The Real Cost of Restaurant Scheduling Software in 2026
You're looking for a scheduling tool. You compare prices. But the number on the pricing page is not what you'll pay.
Competitor pricing pages are carefully written to look affordable. A big number, a few asterisks, and a footnote: "add-ons available." That's where the real cost starts climbing.
This post breaks down what you actually pay at Skello, Combo, Planday, and Shyfter — and compares it with Smarteaming at €1/employee/month, no surprises.
What Competitors Don't Tell You About Their Pricing
Skello
The Planning Standard plan starts from €79/month per location. But look closer.
- Managed payroll service: from €20/employee/month (outsourced to accounting firm)
- HR module: +€20/month
- With HR add-on: €99/month. With managed payroll (10 employees): €299/month
Annual plans come with a 12-month commitment (10% discount). Monthly billing is also available. The base plan alone is €948/year. With the HR module, €1,188/year. The managed payroll service adds significantly more. And it's per-location pricing: you pay the same whether you have 5 or 25 employees this month. In July with a reduced team, you pay the same.
Combo (formerly Snapshift)
Starts from €60/month per location for the Time plan, with progressive pricing based on team size. Advanced features — compliance, payroll, detailed reports — are only in higher plans. The free trial is 7 days only. That's barely enough time to set up your team and enter your first schedule, let alone test the features that actually matter.
Planday
Starter plan is £2.99/user/month (~€3.50). But watch out:
- Minimum 5 users required
- Multi-location requires Plus plan (£4.99/user + €25/mo subscription fee)
For 10 employees on Starter: around €35/month. And according to user reports, an annual commitment may be required for sales-assisted signups. If the tool doesn't suit you after 3 months, you may still owe the remaining 9.
Shyfter
Listed at €39/month for 30 employees. Beyond that, expect +€50 per additional 30 employees. A 35-person restaurant pays €89/month.
The Hidden Costs You Don't See
- Flat rate per location: you pay the same whether you have 10 or 30 employees this month. During quiet periods, you keep paying full price.
- Add-on modules: features presented as "included" in comparison charts actually require a paid add-on. Payroll export, absence management, advanced reports — always check what's actually in the base plan.
- 12-month lock-in: for a seasonal restaurant or a business that evolves, committing for a year is a real financial risk. If you close for 2 months or reduce your team, you keep paying.
- Early termination fees: some contracts include penalties if you leave before the end of the commitment period. Read the terms before signing.
- Training and support: some tools charge for onboarding or phone support. What looks free at first can generate fees as soon as you need help.
Transparent Cost Comparison for 10 Employees
For a restaurant with 10 employees, here's what you actually pay per year:
| Tool | Monthly cost | Annual cost | Lock-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smarteaming | €10 | €120 | None |
| Skello | €79–99 | €948–1,188 | Annual (10% off) or monthly |
| Combo | From €60 | From €720 | No commitment (website) |
| Planday | ~€35 | ~€420 | 12 months |
| Shyfter | €39 | €468 | Monthly |
With Smarteaming, 10 employees cost €10/month. You save between €300 and €1,068 per year compared to competitors — no commitment, no separate modules to buy.
For 20 employees, you pay €20/month. For 5, you pay €5. The price follows your team size exactly, not the other way around. See our pricing page to calculate your exact case.
What Smarteaming Includes at €1/Employee/Month
No add-on modules. Everything is included from the first euro:
- Schedules with conflict detection: Smarteaming flags automatically if an employee is assigned to two overlapping shifts, or if a schedule exceeds their declared availability.
- Shift confirmation: each employee confirms or declines their shift from the app. You see in real time who confirmed and who didn't, before service. This is a feature we haven't found in the scheduling tools most common in Belgium and France (as of March 2026).
- Mobile app for the whole team: schedules are accessible from the phone, notifications arrive automatically when something changes.
- Payroll export: summary of hours per employee, ready to send to your payroll provider or integrate into your payroll software.
- No hidden fees: the price you see is the price you pay. No per-location surcharge, no HR module at €20 extra.
- 90-day free trial, no credit card required. Enough time to truly test the tool with your team, in your real conditions.
- European company, data hosted in the European Union, GDPR compliant.
Compare in detail with Skello vs Smarteaming to see feature by feature.
How to Calculate the Real Cost of Your Current Tool
If you already use a scheduling tool, here's how to calculate what you're really paying:
- Take your current monthly invoice (base plan + all active add-ons).
- Add any support or training fees billed separately.
- Multiply by 12 (or by the length of your contract in months).
- Compare with Smarteaming: number of employees × €1/month × 12.
The difference is often surprising. Use our pricing calculator to see your savings based on your team size.
Try Smarteaming Free for 90 Days
No credit card. No commitment. Set up your team, publish your first schedules, activate shift confirmation — all in the first 10 minutes.
If after 90 days it doesn't work for you, leave with no fees and no hassle. No sales rep will call to retain you.
Start free trialAt €1/employee/month, the financial risk is zero. The risk of continuing to overpay is very real.