Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

When I Work VS Backlog

Compare When I Work VS Backlog and see what are their differences

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When I Work logo When I Work

When I Work is an employee scheduling and communication app using the web, mobile apps, text messaging, social media, and email.

Backlog logo Backlog

Built for teams that move fast โ€” Backlog is the all-in-one project management solution with exactly what you need, and nothing you donโ€™t.
Visit Website
  • When I Work Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-30
  • Backlog Kanban Board
    Kanban Board //
    2025-08-25
  • Backlog Gantt Chart
    Gantt Chart //
    2025-08-25
  • Backlog Git
    Git //
    2025-08-25
  • Backlog Burndown Chart
    Burndown Chart //
    2025-08-25
  • Backlog Bug Tracking
    Bug Tracking //
    2025-08-25

Built for teams of all sizes, it helps you manage sprints, client projects, and internal requests without the clutter of disconnected tools.

Visualize work with Kanban boards or Gantt charts, break down complex projects with subtasks, and customize task fields to fit your teamโ€™s workflow. Built-in Git and SVN support let developers manage code right alongside their tasks, while wikis, file sharing, and real-time notifications keep everyone on the same page.

Whether youโ€™re replacing legacy tools or streamlining your tech stack, Backlog is quick to roll out, easy to use, and flexible enough to support cross-functional collaboration at any scale.

Backlog

Website
nulab.com
$ Details
freemium $35.0 / Monthly (For growing teams, up to 30 users, 5 projects, 1 GB storage.)
Release Date
2004 January
Startup details
Country
Japan
City
Fukuoka
Founder(s)
Masanori Hashimoto, Shinsuke Tabata
Employees
100 - 249

When I Work features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    When I Work offers a clean, intuitive interface that both employers and employees find easy to navigate, making scheduling and communication straightforward.
  • Mobile Accessibility
    The mobile app allows employees to check schedules, request time off, and communicate from anywhere, enhancing flexibility and accessibility.
  • Efficient Scheduling
    Automated scheduling features help managers save time by quickly creating and adjusting schedules based on employee availability and business needs.
  • Time Tracking Integration
    When I Work integrates time tracking and attendance, simplifying payroll processes and ensuring accurate timekeeping.
  • Employee Management
    The platform supports streamlined employee management with tools for communication, task assignment, and shift reminders.

Possible disadvantages of When I Work

  • Cost
    While powerful, When I Work can be relatively expensive, especially for smaller businesses with tight budgets.
  • Limited Customization
    Some users have reported that the software offers limited customization options for specific business needs and scheduling intricacies.
  • Learning Curve
    Although generally user-friendly, some features may have a learning curve for new users, particularly those who are not tech-savvy.
  • Customer Support
    While adequate, some users have experienced delays or difficulties in getting timely support from the customer service team.
  • Feature Limitations in Basic Plan
    The basic plan may not include all the advanced features, requiring an upgrade to access the full range of functionalities.

Backlog features and specs

  • Comprehensive Project Management
    Backlog provides a wide range of project management features including task tracking, Gantt charts, and burndown charts which help teams to plan, execute, and monitor their projects efficiently.
  • Integrated Bug Tracking
    The platform includes robust bug tracking tools that allow for detailed tracking, reporting, and resolution of software bugs which is crucial for development teams.
  • Collaboration Tools
    Backlog offers several collaboration features such as wikis, file sharing, and comment threads to facilitate team communication and knowledge sharing.
  • Customizable Workflow
    Users can customize workflows to reflect their team's processes, which makes the tool adaptable to different project management styles.
  • Multiple Integrations
    Backlog integrates with numerous other tools including Git, SVN, and Slack, allowing teams to streamline their workflow and use their preferred tools.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate user interface, making it accessible even for less tech-savvy users.
  • Mobile Application
    Backlog offers a mobile application for both iOS and Android, allowing team members to stay updated and manage tasks on the go.

Analysis of When I Work

Overall verdict

  • When I Work (wheniwork.com) is generally considered a good scheduling and workforce management tool.

Why this product is good

  • When I Work is praised for its user-friendly interface, ease of scheduling, and communication features that streamline shift management. It offers time tracking, team messaging, and integration capabilities to assist in simplifying workforce operations.

Recommended for

    When I Work is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an efficient and intuitive platform to manage employee schedules, track time, and facilitate communication between team members. It is particularly useful for industries such as retail, healthcare, hospitality, and restaurant services where shift work is common.

Analysis of Backlog

Overall verdict

  • Backlog is considered a good choice for teams and organizations, especially those that require a balanced mix of collaboration and project management features. It is particularly useful for teams that need an integrated approach to managing tasks and tracking project progress.

Why this product is good

  • Backlog (backlog.com) is a project management and collaboration tool that's praised for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and ability to seamlessly integrate with other tools. It offers functionalities like task management, bug tracking, version control, and file sharing, which make it versatile for teams looking to streamline their workflows. The platform is also visually intuitive, which helps in keeping all team members on the same page.

Recommended for

    Backlog is recommended for software development teams, marketing teams, and any organization looking for a tool that supports collaborative work while providing comprehensive project management features. It's particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses or teams within larger organizations that need customizable workflows and have a need for integrated version control.

When I Work videos

Digital Unboxing: When I Work

More videos:

  • Review - When I Work - Review and Edit Timesheets

Backlog videos

Manage projects with Backlog

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to When I Work and Backlog)
Employee Scheduling
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100

Questions and Answers

As answered by people managing When I Work and Backlog.

What makes your product unique?

Backlog's answer:

Backlog combines project management with issue tracking and version control in one simple, intuitive platform. Unlike tools that focus on just tasks or just code, Backlog bridges the gap between teams and developers, making collaboration seamless for everyone.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Backlog's answer:

Backlog is affordable, built for all skill levels, and designed to be powerful without being overwhelming. Teams can manage projects, track bugs, review code, and collaborate visually (with Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and wikis) all in one place. Itโ€™s easier to get started with than many enterprise tools, but it still scales to handle complex projects.

How would you describe your primary audience?

Backlog's answer:

Our core audience includes software development teams, IT departments, and project managers who need both project visibility and technical depth. At the same time, marketing, design, and business teams also rely on Backlog to stay connected with developers in a shared workspace.

What's the story behind your product?

Backlog's answer:

Backlog was created by Nulab, a Japan-based software company, to make teamwork easier and more enjoyable. We needed a tool where developers and non-developers could work together without friction. Since its launch, Backlog has grown into a global product that helps thousands of teams deliver projects more efficiently.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Backlog's answer:

Backlog is trusted by teams at Buzzfeed, Rakuten, and SoftBank, along with thousands of startups, agencies, and enterprises worldwide. Whether itโ€™s a small consultancy or a large global brand, Backlog helps teams of all sizes manage projects with clarity and collaboration.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Backlog's answer:

Backlog's backend is written using the programming language Scala. This robust foundation helps Backlog run smoothly, even when managing large projects or complex tasks.

User comments

Share your experience with using When I Work and Backlog. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare When I Work and Backlog

When I Work Reviews

The 9 Best Paid and Free WhenIWork Alternatives
Whether youโ€™ve grown tired of When I Work or are looking to change things up and see if thereโ€™s an app thatโ€™s better out there โ€“ then this article is for you. In just a moment, we will walk you through nine different software that we believe are fantastic alternatives to When I Work.
Source: everhour.com

Backlog Reviews

  1. dolcemediterranea
    Good system

    I'm on the free plan, all the basic options to run a project are there and the mail notification/comment system works very well. The user interface is good. My only complaint is that you cannot have more than one person assigned to a task. It's their philosophy and they say that if you want to have more assignees you should either duplicate the task or create subtask (only for paid plans).

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Jira, Trello
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    User friendly interface|Free basic plan
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Cannot have more people assigned to a task

12 Best JIRA Alternatives in 2019
Backlog is an all-in-one project management tool built for developers. It's a popular alternative to Jira, with a much simpler and intuitive interface. Development teams use Backlog to work with other teams for enhanced team collaboration and high-quality project delivery.
Source: www.guru99.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, When I Work should be more popular than Backlog. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

When I Work mentions (6)

  • Employee calendars that all super admins have access to
    How are the users accessing these calendars if you don't create accounts for them? What you probably want is a work scheduling service like when I work: https://wheniwork.com. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Volunteer schedule with varying hours
    You could try something like this: https://wheniwork.com. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Labour as a percentage of sales.
    I record all of our takings through a spreadsheet and from this I add our takings into wheniwork.com and get my labour as a percentage of sales. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Web-Based Time Keeping System Suggestions
    Look at wheniwork.com. We used them a few years ago and they had lots of features. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Web/App-based Time Tracking Application for Lab use
    We are going to resume our work in few weeks and looking for efficient time tracking applications to keep track of the people working in the lab at any given time. In one lab I am using WhenIWork app and planning to us clockify in the second lab. Both of them are free and have some pros and cons. I was wondering if anybody has experience using any other software (free) in your lab. We are a team of 5-6 people and... Source: over 4 years ago
View more

Backlog mentions (3)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing When I Work and Backlog, you can also consider the following products

Deputy - Deputy is a software for employee scheduling, time and attendance and communication management.

Jira - The #1 software development tool used by agile teams. Jira Software is built for every member of your software team to plan, track, and release great software.

ResourceGuru - The fast, simple way to schedule people, equipment, and other resources online.

Wrike - Wrike is a flexible, scalable, and easy-to-use collaborative work management software that helps high-performance teams organize and accomplish their work. Try it now.

Sling - Sling is a free shift scheduling and communication software. It is built around four main features - shifts, messages, newsfeed and tasks, making it possible for managers to organize all aspects of their work on a single platform.

Asana - Asana project management is an effort to re-imagine how we work together, through modern productivity software. Fast and versatile, Asana helps individuals and groups get more done.