# Roster vs SHIFTAR

The clearest difference is rating: SHIFTAR at 4.8 against Roster's 4.4. SHIFTAR also leads on ratings volume (572 vs 63). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Roster sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and SHIFTAR sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SHIFTAR holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SHIFTAR has 572 ratings behind it against 63, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Roster's written reviews are positive against 76% of SHIFTAR's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Roster | SHIFTAR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roster-calendar/id536118948/reviews) | **[4.8 (572 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftar-work-schedule-planner/id1441499274/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 63 | **572** |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews | **76.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [michael heinz](https://appshunter.io/developer/292745639) | [Kosuke Hamada](https://appshunter.io/developer/515812363) |

## What reviewers say

### Roster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roster-calendar/id536118948)

Easily manage your work shifts by entering them into your calendar with a single tap. Customize shift times, colors, and names to fit your specific needs. Quickly create complex shift patterns and add notes for each day.

**Highlights:** Quick shift entry, Customizable shift details, Editable templates, Add notes to days, Double shifts, Recurring shift cycles

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Website+Extras | $1.49 | per month |
| Extra 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra 2 - Security | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra 3 - Overtime | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra 4 - Audio | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra 5 - Pictures | $0.99 | one-time |
| "More comfortable" | $1.99 | one-time |
| No advertising | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Extras | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for shift work
- 💡 Customizable color coding
- 🚀 Efficient scheduling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficult navigation
- 💸 Too many ads
- 🔒 Sync and backup issues

**Reported bugs**

- App suddenly stops working
- Notes and schedules disappearing
- Inability to access past/future months
- Compatibility issues with device updates

**Requested features**

- Add multiple shifts per day
- Improve month-to-month navigation
- Integrate with other calendar apps
- Provide better customer support


### SHIFTAR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftar-work-schedule-planner/id1441499274)

Easily manage your work shifts and personal appointments in one intuitive calendar. Quickly input shift details, track your earnings, and sync with your existing iCloud calendar. Premium features include widgets, data backup, and advanced color customization.

**Highlights:** Quick shift entry with pre-set buttons, Automatic salary calculation, iCloud Calendar synchronization, Daily/weekly schedule widgets, Automatic data backup, Expanded color coding options, Ad-free experience

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SHIFTAR Premium monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium monthly with trial | $1.99 | per month |
| SHIFTAR Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| SHIFTAR Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| SHIFTAR Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| SHIFTAR Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| SHIFTAR Premium | $8.99 | per year |
| SHIFTAR Premium annual | $8.99 | per year |
| Premium annual with trial | $8.99 | per year |
| Premium annual with trial | $16.49 | per year |
| SHIFTAR Premium annual | $16.49 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy and intuitive to use
- 🎨 Color-coding for shift organization
- ⚡ Quick one-click shift entry
- 📱 Useful for shift workers and nurses
- 💰 Wage calculator feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Paywall for colors and premium features
- 📺 Unexpected ads despite paid version
- 🐛 Data loss issues after updates
- ❌ No MacBook/desktop version
- 🔗 Limited calendar syncing options

**Reported bugs**

- Complete data loss after app updates
- Random deletion of calendar entries
- App crashes on launch
- Unable to access app after update
- Sync failures across devices

**Requested features**

- Date search function for quick navigation
- App icon with current date display
- Partner/family sharing system
- Multiple user schedule management
- Weekly pay period option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Roster free?

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

### Is SHIFTAR free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Roster or SHIFTAR?

SHIFTAR is rated higher. Roster averages 4.4 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while SHIFTAR averages 4.8 from 572 ratings.

### Do Roster or SHIFTAR have ads?

Both Roster and SHIFTAR show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Roster or SHIFTAR?

Roster ships an update monthly, and SHIFTAR monthly. Most recently, Roster was updated on September 14, 2026 and SHIFTAR on September 23, 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.*