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
Archie is the top Robin alternative for managing hybrid offices, offering flexibility, affordability, and ease of use. For a simple and budget-friendly option, Tactic is also a good choice, making it easy to book office resources. If your team relies on Slack or Microsoft Teams, Officely is a great fit, seamlessly integrating desk and meeting room bookings into your existing workflow.
Guide to the best Robin alternatives
What does Robin software do?
Robin makes managing office spaces easy and efficient, helping teams book desks, reserve meeting rooms, and coordinate resources seamlessly. Built for hybrid workplaces, it offers real-time updates and integrates smoothly with popular tools to improve teamwork and simplify scheduling. Whether you’re running a small hot-desking setup or managing a large office, Robin will help you keep your workspace organized.
🔑 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 analytics: Gain valuable insights into office usage patterns, identify peak times, and optimize layouts to better meet employee needs.
🔎 Pros & cons
Robin is designed for hybrid workplaces, making it a great choice for flexible office setups like hot-desking. It’s built to help businesses manage their spaces efficiently, and its real-time updates are a big plus. Employees can quickly find available desks, meeting rooms, or even where their teammates are sitting, which makes collaboration more manageable and reduces the hassle of finding a spot to work.
Another highlight is how well Robin integrates with popular tools like Microsoft 365 and Google Calendar. These seamless connections make it easy to fit Robin into your existing workflows, saving time and boosting productivity without the need for extra software.
That said, Robin’s pricing model can be challenging for larger teams. Since it charges per user, the cost can add up quickly as your team grows, making it less budget-friendly for big organizations. This can be especially tricky for businesses with fluctuating office attendance or a large number of users to manage.
💳 Pricing
Robin starts at approximately $70 per user per month, which can add up quickly for large teams. For exact pricing details, contact Robin directly. However, they do offer a 14-day free trial, so you can explore its features before committing.
Why look for a Robin alternative
Robin is an excellent tool for managing office spaces, offering powerful desk booking and room scheduling solutions. However, it may not be the perfect fit for every business, especially those with tight budgets or specific needs.
Robin’s pricing is based on the number of users, which can quickly become expensive for larger teams or companies with fluctuating office attendance. This model can lead to unnecessary expenses for businesses with more employees than available desks or meeting rooms.
Alternatives like Archie or Eden use resource-based pricing, which charges based on the number of desks, rooms, or spaces you manage. This is often more cost-effective for larger organizations or those operating hybrid setups.
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 usage analytics, making it an excellent choice for businesses seeking robust desk booking solutions without breaking the bank.
If Robin’s per-user pricing doesn’t align with your budget or you’re looking for a more tailored solution, exploring Robin alternatives could save your business money while offering the same (or better) functionality. If you’re looking for a more affordable hybrid office platform with comparable features, tools like Archie deliver flexibility and affordability, making them strong contenders for managing hybrid or resource-heavy office environments.
Top 5 Robin alternatives
- Archie: The best 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 easy to book desks and rooms without leaving your communication platform.
- Tactic: Perfect for organizing hybrid team schedules, offering intuitive booking tools for desks and meeting rooms.
- Skedda: Great for businesses needing custom booking workflows, with features tailored to unique organizational policies.
- Kadence: A smart choice for AI-assisted resource booking, offering advanced tools to simplify desk and room reservations.
Archie
Archie is the best Robin alternative. It is designed to make booking desks, reserving meeting rooms, and managing visitors easy and efficient. 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.
🔎 Pros & cons
Archie stands out for its user-friendly design, making it easy for teams to get started without any hassle. The platform is intuitive and straightforward, so employees can quickly learn to book desks, meeting rooms, and other resources. On top of that, Archie’s customer support is highly praised for being responsive and helpful, ensuring a smooth setup and ongoing experience.
One of Archie’s biggest advantages is its budget-friendly pricing. Unlike per-user pricing models, Archie charges based on the number of resources, such as desks or meeting rooms. This approach is especially cost-effective for growing teams, as it keeps expenses manageable regardless of the number of employees using the system.
However, Archie may not be the best fit for smaller teams. The platform’s minimum plan includes 25 resources, which could be more than a small office needs. While this setup is great for medium—to large-sized businesses, smaller teams might find the minimum plan less suitable for their needs.
💳 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.
Officely
Officely is a Robin alternative that integrates directly with Slack and Microsoft Teams. Employees can reserve desks, meeting rooms, and other resources without leaving their communication apps. This intuitive solution is perfect for hybrid teams looking for easy scheduling and better collaboration.
🔑 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.
🔎 Pros & cons
Officely shines when it comes to seamless integrations with communication apps, working directly within Slack or Microsoft Teams. This setup eliminates the need to switch between apps, making it incredibly convenient for teams already using these platforms. Employees can reserve desks, meeting rooms, or other office resources without leaving their communication tool, saving time and keeping workflows smooth.
Thanks to its intuitive design, the platform is also straightforward to use. Employees can quickly figure out how to book resources, and the straightforward interface ensures that teams can adopt the system without much training. This simplicity is especially valuable for busy workplaces where time is of the essence.
However, one limitation of Officely is its dependency on Slack for certain features. For example, meeting room booking is only available through Slack, which can be a drawback for businesses that don’t use Slack or rely on other communication tools. While it’s a fantastic option for Slack-based teams, this reliance might limit its appeal for companies seeking a more independent booking solution.
💳 Pricing
Officely’s pricing starts at $2.49 per user per month, making it an affordable option for hybrid teams. It’s free for teams with up to 10 users, providing a cost-effective solution for smaller groups. While it doesn’t include a visitor management module, it does offer a free trial, allowing businesses to explore all its features before committing.
Tactic
Tactic is a Robin alternative that helps hybrid teams quickly book desks and meeting rooms, whether they work in the office or remotely. Its seamless integration with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams makes it a great choice for businesses adapting to hybrid work models.
🔑 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.
🔎 Pros & cons
Tactic is praised for its user-friendly interface, which makes it simple for employees to book desks and meeting rooms without any confusion. The intuitive design ensures that even those who aren’t tech-savvy can use the platform easily. It offers straightforward and practical tools for managers to track workspace usage.
Another standout feature of Tactic is its flexibility. The platform allows businesses to customize booking rules and automate desk assignments, making it adaptable to various workplace needs. Whether managing a hybrid office or implementing hot-desking, Tactic’s ability to adjust to different setups ensures it works well for teams of all sizes.
However, some users have experienced minor technical issues, particularly when logging in. While these glitches are not widespread and are usually resolved quickly, they can cause initial frustration for new users. Despite this, Tactic’s overall ease of use and flexibility make it a strong choice for managing office spaces efficiently.
💳 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.
Skedda
Skedda is an easy-to-use Robin alternative for booking desks, managing office spaces, and organizing resources. It is perfect for hybrid offices, coworking spaces, and event venues. It offers user-friendly tools like interactive maps and custom booking rules to maximize workspace usage.
🔑 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.
🔎 Pros & cons
Skedda’s user-friendly design makes it simple for employees to start booking desks and meeting rooms with little training. The platform’s clean and intuitive interface ensures that users can quickly learn how to navigate the system, which is especially helpful for teams that want to get up and running without a steep learning curve.
Another key advantage of Skedda is its flexible resource management. The platform allows you to set customizable booking rules, such as time limits, cancellation policies, and user permissions. This flexibility makes it easy to tailor the system to fit your office’s unique needs, whether managing a hybrid workspace, hot-desking, or team-specific zones.
However, one area where Skedda falls short is its analytics. While the platform offers basic reporting features, these tools are not as advanced as some Skedda competitors provide. Businesses that rely heavily on detailed analytics to track workspace usage and make data-driven decisions might find Skedda’s reporting capabilities somewhat limiting. Despite this, its ease of use and customizable features make it a strong contender for many organizations.
💳 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.
Kadence
Kadence is an intuitive booking tool designed for hybrid teams to manage desks and meeting rooms easily. It streamlines reservations, boosts productivity, and helps reduce office costs. Both employees and managers appreciate its user-friendly design and reliable customer support.
🔑 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.
🔎 Pros & cons
Kadence is appreciated for its clean and simple interface. The intuitive design ensures that employees can quickly reserve desks and meeting rooms without much training or guidance. This ease of use helps teams focus on their work instead of figuring out how to use the platform, making it a hassle-free solution for managing office spaces.
Another standout feature of Kadence is its excellent customer support. Users often highlight how responsive and helpful the support team is, providing quick solutions to any issues or questions that arise. This level of reliability ensures a smooth experience and gives teams confidence that they’ll receive the help they need whenever they encounter a problem.
However, Kadence has some limitations. It may not be the best choice for teams with specific or complex booking needs. The platform’s limited flexibility could be a challenge for businesses that require highly customized features or workflows. While it’s a great option for straightforward setups, organizations with unique or advanced requirements might need to explore more adaptable alternatives.
💳 Pricing
Starts at $4 per active user per month, including visitor management features. Custom pricing options are available for larger enterprises.
What is the best alternative to Robin?
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to Robin, Archie is an excellent choice. Designed for hybrid office management, Archie uses resource-based pricing (charging for desks or meeting rooms) instead of per-user fees. This makes it a more affordable option for companies with larger teams or varying office attendance. It offers key features like desk and meeting room booking, interactive floor plans, and visitor management—all at a much lower cost than Robin.
Other great alternatives include Tactic, a cost-effective platform perfect for managing office resources and hybrid team schedules, and Officely, which integrates seamlessly with Slack and Microsoft Teams for hassle-free desk and room reservations. These options deliver similar features to Robin but at a more affordable price, making hybrid work management easier and more efficient.
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.
