# SmartFind Express vs Sub Start

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sub Start at 100% against SmartFind Express's 19%. SmartFind Express's advantage is ratings volume (15K vs 5) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On price, update cadence, 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.

SmartFind Express holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartFind Express has 15K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 19% of SmartFind Express's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sub Start's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SmartFind Express ships an update every 4 weeks, Sub Start every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartFind Express | Sub Start |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartfind-express/id1441480371/reviews)** | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sub-start/id1571113022/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 18.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 23 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PowerSchool Group LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1057394489) | [SubStart](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571113024) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartFind Express

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartfind-express/id1441480371)

This mobile application is designed for substitute teachers. It provides a convenient platform for managing substitute assignments and related tasks.

**Highlights:** Substitute assignment management, Mobile platform for educators, Streamlined substitute tasks

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient app for substitute teachers
- 📆 Helpful calendar and job tracking features
- ⏱️ Quick and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and loading issues
- 🔄 Filters and settings not saved between sessions
- 🔕 Lack of push notifications for new jobs
- 🤔 Confusing UI and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Login process frequently fails
- Job listings not updating in real-time
- Issues with checking in/out of assignments

**Requested features**

- Add ability to sort/filter by date range
- Integrate with calendar apps for better scheduling
- Provide more detailed job information (grade level, subject, etc.)
- Improve reliability and stability of the app


### Sub Start

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sub-start/id1571113022)

This app streamlines substitute teacher booking and management for childcare programs. It offers features like check-in/out, messaging, document management, and worksite insights. Available in multiple languages, it aims to simplify administrative tasks for educational facilities.

**Highlights:** Substitute teacher booking management, Check-in/out functionality, Messaging and alerts, Document management, Worksite insights, Multi-language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartFind Express free?

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

### Is Sub Start free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartFind Express or Sub Start?

SmartFind Express is rated higher. SmartFind Express averages 4.5 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Sub Start averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do SmartFind Express or Sub Start have ads?

Neither SmartFind Express nor Sub Start shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartFind Express or Sub Start?

SmartFind Express ships an update every 4 weeks, and Sub Start every 2 months. Most recently, SmartFind Express was updated on October 15, 2026 and Sub Start on October 1, 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.*