# When I Work Staff Scheduling vs MakeShift for Employees

The clearest difference is rating: When I Work Staff Scheduling at 4.8 against MakeShift for Employees's 2.6. When I Work Staff Scheduling also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 48%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). MakeShift for Employees's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. When I Work Staff Scheduling sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. MakeShift for Employees asks for nothing beyond the download.

When I Work Staff Scheduling holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: When I Work Staff Scheduling has 58K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of When I Work Staff Scheduling's written reviews are positive against 48% of MakeShift for Employees's.

When I Work Staff Scheduling ships an update weekly, MakeShift for Employees every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | When I Work Staff Scheduling | MakeShift for Employees |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (58K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/when-i-work-staff-scheduling/id383126470/reviews)** | [2.6 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/makeshift-for-employees/id791381017/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **58K** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | **89.8% of reviews** | 48.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#102** | — |
| Size | 235 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [When I Work, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/383126473) | [AppColony](https://appshunter.io/developer/791381020) |

## What reviewers say

### When I Work Staff Scheduling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/when-i-work-staff-scheduling/id383126470)

**Currently charting:** #102 Top Free · Business (US App Store)

Streamline employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication. This app helps reduce chaos and costs by improving accountability, facilitating shift trades, and providing instant notifications for schedule changes. It's designed for shift-based workplaces to enhance team management and boost productivity.

**Highlights:** Employee scheduling, Time clock, Team messaging, Shift trades, Time off requests, Auto scheduling, Labor forecasting

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Micro Scheduling Plan | $99.99 | one-time |
| Annual Mini Scheduling Plan | $209.99 | one-time |
| Annual Small Scheduling Plan | $299.99 | one-time |
| Annual Medium Scheduling | $399.99 | one-time |
| Annual Large Scheduling | $499.99 | one-time |
| Annual Small Scheduling and Attendance | $599.99 | one-time |
| Annual XL Scheduling | $599.99 | one-time |
| Annual Medium Scheduling and Attendance | $799.99 | one-time |
| Annual Super Scheduling | $799.99 | one-time |
| Annual Plus Scheduling | $999.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for scheduling
- 💡 Helpful for shift swapping and communication
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Effective for managing staff

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate some features
- 🔍 Lack of customization options
- 🔍 Issues with shift approval and time-off requests
- 🔍 Problems with the messaging/chat functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes frequently
- Unreliable notifications and alerts
- Syncing issues between mobile and web versions
- Problems with location-based clock-in/out features

**Requested features**

- Allow employees to view Sunday schedules
- Improve shift drop/swap process
- Add a sick day request feature
- Provide more flexibility in availability settings
- Enhance the calendar view and scheduling tools


### MakeShift for Employees

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/makeshift-for-employees/id791381017)

Manage your work schedule effortlessly. Pick up extra shifts, request time off, trade with colleagues, and stay informed about company updates. This app streamlines communication and helps you balance work with personal life.

**Highlights:** View up-to-date schedule, Pick up open shifts, Set availability, Request time off, Trade or cover shifts, Clock in/out, Company news

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is When I Work Staff Scheduling free?

When I Work Staff Scheduling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MakeShift for Employees free?

MakeShift for Employees is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, When I Work Staff Scheduling or MakeShift for Employees?

When I Work Staff Scheduling is rated higher. When I Work Staff Scheduling averages 4.8 out of 5 from 58K ratings, while MakeShift for Employees averages 2.6 from 32 ratings.

### Do When I Work Staff Scheduling or MakeShift for Employees have ads?

Neither When I Work Staff Scheduling nor MakeShift for Employees shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, When I Work Staff Scheduling or MakeShift for Employees?

When I Work Staff Scheduling ships an update weekly, and MakeShift for Employees every 2 months. Most recently, When I Work Staff Scheduling was updated on October 30, 2026 and MakeShift for Employees on October 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*