Can I open-source When I Work?
KINDA · partial or early alternativesKinda. ERPNext cover the core of When I Work, but they're early or partial — expect gaps like mobile apps, time clock, notifications, scheduling edge cases, and support and payroll rails.
People still pay for When I Work because HR platforms survive because mistakes affect pay, benefits, immigration, and legal obligations, not because forms are difficult to render. The recurring cost buys sensitive data, access, retention, audit, payroll calculations, filings, benefits, employment law, incident response, and support, not just the visible interface.
xmobile apps, time clock, notifications, scheduling edge cases, and support
xpayroll rails
xtax and labor-law compliance
xbenefits integrations
xidentity checks and global employment infrastructure
These projects already replace it, free.
EERPNextFull ERP — accounting, inventory, HR, manufacturing, CRM — that rivals systems costing six figures.open source↗What each one is, in full: ERPNext
no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
When I Work pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| essentials | $2.50/user | $2.38/user | Scheduling and team messaging; price per user/month |
| pro | $5/user | $4.75/user | Expanded scheduling, controls, and reporting; price per user/month |
| premium | $8/user | $7.60/user | Advanced scheduling and workforce controls; price per user/month |
free tierno free tier; 14-day trial with no card
billingmonthly + annual (annual is prepaid and 5% lower)
hidden costsTime Tracking & Attendance is a separately toggled add-on with no public price on the live plan table. Annual plans cannot reduce seats or downgrade until within 30 days of renewal, use manual renewal, and are non-refundable.
verified 2026-08-10 · source ↗
Can I open-source When I Work?
Kinda. ERPNext covers the core of When I Work, but there are real gaps: mobile apps, time clock, notifications, scheduling edge cases, and support, payroll rails. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does When I Work cost?
When I Work costs about $2.5/month (Essentials, checked 2026-07-31), which is $30 per year.
What do I lose by replacing When I Work?
Honestly: mobile apps, time clock, notifications, scheduling edge cases, and support; payroll rails; tax and labor-law compliance; benefits integrations; identity checks and global employment infrastructure. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to When I Work?
Yes: ERPNext (Full ERP — accounting, inventory, HR, manufacturing, CRM — that rivals systems costing six figures.)