BriefQR vs Deputy
Deputy is a scheduling and time-tracking platform for shift-based teams, priced per user by module. BriefQR is the time-clock piece only: scan a QR, enter a device-bound PIN, and export hours in open formats, with no shared kiosk and no facial recognition needed. Pick Deputy if you want scheduling and time in one connected system; pick BriefQR if you want a lean, portable clock.
How they compare
| BriefQR | Deputy | |
|---|---|---|
| Shared logins | No, PIN + device binding | Partial |
| Biometrics | No | Optional |
| Works offline | Yes | Limited |
| Hardware to start | None, print a QR | Optional |
| Location check | Soft, optional | Yes |
| Open export | Webhook, REST & CSV | Limited |
| Starting price | €4 / operator / mo | from ~$4.50–$6/user/mo (scheduling or time); higher for premium, see their site |
Deputy details last checked 2026-06-22. Re-verify on their site.
Which should you pick?
Choose BriefQR if
Choose BriefQR if your need is clean attendance data without surveillance or hardware. Each clock-in is a PIN bound to the worker's device, it works offline, GPS is recorded as a soft review signal rather than live tracking, and your hours export via webhook and CSV. The flat €4 per active operator keeps billing predictable for variable crews.
Choose Deputy if
Choose Deputy if you build rotas and want auto-scheduling, shift swaps, labor-cost forecasting, and time tracking working together. Deputy's kiosk app, payroll integrations, and demand-based scheduling are mature, and for teams that live in their schedule that integration is worth the per-user, per-module cost.
The pricing math
Deputy typically prices per user per month by module: roughly $4.50–$6 per user for scheduling or time tracking, more for a premium plan that combines them, plus enterprise options (check their site for current rates). BriefQR is €4 per active operator per month or €40 per year, counted only for operators who clocked in. The per-seat figures are in a similar range, but BriefQR does not split features across modules and does not bill for inactive seats, so a crew with fluctuating headcount usually pays less.
Moving from Deputy
Moving from Deputy to BriefQR means exporting timesheet history (Deputy supports CSV and payroll exports) and switching clock-in to a printed QR with device-bound PINs instead of Deputy's kiosk or app. There is no facial-recognition enrollment to recreate. If you used Deputy mainly for the time clock, the switch is straightforward; if you depend on its scheduling and shift management, plan to keep those, since BriefQR handles only the clock and the hours it produces.
Frequently asked
Can BriefQR replace Deputy's scheduling?
No. BriefQR does not do scheduling, shift swaps, or labor forecasting. It replaces the time-clock part of Deputy. If scheduling is central, keep Deputy or another scheduler and use BriefQR only for clock-in/out.
Does BriefQR require Deputy's kiosk hardware?
No. BriefQR runs from a printed QR scanned on each worker's phone with a device-bound PIN. There is no shared kiosk tablet to provision, though you can mount one device at an entrance if it suits your site.
Is BriefQR's GPS as detailed as Deputy's?
It is intentionally lighter. BriefQR captures location as a soft signal you can review on a clock-in, not live tracking or geofenced enforcement. If you require strict geofencing, Deputy goes further.
How does the price compare per user?
Deputy is roughly $4.50–$6 per user per module; BriefQR is a flat €4 per active operator with no module split, billed only for operators who clocked in. For variable crews, BriefQR is usually the cheaper of the two.
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Scan a QR to clock in, work offline, export to payroll. No card required.
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