FirstStarHR Essentials vs PaydayGo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FirstStarHR Essentials
This app gives employees easy access to their payroll and HR information. Employees can clock in/out, submit timesheets, request time off, and view pay stubs and important employment documents.
- Clock in/out
- Submit timesheets
- Submit PTO requests
- View pay stubs
- View PTO balances
- Access employment documents
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FirstStarHR Essentials provides employees with important payroll information at their fingertips. Key features include: • Ability to clock in / out • Submit time sheets • Submit PTO hours taken • Submit Messages • View pay stubs • View PTO balances • Track PTO taken • View vital employment documents
PaydayGo
Access your payroll records, clock in/out, and submit time off requests from any device. View important tax forms like W2s conveniently.
- View payroll records
- Clock in/out
- Submit time off requests
- Access W2 forms
- Cross-device compatibility
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PaydayGo will give you access to your payroll records to view from any device. You will also have access to clock in/out, submit time off requests, and view your W2 forms.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PaydayGo at 5.0 against FirstStarHR Essentials's 3.3. PaydayGo also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). FirstStarHR Essentials's advantage is update cadence (every 10 months vs every 22 months) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PaydayGo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FirstStarHR Essentials has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
FirstStarHR Essentials ships an update every 10 months, PaydayGo every 22 months. Both last shipped on June 1, 2026.
| Parameter | FirstStarHR Essentials | PaydayGo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (7 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months — better | Every 22 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 57 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | FirstStarHR | Payday Payroll Inc |
Customer experience
FirstStarHR Essentials
PaydayGo
In-app purchases
FirstStarHR Essentials
No in-app purchases
PaydayGo
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FirstStarHR Essentials free?
Is PaydayGo free?
Which has better reviews, FirstStarHR Essentials or PaydayGo?
Do FirstStarHR Essentials or PaydayGo have ads?
Which is updated more often, FirstStarHR Essentials or PaydayGo?
Other comparisons
