# Instawork vs shiftNOW

Instawork and shiftNOW both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of Instawork's written reviews are positive against 42% of shiftNOW's. Instawork also leads on ratings volume (104K vs 508) and chart position (#35 vs unranked). shiftNOW's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Instawork against 4.6 for shiftNOW. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instawork has 104K ratings behind it against 508, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Instawork's written reviews are positive against 42% of shiftNOW's.

Instawork ships an update monthly, shiftNOW every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instawork | shiftNOW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (104K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instawork-work-when-you-want/id1123819773/reviews)** | [4.6 (508 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftnow/id1642741252/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **104K** | 508 |
| Positive reviews | **67.1% of reviews** | 42.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#35** | — |
| Size | 117 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instawork](https://appshunter.io/developer/1123819772) | [ShiftNOW](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642741254) |

## What reviewers say

### Instawork

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instawork-work-when-you-want/id1123819773)

**Currently charting:** #35 Top Free · Business (US App Store)

Find flexible, shift-based work opportunities with local businesses. Set your own schedule, see pay upfront, and get paid quickly. Qualify for exclusive benefits and build your career network.

**Highlights:** Shift-based job search, Flexible scheduling, Upfront pay visibility, Daily pay options (Top Pro), Career networking, Job opportunities in hospitality, warehouse, and retail

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💪 Flexible scheduling
- 💰 Good pay opportunities
- 🤝 Helpful coworkers
- 🤖 User-friendly app
- 🏆 Rewards/incentives program

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Slow customer support response times
- 🔒 Lack of transparency in rating system
- 🚫 Strict cancellation policies
- 💸 Issues with pay/tips
- 🤖 Technical glitches in the app

**Reported bugs**

- Location tracking problems
- Shifts disappearing from the app
- Inconsistent pay/hours calculations

**Requested features**

- Ability to swap/transfer shifts
- More job opportunities in local areas
- Improved communication with employers
- Better support for resolving pay/time issues


### shiftNOW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftnow/id1642741252)

This app connects hospitality businesses with a network of vetted workers, offering flexible job opportunities. Businesses can post various roles and manage hiring efficiently, while workers gain access to competitive pay and instant payouts.

**Highlights:** Post one-time, part-time, or full-time opportunities, Access a network of vetted hospitality professionals, Manage workforce needs from mobile, Save time and money on hiring, Flexible work opportunities, Competitive earning opportunities, Instant payout process

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface and easy setup
- 💰 Quick payment processing (24-48 hours)
- 🎯 Flexible scheduling and shift selection
- 🤝 Helpful customer service
- 🌟 Great networking and community building

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app glitches and technical issues
- 💸 Excessive fees and payment delays
- 📍 Limited geographic availability (only SC/TN)
- 🔐 Demands excessive personal data upfront
- ⏳ Poor shift management and communication

**Reported bugs**

- Next button non-functional on profile setup screen
- Wallet setup screen button not responding
- Profile video upload repeatedly rejected despite meeting requirements
- App crashes during profile creation
- Pending shift status not updating after shifts are filled

**Requested features**

- Show service areas before requiring full profile completion
- Direct messaging between shifters and employers
- Real-time shift status updates (filled/cancelled)
- Confirmation system when employers select workers
- Ability for employers to modify shift requirements without cancelling


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instawork free?

Instawork is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is shiftNOW free?

shiftNOW is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Instawork or shiftNOW?

Instawork is rated higher. Instawork averages 4.7 out of 5 from 104K ratings, while shiftNOW averages 4.6 from 508 ratings.

### Do Instawork or shiftNOW have ads?

Neither Instawork nor shiftNOW shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Instawork or shiftNOW?

Instawork ships an update monthly, and shiftNOW every 9 days. Most recently, Instawork was updated on November 11, 2026 and shiftNOW on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*