# Deputy vs Smart Planner

The clearest difference is ads: Deputy at none against Smart Planner's shown. Deputy also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and ratings volume (6K vs 191). Smart Planner's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 59%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Deputy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $59.99 per month and Smart Planner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Deputy against 4.8 for Smart Planner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Deputy has 6K ratings behind it against 191, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Deputy's written reviews are positive against 78% of Smart Planner's.

Deputy ships an update weekly, Smart Planner monthly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Deputy | Smart Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deputy-shift-schedule-maker/id477070330/reviews)** | [4.8 (191 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-planner-calendar-tasks/id1453345769/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6K** | 191 |
| Positive reviews | 58.8% of reviews | **78.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 285 MB | 208 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Deputy.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/477070333) | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) |

## What reviewers say

### Deputy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deputy-shift-schedule-maker/id477070330)

This app simplifies employee scheduling, time tracking, and workforce management for businesses. It allows for easy creation of balanced schedules, communication with staff, and integration with payroll systems. Employees can view their schedules, manage availability, and clock in/out.

**Highlights:** Create balanced, cost-effective schedules, Publish shift information via push notification, Fill open shifts with team pick-up, Approve leave and shift changes, Manage team communications and tasks, Track time and attendance, Integrate with payroll and POS systems

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10 users | $59.99 | per month |
| 25 users | $144.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient for scheduling and timekeeping
- 👍 Helpful for managing staff
- 👍 Reliable and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 🐛 Unreliable location tracking
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance after updates
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💰 Expensive for some businesses

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes frequently
- Timesheets not accurately recording hours worked
- Shift scheduling issues after updates
- Notification system not reliable

**Requested features**

- Add ability to cancel shifts
- Improve communication features between employees
- Provide more detailed reporting and analytics
- Allow employees to view their leave balances
- Integrate with more payroll/HR systems


### Smart Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-planner-calendar-tasks/id1453345769)

This app integrates a calendar, to-do list, notepad, and diary into one platform. Organize your schedule, manage tasks with reminders, jot down notes, and journal your thoughts with photo attachments. It offers extensive customization and security features.

**Highlights:** Integrated calendar with multiple views, To-do list with deadlines and reminders, Note-taking with folder organization, Diary with photo attachments, Calendar and event syncing, Customizable themes and fonts, Passcode, Face ID, and Touch ID security

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Service (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Service (Annual) | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Deputy free?

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

### Is Smart Planner free?

Smart Planner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Deputy or Smart Planner?

Deputy is rated higher. Deputy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6K ratings, while Smart Planner averages 4.8 from 191 ratings.

### Do Deputy or Smart Planner have ads?

Smart Planner shows ads; Deputy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Deputy or Smart Planner?

Deputy ships an update weekly, and Smart Planner monthly. Most recently, Deputy was updated on October 26, 2026 and Smart Planner on October 26, 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.*