# ESS Mobile vs SM 41

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ESS Mobile at 355 against SM 41's 25. SM 41's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 1.7 for ESS Mobile against 1.7 for SM 41. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ESS Mobile has 355 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 3% of ESS Mobile's written reviews are positive against 9% of SM 41's.

ESS Mobile ships an update every 3 months, SM 41 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESS Mobile | SM 41 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (355 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ess-mobile/id667448755/reviews) | **[1.7 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sm-41-reflexis-one/id1496727910/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **355** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 2.9% of reviews | **9.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Attendance on Demand, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/675262405) | [Reflexis Systems Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1094727299) |

## 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


### SM 41

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sm-41-reflexis-one/id1496727910)

This platform empowers retail associates to work more efficiently with a mobile-first design. Managers can update schedules, assign tasks, and resolve store issues in real-time from any device, keeping them on the sales floor. Conduct audits and provide proactive problem resolution.

**Highlights:** Mobile-first intuitive design, Real-time task assignment, Labor schedule management, Store inspection audits, Proactive problem resolution, Customer engagement tools

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESS Mobile free?

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

### Is SM 41 free?

SM 41 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ESS Mobile or SM 41?

SM 41 is rated higher. ESS Mobile averages 1.7 out of 5 from 355 ratings, while SM 41 averages 1.7 from 25 ratings.

### Do ESS Mobile or SM 41 have ads?

Neither ESS Mobile nor SM 41 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESS Mobile or SM 41?

ESS Mobile ships an update every 3 months, and SM 41 every 2 months. Most recently, ESS Mobile was updated on November 6, 2026 and SM 41 on November 4, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*