WeRoster vs Deputy
Both help you roster staff. Deputy is a broad workforce platform. WeRoster is a simple roster built in New Zealand for New Zealand teams.
The short version
Deputy is a powerful, well established platform with AI scheduling, demand forecasting, facial verification clock-in and optional payroll and HR. WeRoster does the core weekly job (roster, availability, leave, public holidays, wage costs and clock-in) with less to learn, a flat price for your team size in NZ dollars, and support from the people who build it. If you need an all-in-one workforce system, Deputy is worth a look. If you want this week's roster done in minutes, WeRoster is the simpler fit.
Who is each one best for?
WeRoster is a good fit if
- You run a cafe, shop, bar or restaurant in New Zealand with up to around 65 staff
- You want to build the week fast and keep control of who works when
- You want NZ public holidays, including Matariki, on the roster without setting them up
- You prefer one flat monthly price in NZ dollars that does not grow with every new hire
Deputy is a good fit if
- You want AI to draft schedules from availability, budgets and demand
- You need payroll, HR and forecasting in the same system
- You want native iOS and Android apps and a facial verification kiosk
- You run a large or multi-country workforce
How do the prices compare?
WeRoster has one monthly price for your team size. Deputy charges per user per month, and New Zealand customers are billed in Australian dollars.
| Team size | WeRoster (NZD) | Deputy Lite (AUD) | Deputy Core (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 staff | $15 (Mini) | A$33.75 | A$43.75 |
| 10 staff | $15 (Mini) | A$67.50 | A$87.50 |
| 25 staff | $25 (Basic) | A$168.75 | A$218.75 |
| 50 staff | $39 (Standard) | A$337.50 | A$437.50 |
Monthly list prices. Deputy figures use its published Australian prices per user per month (Lite A$6.75, Core A$8.75, Pro A$13.00) with its A$30 minimum monthly spend. Deputy's annual billing saves 10%, and WeRoster's annual billing gives you one month free. Every WeRoster plan includes every feature; see WeRoster pricing.
Feature comparison
The features NZ cafes, shops and hospitality teams ask about most.
| Feature | WeRoster | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly roster editor | Drag or tap on a 15-minute grid | Yes |
| Automatic scheduling (AI) | No | Yes |
| Staff availability on the roster | Yes | Yes |
| Leave requests | Yes | Yes |
| Leave balances | No | Yes |
| Wage costs while you roster | Yes | Yes |
| Demand forecasting from sales | No | Yes |
| Clock in from a phone | Yes | Yes, with GPS location |
| Shared in-store clock-in | PIN terminal on any tablet or computer | iPad and Android kiosk with facial verification |
| Team announcements | Email announcements and store timeline | News feed with read receipts |
| Mobile apps | Works in any phone browser | iOS and Android apps |
| Payroll | Download worked shifts | Payroll add-on and integrations including Xero and iPayroll |
| HR tools | No | HR add-on |
| Multiple stores | Yes | Yes |
| How you pay | Flat plan by team size, in NZD | Per user per month, billed in AUD |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card needed | Up to 31 days, no card needed |
A dash means the feature is not offered or we could not confirm it on Deputy's website. Some Deputy features depend on the plan or a paid add-on.
Where does WeRoster do things differently?
Made for New Zealand rosters
National public holidays, including Matariki and Mondayised days, appear on the right day of the roster automatically. Prices are in NZ dollars and the 15-minute grid makes rest and meal breaks easy to fit in. Read our guide to rostering on NZ public holidays.
A simple grid, not a whole platform
You see the whole week on one grid with availability and approved leave shown as you go. Copy last week, adjust, then publish and notify everyone in one click. There's less to set up and less for managers to learn.
Multi-store roles built in
Owners, managers and employees each see what their role allows. Staff who work at several of your stores keep one login and count once on your plan. See running multiple stores.
A plan for your team size
One flat monthly price from $15, with every feature on every plan. Hiring a few more people does not change your bill unless your team moves into the next size band.
Support from the people who build it
Email [email protected] and a real person from the WeRoster team replies. Read more about who builds WeRoster.
WeRoster vs Deputy: common questions
Is WeRoster cheaper than Deputy?
For most small and medium teams, yes. WeRoster charges one flat monthly price for your team size (for example $15 a month for up to 10 staff), while Deputy charges per user per month in Australian dollars, from A$6.75 on Lite and A$8.75 on Core. See WeRoster pricing.
Does Deputy work in New Zealand?
Yes. Deputy is used in New Zealand, and its pricing page says customers in Australia and New Zealand are billed in Australian dollars. It lists NZ payroll integrations such as iPayroll and Xero.
Which is better for a small NZ cafe or shop?
If you want to build a weekly roster quickly, let staff see it on their phone and handle availability, leave and public holidays, WeRoster covers that simply and at a flat price. If you want AI scheduling, demand forecasting, HR and payroll in one system, Deputy offers more.
How do I switch from Deputy to WeRoster?
Start a free trial, create your store, add your staff (they get an email invitation to set their password) and build your first week. After that, copy each week forward and adjust it. The getting started guide walks through it, and you can run both side by side during the 14-day trial.
Does WeRoster have AI auto scheduling like Deputy?
No. WeRoster keeps you in control of who works when, and makes that fast: copy last week, see everyone's availability and approved leave on the grid, and watch the wage cost update as you go. See the roster editor.
Checked October 2026. Deputy details come from Deputy's own website. Prices and features change, so check the latest on their site. Spotted something out of date? Let us know and we'll fix it.
Also comparing other options? See WeRoster vs Droppah, our FAQ or the full feature list.
Try WeRoster alongside Deputy
Try every feature free for 14 days. No credit card needed.