Honest comparison
TeamZap vs Planday
Planday (owned by Xero) is one of the most UK/EU-relevant incumbents, with genuine rota vocabulary and hospitality heritage. TeamZap is the AI-native, free-to-start alternative. Here’s how they compare, honestly.
| Planday | TeamZap | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-user monthly subscription with a free trial (check planday.com for current rates) | Free for early customers during the introductory period — everything included, no card |
| AI approach | AI scheduling appears as a feature; reasoning behind suggestions not itemised publicly | Suggestions with the reasons shown (availability, fairness, rest, cost); managers approve everything — explained in full on /ai |
| UK compliance depth | Good UK/EU fit including TOIL awareness; Bradford Factor not a headline feature | UK-first: WTR checks, TOIL, Bradford Factor, statutory leave built in |
| Expenses & mileage | Not part of the core product | Expenses & mileage included (receipt scanning, approvals, budgets) |
| Accounting ecosystem | Owned by Xero — deep alignment with the Xero ecosystem | Independent; Xero expense sync is on the integration roadmap alongside payroll exports |
| Product transparency | Interactive product tour embedded on their site — excellent | Full product story with honest mockups today; interactive tour on our roadmap |
Facts checked 16 July 2026 from each company’s public website. Competitor products change — check their site for current details, and tell us if anything here is out of date.
Playing it straight
Where Planday is genuinely stronger
- Xero ownership and ecosystem alignment.
- An embedded interactive product tour — you can try the interface before signing up.
- Years of hospitality heritage and named customer stories, including care operators.
The TeamZap case
Where TeamZap differs
- Free during the introductory period vs per-user subscription.
- Deeper UK compliance specifics: Bradford Factor and WTR warnings built into planning.
- Expenses included; NFC tap-to-clock as a first-class clock-in method.
- An AI page that explains exactly what the AI does and doesn’t do.
Frequently asked questions
TeamZap or Planday for a UK restaurant?
Both speak rota language and fit hospitality. Planday brings Xero alignment and a long track record; TeamZap brings a free start, expenses in the same app, tap-to-clock NFC and transparent AI suggestions. If budget matters and you want one system rather than several, start free with TeamZap and compare on your own rota.
Other comparisons: TeamZap vs Deputy · TeamZap vs RotaCloud · TeamZap vs Spreadsheets
The fair test: run both on one real week
TeamZap is free for early customers — build next week’s rota in it alongside your current tool and compare on your own numbers.
Free while we build with early customers — join while the introductory period is open.