Comparison
Convey vs Deputy
Deputy is a workforce management platform built for mid-market and enterprise. Convey is a tiny, focused AI scheduler for small teams that live in SMS. Pick the one that matches your operation.
Feature matrix
Compared against Deputy's public pricing and feature pages. Rows we couldn't verify are marked "see pricing page".
| Feature | Convey | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| SMS schedule delivery (no app) | primary channel | partialapp-first, SMS optional |
| Employee app required | ||
| AI weekly schedule generation | Claude Sonnet | partialauto-scheduler / demand-based |
| Free tier | up to 10 employees | |
| Pricing model | $19/mo flat, unlimited | per-user, tiered |
| Target market | small restaurants, bars, cafes | SMB to enterprise, multi-vertical |
| Time clock / timesheets | planned | |
| Payroll integrations | ||
| Compliance reporting (FLSA etc.) | ||
| Drag-and-drop grid editor | ||
| Shift swap / callout coverage | AI-ranked | |
| Multi-location support | partial | |
| Works on any phone (even flip phones) | ||
| Team messaging | partialSMS only | |
| Free trial for paid tiers | Free plan, no trial needed | see pricing page |
Comparison last reviewed April 2026. Competitor pricing and features change frequently — always verify on their official pricing page before deciding.
When Deputy is the better choice
If you run multi-location, multi-vertical operations and need compliance guardrails, demand-based forecasting, and deep payroll integrations, Deputy has spent years building those features. They serve serious enterprises and it shows.
Their time clock, attestation, and audit logs are mature. If you need to pass a labor audit, Deputy is a defensible choice.
When Convey is the better choice
Small shop. Hourly team that changes every quarter. Staff who won't install anything. You don't have a GM, a COO, or a labor compliance officer — you just want the schedule to go out on Sunday.
That's Convey. Text-first. AI-drafted. Flat price. No per-user surcharge. If you tried Deputy and it felt like a spaceship for your six-seater diner, try this instead.
FAQ
- Is Deputy better than Convey?
- Deputy is better if you run a mid-market or enterprise operation with serious compliance needs, multi-location complexity, and integrations into payroll and HRIS. Convey is better if you're a small shop that just wants AI scheduling and SMS delivery without paying per user.
- Does Deputy offer SMS notifications?
- Deputy is a mobile-app-first workforce management platform. It has offered SMS for some notifications historically, but Convey is SMS-native from the ground up — every schedule is a text link, full stop.
- Which is cheaper for a small team?
- Deputy uses per-user pricing that can add up quickly at scale. Convey is $19/mo flat, free under 10 employees. For a small restaurant, Convey is almost always the cheaper option.
Try Convey free
Free up to 10 employees. $19/mo flat after that. No credit card.
Also see: vs 7shifts · vs Homebase · vs When I Work