Kronos Workforce Central helps businesses streamline workforce management processes, improve operational efficiency, and enhance workforce productivity. The software is used across various industries including retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and hospitality. Workforce Central provides a range of features and modules, such as time and attendance tracking, labor analytics, absence management, and labor cost control.
In 2022, UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) announced that Kronos Workforce Central will retire on March 31, 2027. This brings the need for assessing other top on-premise workforce management solutions presently available on the market.
We highlight the five best Kronos Workforce Central alternatives: products that offer the same core features—such as employee database, employee scheduling, labor forecasting, and time and attendance management—and which have the highest user ratings and popularity.
If you came here looking for the best workforce management solution, we can help. Capterra is the #1 destination for finding software and services. We have over two million verified reviews from software users, so we can identify the most relevant, highest-rated ticketing products you should consider instead.
What is workforce management software?
Workforce management software enables organizations to plan, track, and manage the allocation and requirements of labor resources. These applications allow businesses to optimize staff scheduling while reducing labor costs.
Looking for alternatives to Kronos Workforce Central?
Since Kronos announced that it is putting an end to Kronos Workforce Central, the on-premise workforce management solution, it will no longer be available after March 2027. We have compared the best alternative products in the workforce management category.
Products we’ll cover in this article:
The top 5 alternatives to Kronos Workforce Central
Here are the top five Kronos Workforce central alternatives, listed in descending order of total Shortlist score (read how we selected these six products here).
1. ADP Workforce Now
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Popularity score
Rating score
Device compatibility
Ranked as top performer in Capterra’s 2023 Workforce Management Software Shortlist.
What are the workforce management features of ADP Workforce Now?
ADP Workforce Now offers comprehensive time and attendance tracking capabilities. It enables employees to clock in and out through various methods, including biometric time clocks, web-based time entry, and mobile apps.
The software allows employees to request time off, provides managers with visibility into leave balances and availability, and automates leave approval workflows.
With help of this solution, users can automate payroll calculations based on time and attendance data, tax rules, and company policies.
Industries ADP Workforce Now caters to:
ADP Workforce serves clients across various industries. It caters to all those businesses which are looking to manage their human capital management needs across HR, benefits, talent, payroll, and time and labor.
Check out the top video reviews of ADP Workforce here.
2. Paylocity
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Popularity score
Rating score
Device compatibility
Ranked as the established player in Shortlist 2023.
What are the workforce management features of Paylocity?
Paylocity offers a mobile app, employees can clock in/out, view schedules, submit time-off requests, and access pay information through the mobile app.
Paylocity helps organizations manage employee leave and absence through its absence management module.
The platform provides scheduling tools that enable managers to create shifts, assign employees, and adjust schedules based on demand, employee availability, and labor laws.
Industries Paylocity caters to:
Paylocity is a provider of cloud-based payroll and human capital management (HCM) solutions. The solution primarily caters to businesses of all sizes across various industries, including but not limited to healthcare, restaurateurs, hoteliers, retail operators, and technology companies.
Check out what people are saying about Paylocity here.
3. Paycom
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Popularity score
Rating score
Device compatibility
Ranked as the established player in Shortlist 2023.
What are the workforce management features of Paycom?
Paycom’s talent acquisition module allows businesses to conduct background checks, track applicants, and onboard them.
It allows users to manage reimbursements with expense management modules.
Paycom offers reporting and analytics capabilities to provide insights into labor data. Users can generate reports on labor costs, productivity, overtime, and other relevant metrics.
Industries Paycom caters to:
Paycom is a human capital management (HCM) software company that offers a range of solutions related to payroll, HR, talent acquisition, and workforce management. They serve businesses across multiple industries, including retail, healthcare, hospitality and more.
Check out what people are saying about Paycom here.
4. HotSchedules
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Popularity score
Rating score
Device compatibility
Ranked as a top performer in Shortlist 2023.
What are the workforce management features of HotSchedules?
It's worth noting that HotSchedules, as of 2021, has been rebranded as Fourth. HotSchedules facilitates communication through messaging, announcements, and document sharing.
HotSchedules assists businesses in adhering to labor laws and regulations. The platform helps manage compliance requirements specific to scheduling, break and meal periods, overtime, and other labor-related regulations.
The platform captures accurate attendance data, tracks hours worked, and provides insights for payroll processing and labor cost analysis.
Industries HotSchedules caters to:
HotSchedules is a workforce management software company that specializes in employee scheduling, labor management, and communication solutions for the hospitality and restaurant industry. Their services are primarily tailored to restaurants, hotels, cafes, bars, and other businesses in the food service industry.
Check out what people are saying about HotSchedules here.
5. Float
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Popularity score
Rating score
Device compatibility
Ranked as top performer in Shortlist 2023.
What are the workforce management features of Float?
Float’s features focus on optimizing resource allocation, streamlining communication, and providing real-time insights into workforce management.
Float allows managers and employees to make real-time updates to the schedule. If there are changes in availability, shift swaps, or unforeseen circumstances, users can easily update the schedule and notify relevant team members.
It provides a visual interface where users can drag and drop shifts, assign employees to specific tasks or projects, and adjust schedules as needed.
Industries Float caters to:
Float is a resource scheduling and team planning software primarily designed for project-based businesses and creative agencies. Float's services are relevant to a wide range of industries, including marketing, advertising, design, software development, consulting, and professional services.
Check out the top video reviews of Float here.
Here’s how the top 5 alternatives compare with Kronos Workforce Central
Comparing products on the basis of pricing, customer support, and mobile app availability
The cost of the software is a primary concern for any business heading towards a purchase decision. We have compared the starting price of the top five alternatives mentioned in the article. We have also compared which of them offer a free forever version in the table below along with their free trial information.
Good customer support can make a significant difference in how quickly and effectively you can resolve any issues or questions you have about the software. Mobile apps provide a platform for workforce management companies to engage with their employees using text messaging, rolling out notifications, and updating calendars on the go.
It becomes important to gauge products based on the above-listed parameters. We have compared them for you in the table below.
Comparing the top 5 alternatives basis user reviews
We drilled down into user reviews from the last two years on such factors as ease of use, features, and value for money. The highest product ratings in each area are bolded in the table below, so you can more easily identify which products stand out where.
/ Key takeaways
Among these top five alternatives, Float is highly rated for the value for money that it offers.
Users rated Float as the best regarding ease of use and user interface. Followed by ADP Workforce Now.
On the basis of features and functionality offered, users rated ADP Workforce Now and Float the best.
Users would highly recommend Float and Paylocity followed by HotSchedules.
Users rated Float the best on the basis of the overall performance of the solution.
The final verdict: How to select the best Kronos Workforce Central alternative
In order to choose the right Kronos Workforce Central alternative for your business, have your workforce management requirements in mind. Read the buyer’s guide about the typical features of workforce management software, benefits, considerations and more.
Here are some industry-specific factors that businesses can take into account when choosing workforce management software:
Healthcare: In the healthcare industry, compliance with strict regulatory requirements, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), is crucial. Workforce management software needs to ensure data privacy and security while supporting complex scheduling needs, managing certifications and credentials, and maintaining compliance with labor laws and union agreements.
Retail and hospitality: Businesses in these industries often deal with high employee turnover and variable demand patterns. Workforce management software should have features like shift swapping, flexible scheduling, and real-time labor forecasting to handle fluctuating staffing needs efficiently. Integration with point-of-sale (POS) systems for accurate labor cost calculations is also important.
Call centers: Call centers require workforce management software that can handle scheduling for large teams across multiple shifts and optimize staffing to meet service level agreements (SLAs). Forecasting call volumes, managing skill-based routing, and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) like average handle time and first call resolution are important features to look for in the solution.
Financial services: Workforce management software in the financial sector should ensure compliance with regulations like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and manage shift differentials for employees working outside regular hours. It should also have features to track billable hours, manage employee certifications, and support compliance with industry-specific regulations like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).
Want more? Check out our Shortlist for workforce management to see a longer list of highly rated, popular products. You can also view our full workforce management software directory to check out Kronos Workforce Central alternatives.
More available resources
If you are specifically looking for a workforce management system for small businesses, explore your options here.
Explore some of the free workforce management software options here.
Related reading: What is Workforce Planning? Examples and Tips for Small Businesses