Comparison

Ascentis vs Haystack

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ascentis

This platform offers comprehensive human capital management tools for employees and managers. It allows for time tracking, schedule management, payroll viewing, and employee recognition. Managers can approve requests, send notifications, and manage team information.

Highlights
  • Punch in/out
  • Access schedules and open shifts
  • View paychecks and accruals
  • Request time off
  • Approve time off requests
  • Send targeted push notifications
  • Manage personal and team information
Read full description

Ascentis' industry leading workforce led human capital management (HCM) technology platform is supported by our ongoing commitment to delivering an unsurpassed client experience. Ascentis technology modules work independently or in concert with each so that each client create their own a-la-carte HCM experience. Employees Can: • Punch in/out • Access your schedule and pick up open shifts • View accruals • Request time off and view available time off balances • View paychecks, tax and deduction details • Receive messages and push notifications • View benefits summary information • Manage personal information • Find co-workers in company directory and initiate contact with a click • Access online learning content • Recognize peers with Kudos • Manage expenses Managers Can: • Find team members contact information and connect via a click • Approve time off • Create Customizable punch in/out surveys • Manage direct reports information • View and manage schedules • Send targeted employee push notifications • Review punch statuses • Receive notifications about employee requests • Approve expenses • Create company news feed Additional Features include: • Ability for employees to punch in/out in offline mode • GPS enabled geofencing for punching • Biometric enabled log ins • Multi-lingual • Supervisor/Employee toggle to switch profiles Organize. Humanize. Maximize. It’s at the core of what we do. Important Notes: 1. Use of this app requires data usage, subject to additional charges. Data charges will depend on the mobile phone service provider and actual usage patterns. 2. The Ascentis App collects and transmits (or allows the transmission of) geolocation information to the Workforce Management solution. The App accesses geolocation information for the sole purpose of recording the location of employee time punches. The App saves geolocation information within separate electronic timesheets for each employee. The information is provided with the sole intent of allowing supervisors/managers to verify locations from which employees report time punches. GPS data capture requires employee (app user) authorization. Location information will not be collected if GPS is not authorized. 3. The App transmits geolocation information only to the Ascentis Workforce Management database of the client company with which an employee is associated. Geolocation information collected by the App is the property of the client and may be used and shared at the client’s discretion. Ascentis is not responsible for the client’s release of geolocation information. 4. GPS location accuracy depends on physical location, signal strength, and the mobile phone service provider. Ascentis cannot guarantee the capture of exact locations.

About

Haystack

This platform streamlines internal communication, team collaboration, and knowledge sharing for businesses. It offers features for creating and viewing content, managing employee directories, accessing a centralized knowledge base, and organizing company events.

Highlights
  • Internal communication streamlining
  • Employee directory and collaboration
  • Centralized knowledge base
  • Event creation and management
  • Content creation and measurement
  • Secure information hub
Read full description

Use Haystack for: • Communication - Break down silos and streamline internal communication. Create, view, and measure content across multiple platforms - all from one place. • Directory - See your coworkers and work together more effectively. • Knowledge - Accelerate productivity, and improve knowledge access with a connected knowledge base. Create, connect, verify, and search across exisiting platforms in one centralized, secure hub. • Events - Create and view gatherings at any scale (virtual, in-person, or hybrid). Members can RSVP to events, manage their status, and add event details to their personal calendars. Your Haystack work platform transforms the way you and your coworkers communicate, collaborate, and share knowledge.

Screenshots

Ascentis4 screens
Haystack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Haystack at 5.0 against Ascentis's 3.9. Haystack also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 69%) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 6 weeks). Ascentis's advantage is ratings volume (121 vs 18) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Haystack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ascentis has 121 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Ascentis's written reviews are positive against 100% of Haystack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ascentis ships an update every 6 weeks, Haystack every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Ascentis versus Haystack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAscentisHaystack
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (121 ratings)5.0 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings121 — better18
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKronos IncorporatedHaystack Inc.

Customer experience

Ascentis

All ratings121 ratings
Positive71.1%
Neutral2.5%
Negative26.4%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive69.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative30.6%

Haystack

All ratings18 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Ascentis

Reported bugs

29 issues
  • Clock in/out occasionally glitches
  • Pay tab not accessible for some users
  • App crashes regularly
  • App crashes when clicking 'Pay'
  • App kicks user out when hitting pay button
Show 24 more
  • App never works on iPhones
  • App requires constant uninstall/reinstall
  • App is inconsistent
  • App is missing pay visibility features
  • App does not contain features in description
  • App has many issues and bugs, at times unusable
  • App does not remember login or allow biometric authentication
  • Some users cannot see paystubs
  • App is unreliable for clocking in/out
  • GPS location not loading for time tracking
  • App freezes and crashes frequently
  • Nothing functions properly
  • Unable to submit PTO
  • Unable to properly view pay stubs
  • App settings do not mirror web settings
  • Time off balances section not working
  • Pay period summary section not working
  • Cannot view past pay stubs
  • Cannot view attachments
  • Tax withholding changes not allowed
  • Cannot request time off or view timesheet
  • Signs out immediately when multitasking
  • Benefits view not present
  • No admin functions work

Requested features

2 requests
  • Calendar should list number of requests for time off for a specific day
  • Remember login or allow Face ID/fingerprint for authentication

Haystack

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ascentis

No in-app purchases

None

Haystack

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ascentis free?
Ascentis is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Haystack free?
Haystack is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ascentis or Haystack?
Haystack is rated higher. Ascentis averages 3.9 out of 5 from 121 ratings, while Haystack averages 5.0 from 18 ratings.
Do Ascentis or Haystack have ads?
Neither Ascentis nor Haystack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ascentis or Haystack?
Ascentis ships an update every 6 weeks, and Haystack every 11 days. Most recently, Ascentis was updated on September 21, 2026 and Haystack on September 9, 2026.

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