# Deputy vs Shiftbase

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shiftbase at none against Deputy's 2. Shiftbase also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Deputy's advantage is ratings volume (5.4K vs 13) and review sentiment (59% vs 42%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Deputy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $59.99 per month. Shiftbase asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Deputy against 4.7 for Shiftbase. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Deputy has 5.4K ratings behind it against 13, 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 42% of Shiftbase's.

Deputy ships an update weekly, Shiftbase fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Deputy | Shiftbase |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deputy-shift-schedule-maker/id477070330/reviews)** | [4.7 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftbase/id1460800224/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.4K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **58.9% of reviews** | 42.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 285 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Deputy.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/477070333) | [Shiftbase B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780754122) |

## 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


### Shiftbase

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftbase/id1460800224)

Streamline workforce management with online scheduling and time tracking. Easily create schedules, manage employee availability, and monitor labor costs. Employees can swap shifts and request time off, all accessible from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Online scheduling and time tracking, Employee shift exchange, Time off requests, Clock in/out with location/IP, Automated time tracking, News and discussion posts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Deputy free?

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

### Is Shiftbase free?

Shiftbase is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Deputy or Shiftbase?

Deputy is rated higher. Deputy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.4K ratings, while Shiftbase averages 4.7 from 13 ratings.

### Do Deputy or Shiftbase have ads?

Neither Deputy nor Shiftbase shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Deputy or Shiftbase?

Deputy ships an update weekly, and Shiftbase fortnightly. Most recently, Deputy was updated on September 24, 2026 and Shiftbase on September 21, 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.*