# ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard vs ESS 45 Zebra

The clearest difference is rating: ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard at 4.7 against ESS 45 Zebra's 1.6. ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard also leads on ratings volume (16K vs 391) and review sentiment (26% vs 7%). ESS 45 Zebra's advantage is monetization model (free vs subscription) and iOS requirement (15.4 vs 17.0). 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.

ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard has 16K ratings behind it against 391, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard's written reviews are positive against 7% of ESS 45 Zebra's.

ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard ships an update monthly, ESS 45 Zebra every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard | ESS 45 Zebra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scheduleflex-by-shiftboard/id346209204/reviews)** | [1.6 (391 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ess-45-zebra/id1531525719/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 391 |
| Positive reviews | **25.7% of reviews** | 6.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 39 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shiftboard, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/346209207) | [Reflexis Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1094727299) |

## What reviewers say

### ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scheduleflex-by-shiftboard/id346209204)

Access and manage your work schedule from anywhere. Receive real-time notifications about changes and easily handle shift swaps, time-off requests, and clocking in/out. Designed for both team members and managers to streamline workforce management.

**Highlights:** View scheduled shifts, Clock in and out, Pick-up or trade shifts, Manage availability, Request time-off, View team schedules, See clocked-in employees

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to access and navigate
- 🚀 Simple and highly effective for reviewing scheduled events
- 💡 Convenient to check schedule from phone
- 💡 Flexible to select shifts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Delayed real-time clock in/out
- 🐛 Odd display issues with dates and arrival times
- 🐛 Confusing and not user-friendly interface
- 🐛 Crashes and login issues
- 🐛 Lack of notifications for shift updates

**Reported bugs**

- Password reset emails not being sent
- Shifts not showing up accurately
- Inability to log in or view schedule

**Requested features**

- Show shift duration and total weekly hours
- Allow editing of shifts after scheduling
- Integrate with payroll systems
- Provide monthly calendar view
- Improve notification system


### ESS 45 Zebra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ess-45-zebra/id1531525719)

Manage your work schedule, time off requests, and shift trades with this intuitive application. Easily view your timecard, update availability, and clock in and out using geofence technology. It's designed for seamless team coordination and efficient workforce management.

**Highlights:** View schedule, Request day-off/time-off, Perform shift trade, Bid on open shifts, View timecard, Clock work hours (geofence), Update availability

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well
- 👍 Clean and easy to use interface
- 🚀 Efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constantly logs out
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Inaccurate schedule display
- 🐛 Unable to log in

**Reported bugs**

- Constant login issues
- Time card not working
- Schedule not displaying correctly
- Inability to request time off

**Requested features**

- Add Face ID/Biometric login
- Improve calendar sync
- Allow viewing of coworker schedules
- Streamline time off request process


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard free?

ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ESS 45 Zebra free?

ESS 45 Zebra is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard or ESS 45 Zebra?

ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard is rated higher. ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard averages 4.7 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while ESS 45 Zebra averages 1.6 from 391 ratings.

### Do ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard or ESS 45 Zebra have ads?

Neither ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard nor ESS 45 Zebra shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard or ESS 45 Zebra?

ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard ships an update monthly, and ESS 45 Zebra every 3 weeks. Most recently, ScheduleFlex by Shiftboard was updated on September 23, 2026 and ESS 45 Zebra on September 24, 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.*