# Roster vs SimpleShift

The clearest difference is ads: SimpleShift at none against Roster's shown. SimpleShift also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 74%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Roster sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and SimpleShift sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Roster ships an update every 2 months, SimpleShift every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Roster | SimpleShift |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roster-calendar/id536118948/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **63** | — |
| Positive reviews | 74.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 26 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [michael heinz](https://appshunter.io/developer/292745639) | [Oliver Munday](https://appshunter.io/developer/1653629920) |

## 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


### SimpleShift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpleshift-shift-calendar/id6444291748)

Easily schedule and view your work shifts at a glance. This app offers a clear overview of your work schedule and can be viewed on your Apple Watch or as a home screen widget.

**Highlights:** Schedule shifts, View shifts at a glance, Apple Watch integration, Home screen widget, Customizable shift patterns

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SimpleShift Pro | $1.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Roster free?

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

### Is SimpleShift free?

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

### Do Roster or SimpleShift have ads?

Roster shows ads; SimpleShift does not.

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

Roster ships an update every 2 months, and SimpleShift every 3 months. Most recently, Roster was updated on October 17, 2026 and SimpleShift on October 7, 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.*