Connecteam vs Nursegrid (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Connecteam if

• Fits if you have 10 staff or fewer and want to pay nothing
• Works for cleaning or field crews who clock in by GPS from different sites

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you also want chat and HR, since each hub is its own plan from $29 a month
• Tight if you stay free and run payroll, as the free plans have no payroll link and the 30-user Limited plan drops many features
• Skip it if you might want a refund: monthly plans get none, and yearly plans only within the first 30 days
• Watch out: past 30 users, each person is charged on every hub, $4.20 a month on Operations Expert billed yearly
• Watch out: repeating shifts and templates need Advanced at $49, and auto-assigned shifts and the API need Expert at $99

Pick Nursegrid if

• Fits if you run a care team and want scheduling and swaps at a flat per-person rate
• Works for teams with PRN and contract staff mixed in with full-timers

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need a time clock, payroll or forecasting, as none is listed
• Not for you if you have more than about 250 staff, which is the size it describes
• Pricey if you have a big headcount, because every PRN and contract person is billed too
• Watch out: the trial has no stated card policy

Connecteam

• Each hub is bought separately: scheduling and time clock sit in the Operations Hub, while chat and HR tools need their own hub plans from $29 a month each.
• The flat price covers the first 30 users; every user after that is charged per month on each hub, for example $4.20 on Operations Expert billed yearly.
• The free Small Business plan has no payroll integration, and the free Limited plan for up to 30 users drops many features.
• Monthly plans are not refunded for prepaid time; annual plans get a prorated refund only if cancelled within the first 30 days.

Nursegrid

• The vendor describes it for teams of up to about 250 staff; larger organizations are outside what the page covers.
• Pricing is per staff member, so the monthly bill follows headcount including PRN and contract staff.
• The page lists scheduling and swaps only; it does not mention time clocks, payroll or labor-cost forecasting.

Connecteam

GPS, NFC and kiosk clock-ins

Staff clock in from their phones with a GPS stamp, by tapping an NFC tag, or at a shared tablet kiosk. Geofences and on-the-clock location tracking come on higher plans.

Scheduling with open shifts

Shifts repeat daily, weekly or monthly, open shifts can be claimed with approval, and reminders go out before work starts. AI auto-scheduling weighs availability, roles and labor rules.

Timesheets to payroll

Clock-ins build timesheets that export to payroll services including Gusto, QuickBooks, Xero, Paychex and ADP, with pay periods and pay rates per person.

Forms, checklists and shift tasks

Unlimited checklists, forms and tasks on every paid plan, plus tasks and attachments such as photos, mileage and signatures tied to a shift.

Chat, updates and knowledge base

The Communications Hub adds one-to-one and group chat, a company feed with surveys and polls, an employee directory and a knowledge base.

Time off, training and documents

The HR & Skills Hub covers time-off policies with balances, courses and quizzes, documents with e-signatures, hiring and onboarding.

Nursegrid

Schedule creation and sharing

Managers set up a worksite, departments and shift types, then build and share schedules from staff preferences and availability.

Self-scheduling

Staff can choose shifts and see gaps in the schedule, so open shifts are visible and can be picked up.

Swaps and giveaways

Staff trade shifts among themselves, and the manager approves or denies each change.

Mobile app updates

Schedule changes are sent in real time to the Nursegrid mobile app that staff use for their calendar.

All staff types

Covers full-time, part-time, PRN and contract staff within one schedule.

Connecteam

• Small Business$0

  Free for life for up to 10 users, covering all three hubs. Payroll integration is not included.

• Operations Basic$29

  per month for up to 30 users, billed annually ($35 billed monthly)

  GPS time clock, basic scheduling with open shifts, unlimited forms and tasks, payroll integration. Each user past 30 is $0.80 a month ($1 monthly).

• Operations Advanced$49

  per month for up to 30 users, billed annually ($59 billed monthly)

  Adds repeating shifts, templates, auto clock-out, up to 10 geofence sites and up to 6 schedules. Each user past 30 is $2.50 a month ($3 monthly).

• Operations Expert$99

  per month for up to 30 users, billed annually ($119 billed monthly)

  Adds auto-assigned shifts, unlimited geofences, up to 12 schedules, automatic reports and API access. Each user past 30 is $4.20 a month ($5 monthly).

• Operations EnterpriseCustom

  Unlimited time clocks and schedules, SSO, two-factor sign-in and a success manager. Aimed at companies with 201 to 10,000 employees.

Nursegrid

• Nursegrid Manager$5

  per staff member / month

  One flat rate for full-time, part-time, PRN and contract staff; the page gives 25 staff as $125 a month.

Connecteam

• Annual discount

  Save 18% with yearly billing

  Yearly billing brings Operations Basic, Advanced and Expert to $29, $49 and $99 a month against $35, $59 and $119 monthly; the FAQ calls it two months free.

Nursegrid

No public discounts listed.