# SF ESS vs Compass Time

The clearest difference is rating: SF ESS at 4.7 against Compass Time's 4.2. SF ESS also leads on ratings volume (7.3K vs 839). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

SF ESS holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SF ESS has 7.3K ratings behind it against 839, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 2% of SF ESS's written reviews are positive against 10% of Compass Time's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SF ESS ships an update every 3 weeks, Compass Time monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SF ESS | Compass Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (7.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sf-ess/id1483947998/reviews)** | [4.2 (839 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-time/id6460080054/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.3K** | 839 |
| Positive reviews | 2.5% of reviews | **10.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 30 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [StoreForce Solutions Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481422456) | [Compass Group USA, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/880651428) |

## What reviewers say

### SF ESS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sf-ess/id1483947998)

Manage your work schedule, request time off, and view performance metrics. Receive important communication updates directly from your employer. Features may differ based on your specific retailer.

**Highlights:** Schedule management, Time off requests, Performance viewing, Communication updates, Retailer-specific options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient scheduling
- 💡 Ability to sync with calendar

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant glitches and crashes
- 💤 Slow and unresponsive
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive UI
- 🔒 Login issues and lack of security features

**Reported bugs**

- Can't log in or access schedule
- Shifts not updating or displaying correctly
- Constant crashing and freezing
- Notification issues

**Requested features**

- Bring back monthly calendar view
- Improve scheduling visibility and clarity
- Add ability to see coworker schedules
- Integrate with more calendar apps


### Compass Time

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-time/id6460080054)

Access company job listings and culture details. Track your work hours by clocking in and out, review your timesheets, and submit time off requests directly from your smartphone.

**Highlights:** View job opportunities, Apply for jobs, Clock in/out of work, View timesheets, Request time off, Job alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Useful app when it works
- ⏱️ Convenient clock in/out feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔄 Constant log-out issues
- ⏰ Unreliable clock in/out functionality
- 🕰️ Slow and laggy performance

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and screen freezes
- Disappearing or inaccurate timesheet data
- Compatibility problems with newer device updates

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and reliability
- Enhance clock in/out accuracy and functionality
- Provide better customer support and responsiveness


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SF ESS free?

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

### Is Compass Time free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SF ESS or Compass Time?

SF ESS is rated higher. SF ESS averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.3K ratings, while Compass Time averages 4.2 from 839 ratings.

### Do SF ESS or Compass Time have ads?

Neither SF ESS nor Compass Time shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SF ESS or Compass Time?

SF ESS ships an update every 3 weeks, and Compass Time monthly. Most recently, SF ESS was updated on October 15, 2026 and Compass Time on October 13, 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.*