- Originally published: January 10, 2025
- Last updated: May 13, 2025
Robin Powered is a popular tool for managing office spaces and resources, known for its user-friendly interface and powerful desk and room booking features. If you’re not sure Robin is the best fit for your office, though, it’s worth checking out other options. Some Robin alternatives might offer features that suit your needs better or come at a lower price, giving you more flexibility to manage your workspace.
💡 TL;DR
If you’re looking for a simpler, more affordable Robin, Archie is a top choice. It offers all the core features — desk and room booking, visitor management, floor plans, and usage analytics — but charges based on the number of spaces, not users. That makes it much more budget-friendly for hybrid teams where only part of the staff is in the office at any given time. Easy to use and quick to set up, Archie is ideal for growing companies that want a clean, all-in-one solution without the high price tag.
Guide to the best Robin alternatives
Robin Powered — overview
Robin is one of the more established tools for managing hybrid offices. It helps teams book desks and meeting rooms, check in visitors, and get useful data on how the office is being used, all in one place. Smaller teams might find it a bit much, but if you need detailed insights, advanced tools, and strong integrations, Robin has you covered.
🔑 Key features of Robin
- Meeting room bookings: Employees can book meeting rooms effortlessly or check in at the door with just one click.
- AI-assisted desk booking: Robin automatically assigns desks based on employees’ previous bookings and preferences, ensuring everyone gets a spot that works for them.
- Interactive office maps: Real-time maps show desk availability and office layouts, making it simple for employees to find and choose their workspace.
- Employee check-ins: Robin offers flexible check-in options, including QR codes, WiFi-based auto-check-ins, and integration with access control systems.
- Advanced workplace analytics: Gain valuable insights into office usage patterns, identify peak times, and optimize layouts to better meet employee needs.
💳 Pricing
Robin doesn’t list prices online, but starts at approximately $70 per user per month, which can add up quickly for large teams. You don’t pay extra for desks or rooms — just for the people using it. It’s not the cheapest option, but you get a full platform with lots of advanced features. For exact pricing details, contact Robin directly.
🔎 Pros & cons
One of Robin’s biggest strengths is how smoothly it integrates with office tools like Google Calendar, Microsoft 365, and Slack, making it easy for employees to reserve spaces without disrupting their normal workflow. The built-in analytics are also a big plus, giving you clear insights into how your office is being used so you can make smarter decisions about space and layout.
That said, Robin’s pricing can be a challenge for some teams. Since it charges per user, the cost can add up quickly, especially for larger businesses where not everyone comes into the office every day. Smaller teams or those just starting out with hybrid work might also find it more tool than they need. And while the platform is designed to handle complex setups, getting everything up and running, especially across multiple locations, can take a bit of time and planning.
Overall, Robin is a great fit for mid-sized and large companies that want a reliable, all-in-one solution with strong integrations and deep analytics. It’s a powerful option if you’re ready to invest in a structured, scalable platform for your hybrid office.
Why look for a Robin alternative
Robin is a great tool for desk booking and room scheduling, but it’s not the perfect fit for everyone. One of the biggest reasons companies start looking for a Robin alternative is the cost. Since Robin charges per user, the price can rise quickly — especially if you have a big team or not everyone comes into the office that often. You might end up paying for more users than you really need.
Some teams also find Robin to be more complex than necessary, especially smaller companies or those just getting started with hybrid work. If you’re looking for something simpler, more flexible, or easier on the budget, it makes sense to explore other options. There are plenty of alternatives out there, like Archie, that still offer powerful booking and visitor tools but with pricing and features that might suit your needs better.
For example, managing 100 desks for 300 employees would cost approximately $324/month with Archie compared to about $1,775/month with Robin. Despite the lower cost, Archie still provides powerful features like interactive floor plans, employee search tools, and detailed office space analytics.
Top 5 Robin alternatives
- Archie: The best Robin alternative for affordable and scalable hybrid workspace management. Ideal for companies looking for flexibility and cost-effective solutions.
- Officely: Works seamlessly with Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it a great Robin alternative for nooking desks and rooms without leaving your communication platform.
- Tactic: Good Robin alternative for organizing hybrid team schedules, offering intuitive booking tools for desks and meeting rooms.
- Skedda: Robin alternative for businesses needing custom booking workflows, with features tailored to unique organizational policies.
- Kadence: A smart Robin alternative for AI-assisted resource booking, offering advanced tools to simplify desk and room reservations.
Archie
Archie is the best Robin alternative, built to make desk booking, meeting room scheduling, and visitor check-ins simple and affordable. People like that it “just works,” even for those who aren’t super techy, and the support team is friendly and helpful. With cost-effective, resource-based pricing, Archie is a smart option for businesses with flexible office setups, helping them manage spaces without overspending.
🔑 Key features
- Room & desk booking: You can easily reserve desks or meeting rooms, set up recurring bookings, or assign permanent desks to employees.
- Interactive floor plans: Navigate office layouts and book your preferred space with just one click.
- Employee lookup: Locate where coworkers are sitting or check their attendance, making it easier to collaborate and track office usage.
- Neighborhood zoning: Create team-specific zones for collaboration while maintaining workspace flexibility.
- Visitor management: Offer smooth, touchless check-ins with QR codes and keep records for added security.
- Mobile access: You can manage bookings on the go through a free mobile app, which offers optional branding for a customized experience.
- Workspace Analytics: Gain insights into desk and room usage to optimize layouts and reduce wasted space.
💳 Pricing
Archie starts at $159/month for 25 resources, including mobile and room apps, chat support, and setup assistance. Visitor management features are an add-on, priced separately ($159 per location per month). Archie offers a free trial to help you explore its features and see if it’s the right fit for your team.
🔎 Pros & cons
One of the best things about Archie is how user-friendly it is. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, so your team can jump in and start using it right away, with little to no training. It also comes with helpful features like interactive floor plans, employee lookup, and mobile access, which make coordinating in-office days much smoother.
A big plus is Archie’s pricing. Instead of charging per person, it charges based on the number of desks, rooms, or offices you’re managing. That makes it especially affordable for companies with large teams but only a limited number of people coming into the office at once — which is common in hybrid setups. You also get a lot included in the base plan, like floor plans and analytics, without needing to upgrade to access essentials.
On the flip side, Archie may not be the best choice for very small offices. Its minimum plan includes 25 resources, which might be more than a small team needs. But for growing teams or businesses looking for an affordable, all-in-one system that’s easy to set up and use, Archie is a strong option that balances functionality with value.
Officely
Officely is a Robin alternative works right inside Slack and Microsoft Teams, so your team can book desks or say they’re coming in without ever leaving their chat app. It’s super easy to use and perfect for hybrid teams that want a quick, no-fuss way to manage who’s in the office. You get hot-desk booking, simple room reservations, and basic reporting. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t have advanced features like visitor check-ins or detailed floor maps, though.
🔑 Key features
- Slack-integrated bookings: Book desks and meeting rooms directly in Slack for a smooth, time-saving experience.
- Resource management: Manage various resources, including desks, parking spots, bike racks, and even pet-friendly areas.
- Office visibility: See who’s coming to the office and easily coordinate schedules and team collaboration.
- Event planning: Simplify organizing office events, team lunches, and group activities.
- Space usage insights: Track office attendance and space usage to improve layouts and resource allocation.
💳 Pricing
Officely’s pricing starts at $2.49 per user per month, and it’s free for teams with up to 10 users. While it doesn’t include a visitor management module, it does offer a free trial, allowing you to explore all its features before committing.
🔎 Pros & cons
Officely is all about keeping things simple. One of its biggest perks is that it works directly inside Slack and Microsoft Teams, so your team can book desks, mark in-office days, and see who else is coming in — all without switching apps. That makes it super easy to adopt, especially for teams already using these tools every day. It’s also really quick to set up (we’re talking minutes), and the interface is clean and straightforward, so there’s no steep learning curve. Plus, it has a free plan for small teams, which is a nice bonus if you’re just getting started with hybrid work.
On the flip side, Officely does have some limits. It doesn’t offer visitor management or detailed floor plans, so if you need more advanced features or want a bird’s-eye view of your office layout, it might not be the right fit. And if your team doesn’t use Slack or Teams, a lot of its convenience disappears. Overall, Officely is a great choice for small to mid-sized teams looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use way to manage hybrid schedules, just as long as it fits into your existing setup.
Tactic
Tactic is a Robin alternative that lets you pick and choose the modules you need – it offers desk booking, meeting room reservations, visitor management, and analytics as separate modules. Since it offers a lot, setup can take a bit more time, especially if you want to customize things like maps and booking rules. It’s best for companies that want flexibility, for example, those that just want to start with desk booking and add more later. It also works well for teams that prefer paying by desk or room instead of per person.
🔑 Key features
- Meeting room reservations: Quickly book meeting spaces and avoid double bookings with a smooth reservation process.
- Desk booking: It’s perfect for hot desking setups, allowing employees to reserve desks effortlessly.
- Desk zones: Group desks by floors or departments to keep teams working closely together.
- Seating assignments: Assign desks temporarily or permanently based on individual preferences or team needs.
- Future booking limits: To ensure fair access for everyone, limit how far in advance desks can be booked.
💳 Pricing
Plans begin at $3 per desk each month, with extra charges for room scheduling ($6 per room per month) and visitor management ($99 per location per month). There are no setup fees, and a free 14-day trial lets you explore Tactic’s features to see if it’s the right fit for you.
🔎 Pros & cons
One of the biggest perks is that you can pick just the features you need, and only pay for what you actually use. It comes with lots of useful tools too, like interactive floor maps, the ability to see where your teammates are sitting, check-in/check-out features, and even options to book parking spots. It works smoothly with Slack, Teams, and calendar apps like Outlook or Google, and there’s a mobile app to make bookings on the go.
On the downside, because Tactic offers so many features, it can take a bit of time to set everything up just the way you want. It’s not one of those “get started in 5 minutes” tools — there might be some configuring needed to get the maps, rules, and settings just right. Some users also have experienced minor technical issues, especially when logging in for the first time.
Skedda
Skedda is an easy-to-use Robin alternative for booking desks, managing office spaces, and organizing resources. It charges based on how many bookable spaces you have, and all plans include unlimited users and bookings. It works well for small to mid-sized offices or coworking spaces that want a straightforward, affordable system. While it may not have every hybrid-work feature (like team scheduling), it’s a solid choice for simple, flexible space booking.
🔑 Key features
- Desk & room booking: Quickly reserve desks or meeting rooms with a drag-and-drop interface and real-time availability.
- Interactive floor plans: Customizable maps display the office layout, making it easy for employees to choose their preferred spot.
- Custom booking rules: Set rules for time limits, cancellations, and user permissions to keep everything running smoothly.
- Neighborhood zones: Group desks into team zones to encourage collaboration while maintaining flexibility.
- Seamless integrations: Skedda works with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, and door access systems to streamline workflows.
💳 Pricing
Pricing starts at $99/month for up to 15 spaces, with advanced plans available to accommodate larger offices. For $99/ month, a visitor management module can be added for additional capabilities. A free trial is also available, allowing you to explore the platform’s features and determine if it’s the right fit for your business.
🔎 Pros & cons
The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with a clean interface that’s easy to learn and quick to set up. Employees can start booking with little to no training, which helps teams get going fast. Skedda also offers helpful features like interactive floor plans, custom booking rules, time limits, and user permissions, so you can tailor the system to fit your specific office setup. It integrates well with tools like Google Calendar and Slack, making it a smooth fit for your daily workflow. There’s even a basic visitor check-in option, which adds a little extra convenience.
That said, Skedda is mostly focused on space booking. It doesn’t have built-in tools for hybrid team coordination that some of Skedda competitors provide, like showing who’s planning to be in the office or helping teams schedule in-office days together. Its reporting tools are also on the simpler side — fine for basic tracking, but not as deep or detailed as what you’ll find in some more advanced platforms. Still, if you’re mainly looking for a solid Robin alternative that’s affordable, reliable, and easy to use, Skedda is a strong pick.
Kadence
Kadence is a newer Robin alternative that helps medium and large companies manage hybrid work. It covers desk and room booking, visitor check-ins, team scheduling, workplace analytics, and even office event management. But, because Kadence packs in so many features, it can take a bit of time to set up and learn everything. If you’re a smaller business or just need basic booking, Kadence might be more than you need.
🔑 Key features
- Desk & room booking: Reserve desks and meeting rooms quickly and effortlessly with just a few clicks.
- Interactive maps: Use color-coded office maps to find available desks and popular spots easily.
- AI-assisted booking: Leverage smart AI tools to book multiple desks, manage changes, and notify teammates of updates.
- Real-time alerts: Employees get instant notifications when bookings are canceled or preferred desks become available.
- Mobile access: Manage bookings on the go with Kadence’s easy-to-use mobile app.
💳 Pricing
Starts at $4 per active user per month, including visitor management features. Custom pricing options are available for larger enterprises.
🔎 Pros & cons
Kadence does a little bit of everything — desk and meeting room booking, visitor check-in, team scheduling, and detailed analytics that show how your office is being used. It’s built to fit right into your current setup too, with smooth integrations for office tools like Outlook, Google Calendar, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. There’s also a mobile app, so your team can easily book or check in from anywhere.
The platform is known for being easy to use, with a clean, intuitive design that doesn’t take much time to learn. Teams can get started quickly, without needing long training sessions. Their customer support also gets high marks — users often mention how fast and helpful the support team is, which makes a big difference when you’re setting things up or have questions along the way.
That said, Kadence isn’t for everyone. While it’s packed with features, that also means setup can take a bit more time, especially if you want to customize it to match your office exactly. And if your team has really specific booking needs or unique workflows, Kadence might not have the flexibility to support every scenario.
What is the best alternative to Robin?
If you’re looking for the best alternative to Robin, Archie is a top pick, especially if you want something that’s simple, affordable, and built for hybrid offices.
While Robin is packed with features and great for larger enterprises, its per-user pricing can get expensive fast. Archie takes a different approach: it charges based on the number of desks, rooms, or offices you’re managing, not how many people use it. That makes it a smart and cost-effective option for teams where lots of employees share a limited number of workspaces (which is pretty common in hybrid setups).
Archie gives you all the essentials: interactive floor plans, hot desk and meeting room booking, visitor check-ins, usage analytics, and even employee lookup so teammates can easily find each other. It’s easy to use, quick to set up, and designed to grow with your team. If you want a clean, modern experience without paying enterprise-level prices, Archie is a fantastic Robin alternative.
If you’re worried about the software migration process, you’re not alone. Archie’s team can handle that for you.
Berenika Teter
Archie's Content Manager, fueled by filter coffee and a love for remote work. When she’s not writing about coworking spaces and hybrid workplaces, you can probably find her exploring one.
