Best Surfboard WFM Alternatives & Competitors for 2025

Imed Bouchrika, Phd

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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HubSpot Sales

5 / 5

Read more about HubSpot Sales

HubSpot Sales stands out as a comprehensive tool that consolidates contact and deal management into one streamlined platform, allowing sales teams to efficiently track leads and tailor communications with precision. By automating routine tasks like follow-up emails and lead nurturing, it frees up sales professionals to concentrate on more strategic efforts while reducing the risk of overlooking important steps. Its powerful analytics provide detailed insights through customizable dashboards, helping businesses measure performance, anticipate revenue, and refine their sales tactics. Furthermore, the platform’s seamless integration with marketing and customer service enhances collaboration across departments, offering a complete perspective on each customer’s journey.

Key Features of HubSpot Sales
  • Core CRM Functionality
  • Multiple Deal Pipelines
  • Email Tracking and Notifications
  • Automated Sequences
  • Meeting Scheduling Links
  • Workflow Automation
  • Reporting and Dashboards
  • Sales Forecasting
Price of HubSpot Sales

HubSpot Sales offers a Free plan with basic CRM features at no cost. The Starter plan is $20 per month per seat, including one seat, removing HubSpot branding and adding custom properties and meeting links. The Professional tier requires a $100 monthly per-seat fee, with a yearly commitment and a $1,500 onboarding fee, enhancing automation and sales process tools. Enterprise costs $150 per seat monthly, billed annually upfront, plus a $3,500 onboarding fee, offering advanced features and higher limits for larger teams and complex needs.

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5 / 5

Read more about monday

Monday.com is a highly adaptable platform designed to streamline work and project management for teams of various sizes. Its user-friendly, visually organized interface, enhanced by color-coded elements, allows users to navigate effortlessly without needing technical skills. With over 200 ready-made templates and a straightforward drag-and-drop system, teams can quickly set up workflows and begin managing tasks efficiently. Additionally, its powerful dashboard builder and no-code automation tools help users visualize data clearly and eliminate repetitive processes, boosting overall productivity.

Key Features of monday
  • Visual Board Structure
  • Customizable Columns
  • Multiple Board Views
  • Automations
  • Integrations
  • Dashboards and Reporting
  • Time Tracking
  • Mobile App Support
Price of monday

monday.com offers a Free Plan for up to two users at no cost, ideal for individuals or small teams. The Basic Plan costs $12 per seat monthly and includes unlimited boards and prioritized support. The Standard Plan at $17 per seat monthly adds timeline and calendar views, guest access, and automation limits of 250 actions. The Pro Plan, $28 per seat monthly, significantly increases automation and integrations to 25,000 actions and introduces private boards and enhanced analytics. Enterprise pricing is custom and includes advanced security and premium support. A 14-day free trial of Pro is available.

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4.15 / 5

Read more about Wrike

Wrike emerges in the realm of project collaboration software as a solution designed with teams in mind, promising an environment that supports streamlined coordination and efficient project management. Although the available source details remain sparse, Wrike's brief positioning hints at an underlying framework aimed at optimizing collaborative workflows for varying project scales. Its general profile suggests that it caters to teams seeking a central hub for managing project tasks and enhancing communication. For prospective customers exploring project collaboration options, Wrike presents itself as a candidate worthy of further investigation to clarify its full range of capabilities.

Key Features of Wrike
  • Task Management for effective teams
  • Robust Project Planning with Kanban
  • Collaboration Tools via shared workspaces
  • Real-Time Reporting for instant visibility
  • Mobile Access for on-the-go teams
  • Integrations with over 400 applications
  • Automation to streamline repetitive tasks
  • Custom Dashboards for key insights
Price of Wrike

Wrike offers flexible pricing plans. The Free Plan is ideal for small teams with a simple task list at zero cost. The Team Plan, priced at $10 per user monthly, delivers unlimited projects and effective Gantt charts. At $24.80 per user monthly, the Business Plan extends features with nested projects and advanced reporting. The Enterprise and Pinnacle Plans require direct inquiries, offering superior security and management capabilities designed for large organizations. Experience all premium functionalities risk-free with a 14-day trial that does not require a credit card. Contact vendor.

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Read more about ConnectWise PSA

ConnectWise PSA is presented as a professional services automation solution engineered to streamline service delivery for organizations of varying sizes. This software offers a unified platform designed to support essential business operations, aiming to reduce administrative burdens while promoting operational efficiency. With its dynamic and adaptable design, ConnectWise PSA aspires to simplify complex workflows and optimize service management. For prospective users exploring professional services automation tools, this solution presents a noteworthy option that emphasizes ease of use and integrated process management.

Key Features of ConnectWise PSA
  • Comprehensive Sales Force Automation Suite
  • Integrated Task and Activity Management
  • Streamlined Quote and Order Management
  • Efficient Customer Contract Management Module
  • Robust Reporting and Customizable Dashboards
  • Accurate Forecasting for Revenue Planning
  • Precise Time Tracking and Billing
  • Automated Workflow Integration and Execution
Price of ConnectWise PSA

ConnectWise PSA offers three pricing structures designed for various business sizes. The Small-Business plan costs around 14% above the typical PSA solution, providing an approach aimed at smaller operations. In contrast, the Mid-Market plan is about 11% higher than average, balancing affordability with essential functionality. Meanwhile, the Enterprise plan commands a premium, approximately 36% above other solutions, catering to larger organizations with more complex requirements. Note that specific pricing details and features remain undisclosed; prospective customers should contact the vendor directly to obtain precise information tailored to their needs immediately.

Read more about Smartsheet

Smartsheet emerges as a contender in project management software by offering a platform designed to streamline team collaboration and project oversight. Its interface and adaptable features hint at a solution that can cater to both small projects and more expansive, complex initiatives. For prospective users exploring efficient tools for organizing workflows and coordinating tasks, Smartsheet presents itself as an option worthy of consideration as part of a broader project management strategy.

Key Features of Smartsheet
  • Advanced Task Creation and Assignment
  • Dynamic Project Planning and Visualization
  • Robust Team Resource Scheduling Management
  • Real-Time Project Monitoring with Dashboards
  • Intuitive No-Code Workflow Automation Engine
  • Comprehensive Data Reporting and Analysis
  • Customizable, Branded Interactive Project Dashboards
  • Seamless Integration with Popular Tools
Price of Smartsheet

Smartsheet offers three distinct pricing options tailored to various needs. The Pro Plan starts at $9 per user monthly, ideal for individuals and small teams needing essential project management and collaboration tools. The Business Plan, priced at $19 for every three users per month, enhances team alignment with improved features and storage. The Enterprise Plan targets larger organizations requiring advanced functionalities and secure controls and is available by contacting Smartsheet directly. Each comprehensive package demonstrates a simplified pricing structure meticulously designed to meet varied project management needs across diverse organizations.

Overview

Choosing the right workforce management (WFM) software can be challenging, especially if you’ve been using Surfboard WFM and are now exploring alternatives. You might be facing limitations with current features, scalability issues, or integration challenges that hinder your operational efficiency.

This article is designed to guide you through the key factors to consider when selecting a Surfboard WFM alternative tailored to your needs in workforce management. We’ll help you identify common pain points and how different solutions address them.

By reading this, you’ll gain clarity on essential capabilities such as scheduling flexibility, real-time analytics, and user-friendly interfaces. You’ll also learn how to evaluate software based on your team size, industry requirements, and budget constraints.

Ultimately, this guide will empower you to make an informed decision that improves productivity, enhances employee engagement, and supports your business growth.

What is Surfboard WFM?

Surfboard WFM is tailored specifically for customer support and service teams, offering tools that enhance workforce allocation through detailed forecasting, shift planning, and scheduling. It automates predictions of support request volumes, helping managers staff teams effectively to handle varying demand without overstaffing or risking service delays.

The platform’s scheduling capabilities reduce the usual complexities of shift management by providing intuitive drag-and-drop features and automated options, significantly cutting down manual planning efforts. This makes it easier to maintain optimal team coverage while adapting quickly to changing circumstances.

Real-time communication is another strength of Surfboard WFM. Integrated messaging and notifications improve coordination among team members, leading to quicker responses and better customer experiences. Its ability to connect with existing systems such as HRIS, payroll, CRM, and ticketing platforms turns it into a centralized hub for workforce-related data, streamlining operations across multiple functions.

Surfboard’s analytics deliver comprehensive performance insights that empower managers to make data-driven decisions and continuously refine support strategies. The user interface is designed for ease of use, facilitating fast adoption and minimizing training time for support teams.

Highly flexible, Surfboard WFM allows customization of workflows, access controls, and reporting to match the unique needs of various businesses—from small startups to large enterprises—ensuring a tailored fit for support-focused workforce management.

For companies evaluating workforce tools alongside financial processes, exploring invoice payment software options can complement operational efficiency, offering a broader perspective on optimizing both staffing and financial workflows.

What to look for in Surfboard WFM alternatives?

Surfboard WFM specializes in workforce management tailored for support teams, excelling in precise forecasting, automated shift creation, and dynamic scheduling that adapts in real time. Its design focuses on optimizing agent availability to meet customer demand without causing employee burnout, ensuring SLA compliance.

The platform boasts an intuitive interface featuring drag-and-drop scheduling and color-coded visuals, simplifying complex workforce logistics. It also supports integrations with major HRIS, payroll, CRM systems, and collaboration tools like Slack, facilitating seamless data flow and communication across platforms. Managing multiple timezones and offering in-depth performance analytics empowers managers to make data-driven decisions efficiently.

When selecting alternatives, prioritize solutions providing high forecasting accuracy that can accommodate unique service patterns and intraday changes. Integration depth matters greatly—effective synchronization with existing HR, payroll, ticketing, and collaboration software reduces manual tasks and errors.

Usability is critical: look for platforms with clear, accessible interfaces that support mobile use and enhance team adoption through features like visual scheduling aids. Real-time communication tools embedded within the software, such as instant notifications and Slack integrations, keep teams aligned and responsive to schedule changes.

Reporting capabilities should offer customizable insights into attendance, productivity, and performance metrics to support continuous improvement. Flexibility to scale across multiple locations and languages is essential for growing organizations, alongside strong compliance mechanisms like role-based access and audit trails to safeguard sensitive information.

Carefully evaluate cost structures, including potential extra charges for advanced analytics or integrations, ensuring the solution aligns with budget constraints without sacrificing critical features.

For organizations exploring broader organizational tools, reviewing the top 10 lms offers valuable perspectives on learning management systems that can complement workforce management by enhancing team training and development.

Frequently Asked Questions about Surfboard WFM

What are the most popular alternatives to Surfboard WFM?

Top alternatives include Assembled, Connecteam, Rippling, Calabrio ONE, Quinyx, Sona, Gastromatic, Orquest, RotaGeek, and Rotaready. These platforms cater to a variety of company sizes and sectors, offering diverse workforce management tools.

Why do organizations switch from Surfboard WFM to alternative platforms?

Companies often seek alternatives to access enhanced features, improve usability, or find solutions better aligned with their specific industry demands. Growth, integration needs, or dissatisfaction with existing services also drive such changes.

Are Surfboard WFM alternatives suitable for all business types?

Yes. Platforms like Connecteam and Rotaready serve a broad spectrum of industries including hospitality, retail, leisure, and businesses with non-desk or field personnel, ensuring adaptable solutions across operational models.

How do these alternatives integrate with other business tools?

Many support seamless integration with popular services such as Google Calendar, Slack, Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, and Xero, facilitating smoother scheduling, payroll, and communication workflows.

Do Surfboard WFM alternatives provide free trials or demos?

Several leading providers, notably Assembled, offer free trial periods or demos, often accompanied by onboarding assistance to help evaluate the software before committing.

Are there workforce management solutions tailored to specific industries?

Certain platforms focus on niche sectors: Gastromatic targets hospitality HR, Orquest specializes in retail workforce management, and Rotaready serves hospitality, leisure, and retail with industry-specific features.

What pricing models do Surfboard WFM alternatives follow?

Pricing varies significantly. For example, Rotaready starts around $69 monthly. Most vendors use tiered pricing based on features and user counts, often requiring direct contact for customized quotes.

How do customer support and onboarding compare among these alternatives?

Leading options prioritize smooth onboarding and responsive support. Assembled, for instance, provides personalized setup help and attentive customer service to facilitate transitions.

How well do these alternatives scale for growing teams?

Platforms such as Assembled and Connecteam are designed to manage rapid team expansion, offering flexible scheduling, advanced forecasting, and easy administration of large or distributed workforces.

Where can prospective customers find user reviews and comparisons?

Review aggregation sites like G2, Slashdot, SourceForge, and eBool provide user ratings and side-by-side comparisons, helping buyers evaluate satisfaction levels and platform performance before making decisions.