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Restaurants · head to head

Popmenu vs When I Work

Popmenu logo

Popmenu

Restaurants

Restaurant technology platform

From
$179/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: Popmenu limited customization of website design; websites are described as cookie cutter; 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: Popmenu covers Interactive menu, 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 Popmenu and When I Work actually diverge.

Attributes where Popmenu and When I Work differ
AttributePopmenuWhen I Work
Starting price$179/month$2.5/user/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Founded20162010

Identical on both: 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 Popmenu

  • Interactive menu
  • Website builder
  • Online ordering
  • AI marketing
  • Guest capture
  • Waitlist
  • Toast
  • DoorDash

Only in When I Work

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

Both cover

  • Square
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Popmenu

  • Point of Salenot When I Work
  • Order Managementnot When I Work
  • Inventory Controlnot When I Work
  • Staff Schedulingnot When I Work

When I Work

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

Where each one falls short

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

Popmenu

  • Limited customization of website design; websites are described as cookie cutter
  • Integration issues with third-party services and POS loyalty program features
  • No free trial; all pricing requires navigation through sales demo
  • Support responsiveness issues and gaps between sales experience and post-contract reality
  • Out of stock items can appear on menus despite being marked unavailable

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

Popmenu

$179/month
  • Starter$179/month
    • Website and digital menu
    • Basic marketing tools
  • Essentials$299/month
    • Enhanced marketing features
    • AI capabilities
  • Premier$499/month
    • Advanced AI features
    • Priority support

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 Popmenu if

  • You need interactive menu.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want website builder.
Popmenu review

Choose When I Work if

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

Questions people ask

Is Popmenu or When I Work better?
Neither clearly leads. Popmenu starts at $179/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, Popmenu or When I Work?
Popmenu starts at $179/month and When I Work at $2.5/user/month.
Does Popmenu or When I Work run on more platforms?
Popmenu runs on Web, iOS, Android. When I Work runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Popmenu best used for?
Popmenu is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling. Of those, point of sale and order management are not what When I Work is typically brought in for.
What can Popmenu do that When I Work cannot?
Popmenu covers Interactive menu, Website builder, Online ordering, AI marketing. When I Work covers Shift scheduling, Time clock, Team messaging, Availability management. Both handle Square, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Popmenu: Does Popmenu offer a free trial?

No. Popmenu does not offer a free trial. All pricing must be discussed through a sales demo and customized based on your restaurant's needs.

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
Popmenu: What does Popmenu cost per location?

Popmenu base plans start at $179/month for Starter, $299/month for Essentials, and $499/month for Premier (roughly 10% off if prepaid annually). Each additional location adds $300 per month regardless of order volume.

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
Popmenu: Does Popmenu work offline or support self-hosting?

No. Popmenu is a cloud-based, online-only solution. It does not support self-hosted deployments or offline functionality.

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
Popmenu: What POS systems does Popmenu integrate with?

Popmenu integrates with major POS systems including Toast, Square, and Stripe. Orders flow directly from Popmenu into these systems, and menu changes sync between platforms.

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
Popmenu: Are online ordering and catering included in Popmenu's base plans?

No. Online ordering costs an additional $50/month, customers pay $1 per order, and catering orders incur a 3% processing fee on top of the base plan price.

Source
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