# ESS Mobile vs Valid Shifts

The clearest difference is rating: Valid Shifts at 4.3 against ESS Mobile's 1.7. Valid Shifts also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). ESS Mobile's advantage is ratings volume (343 vs 23). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Valid Shifts holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ESS Mobile has 343 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ESS Mobile ships an update every 3 months, Valid Shifts monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESS Mobile | Valid Shifts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ess-mobile/id667448755/reviews) | **[4.3 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/valid-shifts/id6444901977/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **343** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | 2.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Attendance on Demand, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/675262405) | [Valid Shifts, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1657803365) |

## 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


### Valid Shifts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/valid-shifts/id6444901977)

This app provides a scheduling solution specifically designed for the long-term care industry. It helps manage staff and patient schedules efficiently.

**Highlights:** Long-term care industry focus, Staff scheduling, Patient scheduling, Efficient management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESS Mobile free?

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

### Is Valid Shifts free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ESS Mobile or Valid Shifts?

Valid Shifts is rated higher. ESS Mobile averages 1.7 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while Valid Shifts averages 4.3 from 23 ratings.

### Do ESS Mobile or Valid Shifts have ads?

Neither ESS Mobile nor Valid Shifts shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESS Mobile or Valid Shifts?

ESS Mobile ships an update every 3 months, and Valid Shifts monthly. Most recently, ESS Mobile was updated on October 17, 2026 and Valid Shifts on September 26, 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.*