HotSchedules Reviews

i’ve had HotSchedules for over 2 years now and i just got a second job that also uses this app, which at first i thought was great because i’ll have both of my schedules in one place, BUT there’s no option to easily switch between both employers!! which is think is a simple concept but whatever. i have to log out and log back in if i want to look at both, which is so frustrating for several reasons, the first being that i paid for HotSchedules !!! i feel like what am i paying for if not convenience?? it is the least convenient thing ever. the second reason is that it never loads!!! so going back and forth is a whole ordeal and sometimes i can’t even get back into either employers schedules. making plans or trying to schedule my personal/private life around my work schedule is so hard because of HotSchedules. it brings me a lot of stress. it also makes communicating my schedule to both jobs hard as well. i don’t understand how HotSchedules is rated a 4.7 in HotSchedules store considering i’ve never read a good review and this is my experience as well, it just seems to be misleading to me. i don’t even know if writing this review will even do anything but i’m so fed UP with HotSchedules that i had to pay for?!??? still confused as to what i’m paying for because it doesn’t seem customer friendly design is considered

I don’t know if anyone else has this problem, but I know that everyone I work with does. The this app app is absolutely TERRIBLE on my iPhone running iOS 14. Everything takes way too long to load (several seconds, even though I have a brand new phone), HotSchedules is glitchy and crashes a lot, and the messaging feature has some major glitches that really ruin the experience.

Whenever I’m writing a message, I’ll start writing as normal, and everything will work fine, until my message gets longer than what can fit on the screen and I have to start scrolling to see the rest of it. At that point, the scrolling feature seems to break, and I’m not able to see the rest of my message or scroll up/down to see anything other than what’s at the top of the message box. Additionally, parts of my message randomly disappear while I’m writing, and other parts get duplicated and pasted below my original message, which I don’t see until I’ve sent the message, as I can’t scroll down to see it in the composing window.

These problems wouldn’t be a big deal if HotSchedules were free, but I paid $3 for it. With an app like this that’s used by thousands of people around the world, and is NOT free, these issues I’ve mentioned are unacceptable, and HotSchedules should not have these major issues like this.

I don’t understand if it’s just me or why HotSchedules is rated so highly... I’ve used it for about 3 years now because I have too and it’s been terrible. I can probably count the number of times it has loaded properly on one hand. It is a daily occurrence when I initially open HotSchedules that it does one of two things - indefinitely loads until an error message pops up (The operation can not be completed), or it loads and is literally completely blank, and trying to check to any other link/tab results in another error message. This continues to persist several times after closing and reopening HotSchedules , often it will result in signing me out completely. I currently use an iPhone X, although I’ve had these issues across other phones, keep HotSchedules updated, and 90% of the time I am connected to WiFi with any of my other apps working fine as far as the connection goes. I’m able to connect through the actual webpage easily enough but that’s not the point - I paid for the convenience of HotSchedules and it hardly works. I’m writing this review now because these issues have persisted through the last two days without even pulling up my schedule once setting me over the edge with my patience.

token and password issues EVERY update. plus the location is always messed up (you should make it with option to set location) so we can set a location for calendar sync. {and speaking of sync every time app is foreground it resyncs pushing calendar entries}

Edit{} well now I'm not getting my calendar spammed but my password again occasionally doesn't verify at all through app unless i re download it fresh. This isnt a typing issue I'm using a saved password entry. This compounded an issue where this past Saturday a scheduled shift did not sync to my calendar at all. The email notification had it and online website had it but the calendar sync omitted Saturday but not Friday not Sunday. Look I paid for HotSchedules like everyone else but it LACKS the Website’s BASIC pickup shift features, but its ability to sync was its saving grace but you guys have now made it to where i cannot trust that it has synced. Further to complicate things was i was unable to login to HotSchedules to even verify the error. How the heck does one data point get omitted.

I’ve had HotSchedules for about 2 years and I can say that it functions as if it is still in Alpha. Loading HotSchedules takes forever (4-5 minutes on average. I tested) when most apps (literally all of them except for this one, apps that are no longer active, and beta stage apps) load in less that 6 seconds (also tested). Thats just to load HotSchedules . Then it doesn’t offer any personalization. For instance, company messages. Company messages being forced to load add more time to load times. They should be optional or give each individual user the option(something a well organized orginazation app should have anyway). Anywho with the technology and resources you have, you should actually consider updating HotSchedules every once in a while. BTW. Actual rating is a -6/5 literally because of all the reviews I’ve written in the past 2 years for HotSchedules, you have heard none of them. You have listened to no and you only get 1 star because I had to just to write another review.

I’ve used this app for years now, and it is always such a hit or miss if it works or not. My workplace schedules over 200+ employees, and when they cannot access their schedules or we cannot pull a roster for the day, this puts a detrimental strain on the business. This happens weekly. They do absolutely nothing about the constant issues with errors opening HotSchedules (mobile or web, phone or computer, it doesn’t discriminate). It is a shame this is the only scheduling platform around these days that “makes sense” and has the “functionality” we crave, but only count on it working half the time. It has been like this for years, but it’s been increasingly worse this past year. The system seems like it cannot handle the bandwidth of clients but this app doesn’t care as long as they get money from your company and it’s employees (to download HotSchedules ). My company will be moving to our own scheduling system soon, at this point paper and pen would be more reliable.

As a user why can i not login to see my schedule? Oh, right, because this app did yet ANOTHER nonsense update, and without downloading the update you cant login.

What is so critically important that HotSchedules has to be updated twice a month or more? It’s like mission impossible, only “your schedule, if you choose to accept it, is...(every normal day)... this schedule will self destruct in 10 days (when we update HotSchedules for no apparent reason) ...”

What could possibly be so critically important and secure about my stupid work schedule that it needs to update so often???? Thus losing my login data each time, thus making me download a new version (needing wifi) and requiring me re-verify my identity and password each time I use it? It’s annoying. It’s just giving me access to my dumb work schedule and not anything important like my bank account or a government secret agency mission impossible whatever geez

Ever since the most recent update to HotSchedules , I can honestly say it was terrible. I know there’s a trend towards being able to have platforms in dark mode— which isn’t the issue. The issue is that now that this dark mode has been implemented you can barely see what time you’re working at. For whatever reason the text is also dark just like the background and you can’t see what it says. You have to click on it to see it. Other issues include that you can’t see who else is working in case you may need to find a cover, and you can’t tell what options you’re clicking on in places like the setting or messages, or requests off. Because unlike your shift which will show once you click on it, nothing else does. Please improve this so we can see things clearly and effortlessly.

I have it for work, pretty good. I thought it was a bit unfair to have the worker pay for something the employee is forcing them to get to know their schedules but the price wasn’t that bad so no substantial complaints. The set up is really easy although I know some of my coworkers are really confused by the availability and didn’t mess with it because they didn’t know how it worked. I had figured it out but I think it should just be set up nicer. And I think it would be really great if we had a way to categorize/filter our inbox. A lot of my coworkers spam there asking for shifts to be picked up, I want to categorize the important notifications managers messages and from that of my coworkers. Overall, like the set up, never glitches, and is reliable.

It’s a great app, I don’t like the idea of having to pay for an app just to look at my shifts but I have a job which is the reason why i got it so $3 isn’t a BIG deal. HotSchedules is really easy to use for checking your shifts and others as well in case you want to know who and who doesn’t work throughout the weeks. Messaging your manager when you can’t show up on certain days is very simple to get through as well. Overall it’s an easy to use app. Downsides of it though, I only had problems with changing my availability. I would try to work at 4pm to 2am but I guess the AM messes things up to where it changes 4pm to the AMs also. Plus, I don’t know if its because of the recent update but my schedules are black and hard to read others and my scheduled shifts.

I will admit I was originally disappointed and turned off by this app because this platform is predominately used for scheduling within the service industry and therefore hourly wages employees. The company is paying a licensing fee to use the platform and I, the hourly wage employee, still have to pay to download HotSchedules ?!! It feels icky. Of course you’re going to charge the lowest tiered group to use your services because they have to use your services when you should just price your platform costs appropriately.

My disappointment was compounded because getting logged into HotSchedules is a NIGHTMARE. Horrible experience. I reset my password yesterday and still can’t get into HotSchedules and am resorting to my desktop. I’ve tried multiple times. If I’m paying to have HotSchedules, I’d expect it to be the best app on my phone and its just not. Also, this is the only app on my phone I’ve paid to download.

Once you can get logged in, HotSchedules is convenient and handy. Easy to navigate and the layout makes sense. Not tons of lag or anything either.

Please fix your login issues and let your finance/accounts team know you’re pricing structure isn’t a good look.

Despite the constant token and password word issues with every update, only half the reason why I gave two stars, I really like HotSchedules. It makes it super easy to leave notes for my fellow managers, to send messages to my employees via HotSchedules or to contact them by phone or text.
The other reason I gave only two stars is this: There is no way for me to write my schedule on HotSchedules . The only way I can do that is to sit down at a computer and use the HS website. Being a manager sometimes I do not have the time to sit at a computer down to write my schedule. How great would it be if I didn’t have to be tethered to a desktop or have to lug my laptop around with me? It’d be awesome! I could do a little bit here, a little there. This would free me up to be able to do the schedule anywhere since I always have my phone.

Worked great for years. I’m literally just posting this in hopes for a response to see if this is an issue on my end or HotSchedules itself. I got a notification yesterday that the version of HotSchedules I have is no longer supported and needs to be updated. Well I proceed to do so, and it simply won’t update. Wifi, data, restarting my phone, deleting shortcuts to HotSchedules . I close HotSchedules and try to open it but it won’t open HotSchedules , nothing worked. So I deleted it in hopes to redownload and see if it fixed anything. Well, now I can’t download it again because it still has the square stop button to stop the update from before. Any help will be appreciated.

it’s so confusing to put in a new availability: what happened to lunch/dinner shifts? Now I have to include time specific on-times? What if I can work lunch starting after 11:00a, and dinner by needing to be on by 5:00p? How do I input that? 11-5 as my availability? no, because now I’m only being scheduled between those hours and not getting approved to pickup shifts outside of that time frame.
Go back to how it used to be, I never knew anyone complaining about your app or system.
And its horrible trying to request time off, the old version was so much simpler and so much easier to look at. Now you can’t edit individual days with in your request, you either have to delete the WHOLE request and pray that it gets approved again, or pray that someone will release a shift on the day you can work again.
It’s so restrictive and complicated.
When it comes to work schedules, we want simple and flexible.
What are you guys doing with this app?!
If this wasn’t a necessary app for my job, I would delete this new-version revamped atrocity of a system.
and that makes me bummed because I was practically your biggest fan back in the day, with the green color scheme. :/

It’s slow as hell. I paid for HotSchedules two years ago when I started at my current job and it’s only gotten slower. Probably six months ago it started doing a thing where it logs you out even if you just click out of HotSchedules for one second. Kinda annoying. I turned off email notifications a longgg time ago but still get an email anytime anyone sends a message (which is a lot!). But I was dealing with all of this until today. HotSchedules updated automatically and now rather than showing lunch first and dinner second, dinner is showing first and lunch second. There was no reason to change that other than to confuse the hell out of me thinking I suddenly got switched to lunch. Change it back!! I don’t work lunch!! Two stars because at least I don’t have to use my internet browser to see my schedule.

I’ve had the this app app for just about 8 years now. I paid for it long ago, and for 5 years it was definitely worth the money. I used to tell everyone I know, “just spend the money, I promis you won’t regret”.

For my sixth year, I actually left this app because my new job didn’t require it. But I’ve had it again for another year and I’m sadden to see how downhill HotSchedules has gone. I’m not sure if the pandemic has affected the developers, or what. But HotSchedules constantly glitches and doesn’t load.

This is actually my second attempt at leaving a review. Apparently months ago I was going to leave them a review, the following is the review that I apparently started and abandoned. This should tell you something.

“Seriously every week?! So unnecessary. Also your last update on the 8th LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE to operate HotSchedules . It loads for LITERALLY five minutes each freaking page. I can’t send messages. I don’t understand why you update every week to “fix bugs” but I never have a problem until you update it!

Knock it off. HotSchedules is for work. No one cares to update their app every week. I just want to see when I work. “

BE AWARE - after they raised the rates for the 2nd time in a year, I told them I was going with another scheduling service (which I did over a year ago - and it is less than 1/2 their price). They did not inform me I needed 30 days notice (but it was the month prior-the same day they notified me of the rate increase). Then I moved to the new scheduling program & informed them when I was switched over. They took another months bill from my bank account without auth and refused to refund it stating now that they needed a 30 day notice. My bank took back the money from them and this app is still trying to take funds from my account without auth - over a year later. Which is THEFT. Watch your bills, watch their constant rate increases, and watch your bank account after you find a better & less expensive service.

I’ve had a few work scheduling apps that didn’t cost me anything. They never glitch like this one, I hate when people ask me my schedule to make appointments because I can’t answer right away with HotSchedules, it’ll constantly shut off on me. I have to put it in another calendar just to have quick access, but the way HotSchedules is set up, it looks like it should be quick access. It’s cool you can message other employees but I didn’t need to pay money on my other apps for that same feature. Bummed my work uses HotSchedules and I had to pay money for it. Maybe fix the bugs that my coworkers and I are having and update it to look less like a 2004 windows computer system. Make it less like a 5 year old iPhone you refuse to trade in.

I use HotSchedules daily to approve shift exchanges and swaps for a staff of over 100 in the restaurant I run. Almost every time I open HotSchedules it freezes and I have to open and close it multiple times in order to get access to any part of HotSchedules . Once I do gain access it takes several minutes for HotSchedules to load and several more minutes for me to approve the exchange or pick up. If I have to flip to any other part of HotSchedules during this process often it will freeze again and need to be restarted. All the other managers I’ve spoken with have the same issue as do the staff. Now today specifically its giving me an error message as soon as I open HotSchedules and won’t allow me to do anything. Please fix these issues as it makes my job more difficult and makes what should be a very quick process much more time consuming.

Easy to use app, makes life so much easier to have your schedule and manipulate it easily. Three suggestions (requests to the developers actually):

1) allow people to create an auto pick-up from the "my schedule" page. It would be a LOT easier to create these when you can see the holes in your schedule (maybe even on the schedule page put "auto pick up set" for the shifts you're hoping to get?)
2) allow notifications for when a shift gets released that you're not already scheduled for.
3) when you're on the "my schedule" page and click on a specific shift, it shows you who is working that shift and who isn't (brilliant) BUT, from there, allow the option to send a message to ONLY the people working that shift (like - hey anyone want tonight off?) AND be able to send a message to ONLY the people not working that shift (ie. hey can someone work for me tonight) instead of having to go to the messages center, select individual people or blast everyone on the whole team.

Thank you!

It shouldn’t fall on the employee to pay for an app an employer requires in order for that employee to know when they work next. Plain and simple. Should not need to go further into explaining on that.
In terms of function, HotSchedules works well for the most part. With it being a paid app, I would expect it to run a little, I dunno, faster? The lag can get annoying.
Also, if anything- the sync to calendar option needs adjusted. If an employer reuploads a schedule due to changes, the calendar app does not rewrite the schedule that was made originally. Meaning if a manager uploads and edits the schedule 7 times, my phone receives seven consecutive notifications that I have to individually swipe away just for a new one to instantly appear. For my schedule next week, I have 12. Meaning I have to go in and delete the other 11 if I want to avoid my phone(and myself) freaking out when they start rolling in.

Just minor things, the calendar thing though has not been fixed and has been going on since downloading HotSchedules around two years ago.

Great app, extremely simple set up that is easy to navigate to whatever I’m looking for. Also my favorite part is the updates. Whomever does the thought of the weeks deserves a raise. And a promotion. Heck just give me an update every week so I can see those!

Updated comment: I wrote this review almost a year ago, and guys they still do the thought of the week. Did that guy get his raise? Seriously send him my way if you don’t just so I can pay him to make one does me every day. Great app. Easy to use. And updates are still perfect!!!!

Besides the obvious downfall of this being a decent application, why in the hell are you spamming me to rate my shift? You’re implementing rate my app bs into a scheduling application? Please for all things holy, stop adding stupid nonsense to this already decent app. I can post logs of my job with sales reports, post a schedule, make approvals...that parts great. Now you harass me to rate my shift and I’m forced to turn notifications off because it won’t stop. Every 5 minutes, even if I click it. Sometimes it’s every 30 seconds! Are you kidding me?! Now I’ll check approvals on my own instead of being notified since you make me waste my time on nonsense. Already in the process of convincing my employers of phasing you out due to these stupid features and consistent problems that you bestow upon yourself.