Crew, side by side
Both handle the basics. The difference is how much of show day Workhorse covers.
Crew availability
WorkhorseCrew mark the days they can't work from a private link. No app, no login.
CrewBrainAvailability management
Booking crewWorkhorse edge
WorkhorseOffer a role to several people at once. The first yes is booked; everyone else is released automatically.
CrewBrainShift scheduling and assignment
Double-booking warnings
WorkhorseFlags anyone unavailable or booked on another show that day, across every show
CrewBrainAvoids availability conflicts
Skills
WorkhorseSkill tags on every profile, with filters on your crew list and when you send offers
CrewBrainFilters by skill, skill level and shirt size
Call sheetsWorkhorse edge
WorkhorseEach person gets their own call sheet link and taps to confirm. You see who opened it.
CrewBrainNot listed
Show-day time clock
WorkhorseCrew tap Check in, Start meal, End meal and Check out on their call sheet link
CrewBrainOnline time clock in the app
Overtime
WorkhorseTime and a half and double time from each show's own rules
CrewBrainOvertime calculation
Meal penalty and turnaround flagsWorkhorse edge
WorkhorseFlags a late or missed meal, a missed second meal and short rest between days, from the hours actually worked
CrewBrainNot listed
Payroll
WorkhorseApprove hours, then export a CSV for your payroll service or accountant
CrewBrainPayroll management and exports
Crew phone app
WorkhorseNone needed: everything opens in any phone browser
CrewBrainNative mobile app
The rest of the job
Crew is one part of a show. Workhorse and DarkHorse cover the rest, from the RFP to the final payment.
RFPs and proposals
WorkhorseRFP Reader with a fit score and bid/no-bid call; Good/Better/Best proposals with e-sign and deposit (Studio)
CrewBrainNot listed
Getting paid
WorkhorsePayment schedule with a pay link for every payment and automatic reminders
CrewBrainNot listed
Client Room
WorkhorseOne branded link for your client: schedule, payments, approvals and live show-day status
CrewBrainNot listed
Show calling
WorkhorseShow Caller: live rundown, crew tap "standing by" on their phones (Studio)
CrewBrainNot listed
AI producer
WorkhorseHoncho add-on: red flags on every show, rate checks with sources, next steps drafted for your approval
CrewBrainNot listed
Budgeting
WorkhorseBudget, vendor costs and projected margin per show
CrewBrainBudgeting and project costing
Workhorse
Flat monthly price
- Pro $59/mo: crew offers, call sheets, availability, skills, time clock and timecards
- Studio $99/mo: adds the Deal Desk and Show Caller
- Team $249/mo: everything in Studio, 10 logins for your staff
- Crew are never users: they get a link, so your crew list can be any size.
CrewBrain
Priced per user
- About €20, €40 or €60 per user, per month, depending on the plan
- Example: 10 users on the middle plan is about €400 a month
- The same 10 office logins on Workhorse Team: $249 a month
CrewBrain prices are from its public Capterra listing, checked October 2026. Check CrewBrain's site for current pricing.
When CrewBrain may be the better fit
We'd rather you pick the right tool. CrewBrain lists things Workhorse doesn't do:
- Staff leave tracking (vacation and sick days) for an in-house team
- A native phone app for your staff
- An API for connecting your own systems
- Basic equipment tracking alongside people
- A company based in Germany, if you want a European vendor
If you mostly schedule an in-house staff week to week, that may matter more to you. If you run shows for clients and freelance crew, Workhorse was built for exactly that.
Run the whole show in one place
Built by a producer and show caller with 20+ years in network broadcast and live events.
CrewBrain is a trademark of CrewBrain GmbH. Fire Creative isn't affiliated with CrewBrain. The CrewBrain column shows only what CrewBrain lists publicly on its website and its Capterra listing as of October 2026; "Not listed" means we couldn't find it there, not that it can't be done. Spot something out of date? Email brian@fire-creative.com and we'll fix it.