# ESS Mobile vs SF ESS

The clearest difference is rating: SF ESS at 4.7 against ESS Mobile's 1.7. SF ESS also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (7.3K vs 343). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SF ESS holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SF ESS has 7.3K ratings behind it against 343, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 3% and 2% positive.

ESS Mobile ships an update every 3 months, SF ESS every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESS Mobile | SF ESS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ess-mobile/id667448755/reviews) | **[4.7 (7.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sf-ess/id1483947998/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 343 | **7.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **2.9% of reviews** | 2.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Attendance on Demand, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/675262405) | [StoreForce Solutions Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481422456) |

## What reviewers say

### ESS Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ess-mobile/id667448755)

This app offers flexible time tracking for employees, allowing them to punch in/out, review hours worked, check schedules, and manage benefit balances. It facilitates communication with supervisors for attendance-related matters and supports various time entry methods.

**Highlights:** Flexible time tracking, Review hours worked, Check schedules and benefit balances, Request time off, Enter tips and mileage, Communicate with supervisor

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Simple and straightforward time tracking functionality
- 📧 Email records linked to time card
- ⚙️ Works reliably on Android devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connect button functions as text box instead of button
- ❌ App crashes frequently after updates
- ⚪ White screen loading issues
- 📍 Location detection inaccurate (4-5 miles off)
- 🔐 Login failures and credential issues

**Reported bugs**

- Connect button treats input as editable text field
- App fails to load or shows blank white screen
- Location services report incorrect location
- Login credentials rejected despite correct information
- Clock-in button disappears or becomes non-functional

**Requested features**

- Face ID or biometric authentication
- Remember me/stay logged in functionality
- Current time display on home screen
- Manager approval system for early out/late in requests
- Ability to view all punch times and historical data


### SF ESS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sf-ess/id1483947998)

Manage your work schedule, request time off, and view performance metrics. Receive important communication updates directly from your employer. Features may differ based on your specific retailer.

**Highlights:** Schedule management, Time off requests, Performance viewing, Communication updates, Retailer-specific options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient scheduling
- 💡 Ability to sync with calendar

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant glitches and crashes
- 💤 Slow and unresponsive
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive UI
- 🔒 Login issues and lack of security features

**Reported bugs**

- Can't log in or access schedule
- Shifts not updating or displaying correctly
- Constant crashing and freezing
- Notification issues

**Requested features**

- Bring back monthly calendar view
- Improve scheduling visibility and clarity
- Add ability to see coworker schedules
- Integrate with more calendar apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESS Mobile free?

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

### Is SF ESS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ESS Mobile or SF ESS?

SF ESS is rated higher. ESS Mobile averages 1.7 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while SF ESS averages 4.7 from 7.3K ratings.

### Do ESS Mobile or SF ESS have ads?

Neither ESS Mobile nor SF ESS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESS Mobile or SF ESS?

ESS Mobile ships an update every 3 months, and SF ESS every 3 weeks. Most recently, ESS Mobile was updated on September 23, 2026 and SF ESS 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.*