
  • You want lower per-worker costs
  • You do not need advanced demand forecasting or AI scheduling
  • You value the dual GPS + photo verification approach

Choose Deputy if:

  • Advanced scheduling with AI auto-scheduling and demand forecasting is critical
  • You need extensive payroll integrations (Xero, ADP, Gusto)
  • You have complex, large-scale rostering requirements
  • The team communication (news feed) feature is important to your workflow

The bottom line

Deputy is a strong workforce management platform, particularly for businesses with complex scheduling needs. Its scheduling engine is best-in-class, and its integration ecosystem is mature.

Relentify Timesheets offers competitive features at a lower price, with UK-specific compliance built in and verification features (GPS + photo) that go beyond what Deputy provides. For UK businesses whose primary need is accurate time tracking with strong verification, Relentify Timesheets delivers more value per pound spent.

Try Relentify Timesheets free and see the difference.

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