Softwr

Restaurants · head to head

Jolt vs When I Work

Jolt logo

Jolt

Restaurants

Operations execution platform

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
When I Work logo

When I Work

Restaurants

Scheduling and time tracking made simple

From
$2.5/user/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Jolt pricing information not published; product redirects to quote request form at smartsense.co; When I Work aPI key access, webhooks and SAML single sign on require the Premium plan at $8 per user per month
  • They diverge on capability: Jolt covers Digital checklists, When I Work covers Shift scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jolt and When I Work actually diverge.

Attributes where Jolt and When I Work differ
AttributeJoltWhen I Work
Starting price$69/month$2.5/user/month
Founded20122010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Restaurants).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Jolt

  • Digital checklists
  • Temperature logging
  • Food labeling
  • Employee accountability
  • Training
  • POS systems
  • HR software

Only in When I Work

  • Shift scheduling
  • Team messaging
  • Availability management
  • Shift swapping
  • Mobile apps
  • QuickBooks
  • ADP
  • Gusto

Both cover

  • Time clock
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Jolt

  • Digital checklists and task management for restaurant and retail shift worknot When I Work
  • Food safety labelling and temperature loggingnot When I Work
  • Employee scheduling and shift accountability for hourly teamsnot When I Work

When I Work

  • Scheduling hourly shift workers across locationsnot Jolt
  • Time clock and timesheet capture for payrollnot Jolt
  • Handling shift swaps, availability and time off requestsnot Jolt

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Jolt

  • Pricing information not published; product redirects to quote request form at smartsense.co
  • Customers must complete quote request form to obtain pricing information

When I Work

  • API key access, webhooks and SAML single sign on require the Premium plan at $8 per user per month
  • Scheduling rules, role permissions and custom reporting require the Pro plan at $5 per user per month
  • There is no free plan; the trial lasts 14 days
  • Enterprise arrangements are priced by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Jolt

$69/month
  • Basic$69/month
    • Checklists
    • Temperature logs
  • Standard$129/month
    • Food safety
    • Employee management
  • Premium$229/month
    • Full features
    • Analytics

When I Work

$2.5/user/month
  • Standard$2.5/user/month
    • Scheduling
    • Messaging
  • Advanced$6/user/month
    • Time clock
    • Labor forecasting

Which should you pick?

Choose Jolt if

  • You need digital checklists.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want temperature logging.
Jolt review

Choose When I Work if

  • You need shift scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want team messaging.
When I Work review

Questions people ask

Is Jolt or When I Work better?
Neither clearly leads. Jolt starts at $69/month and When I Work at $2.5/user/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jolt or When I Work?
Jolt starts at $69/month and When I Work at $2.5/user/month.
Does Jolt or When I Work run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Jolt best used for?
Jolt is most often used for digital checklists and task management for restaurant and retail shift work, food safety labelling and temperature logging, employee scheduling and shift accountability for hourly teams. Of those, digital checklists and task management for restaurant and retail shift work and food safety labelling and temperature logging are not what When I Work is typically brought in for.
What can Jolt do that When I Work cannot?
Jolt covers Digital checklists, Temperature logging, Food labeling, Employee accountability. When I Work covers Shift scheduling, Team messaging, Availability management, Shift swapping. Both handle Time clock, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Jolt: How much does Jolt cost?

Jolt does not publish pricing on its website. The jolt.com domain redirects to a quote request form at smartsense.co. Customers must submit their information through this form for a SmartSense expert to provide personalized pricing and solutions. Contact (866) 806-2653 for direct inquiry.

Source
When I Work: What is the pricing structure?

Plans start at $2.50 per user per month, billed in user tiers of five, with pricing that scales flexibly with team size.

Source
When I Work: Are there long-term contracts required?

No long-term contracts, no hidden surprises, and no enterprise-only paywalls. The platform scales as your business grows without binding agreements.

Source
When I Work: Is there a free trial available?

Try When I Work free for 14 days with full access to all core features. No credit card is required for the trial period.

Source
When I Work: Can I adjust or cancel my plan anytime?

You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time and adjust your plan at any time or use hibernation options during seasonal downtime.

Source
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