# Deputy vs Shyft

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shyft at none against Deputy's 2. Shyft also leads on ratings volume (31K vs 6K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). Deputy's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 35%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Deputy against 4.8 for Shyft. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shyft has 31K ratings behind it against 6K, 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 35% of Shyft's.

Deputy ships an update weekly, Shyft every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Deputy | Shyft |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deputy-shift-schedule-maker/id477070330/reviews)** | [4.8 (31K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shyft-shift-swap-schedule/id730422337/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6K | **31K** |
| Positive reviews | **59.2% of reviews** | 35.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 285 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Deputy.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/477070333) | [Shyft Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/730422340) |

## 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


### Shyft

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shyft-shift-swap-schedule/id730422337)

This app helps employees manage their work schedules, swap shifts with colleagues, and communicate with their team. It allows users to find coverage for shifts they can't work or pick up extra shifts for additional income. Managers can also use it to post open shifts and manage team schedules.

**Highlights:** Swap shifts with team members, Message coworkers, Manage work schedules, Find coverage for shifts, Pick up extra work shifts, Request time off, Post open shifts (admin)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use for shift swapping and scheduling
- 💡 Helpful for managers and employees
- 🚀 Streamlines communication and shift coverage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy after updates
- 🤔 Confusing and less user-friendly interface after updates
- 🤔 Difficult to navigate and find information

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working properly
- Shifts disappearing from the app
- Constant log-out issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to sync work schedule to personal calendar
- Option to cancel shift coverage requests
- Improved real-time schedule updates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Deputy free?

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

### Is Shyft free?

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

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

Deputy is rated higher. Deputy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6K ratings, while Shyft averages 4.8 from 31K ratings.

### Do Deputy or Shyft have ads?

Neither Deputy nor Shyft shows ads.

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

Deputy ships an update weekly, and Shyft every 5 weeks. Most recently, Deputy was updated on October 29, 2026 and Shyft on October 29, 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.*