# Simple Roster vs Shift Calendar

The clearest difference is rating: Simple Roster at 4.8 against Shift Calendar's 4.2. Simple Roster also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 51%) and ratings volume (770 vs 144). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Roster sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Shift Calendar sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simple Roster holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Roster has 770 ratings behind it against 144, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Simple Roster's written reviews are positive against 51% of Shift Calendar's.

Simple Roster ships an update every 2 months, Shift Calendar every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Roster | Shift Calendar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (770 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-roster/id476294253/reviews)** | [4.2 (144 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift-calendar-schedule/id1338193231/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **770** | 144 |
| Positive reviews | **85.1% of reviews** | 51.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Purple Development](https://appshunter.io/developer/476294256) | [章健 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566849627) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Roster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-roster/id476294253)

Manage your work schedule digitally with this intuitive app. Access your shifts from anywhere, even offline, and easily plan social gatherings with friends by viewing their schedules. Share your availability with loved ones to keep them informed.

**Highlights:** Offline roster access, Intuitive shift entry, Friend roster viewing, Roster sharing, Recurring shift setup (Full Version), Calendar notes (Full Version), iOS calendar sync (Full Version)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Simple and effective
- 💡 Helpful for shift workers
- 🔍 Allows viewing of schedules at a glance
- 🔗 Ability to share roster with others

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes or crashes
- 🔧 Limited customization options
- 🔍 Calendar dates not always accurate
- 💬 Inability to add multiple shifts per day
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate or use

**Reported bugs**

- Calendar dates shown incorrectly
- Roster sharing feature not working properly
- App freezes when trying to edit shifts

**Requested features**

- Add ability to repeat/copy shift patterns
- Improve calendar sync with other apps
- Provide more color options for shifts
- Allow adding notes or reminders to shifts
- Implement landscape mode support


### Shift Calendar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift-calendar-schedule/id1338193231)

Easily manage your work schedule with this app designed for shift workers. Customize your shifts, generate schedules automatically, and add important notes to your calendar.

**Highlights:** Customizable shift work, Automatic cycle scheduling, Calendar notes, Clear shift display

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calendar Notes | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pro Version | $0.99 | one-time |
| Add User | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Roster free?

Simple Roster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shift Calendar free?

Shift Calendar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Simple Roster or Shift Calendar?

Simple Roster is rated higher. Simple Roster averages 4.8 out of 5 from 770 ratings, while Shift Calendar averages 4.2 from 144 ratings.

### Do Simple Roster or Shift Calendar have ads?

Both Simple Roster and Shift Calendar show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Roster or Shift Calendar?

Simple Roster ships an update every 2 months, and Shift Calendar every 3 months. Most recently, Simple Roster was updated on September 23, 2026 and Shift Calendar on September 25, 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.*