Comparison

ShiftRest vs ShiftRhythm

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ShiftRest

Features
Read full description

Sleep Cycle gives you a red score every time you sleep at 10 AM. ShiftRest is the only sleep planner for shift workers that doesn't punish you for sleeping at noon. Built for 22 million nurses, firefighters, and EMS who don't work 9-to-5. WHY SHIFTREST IS DIFFERENT - It's a planner, not a tracker. We don't score your sleep. We tell you when to sleep. - Schedule-first. Type your rotation. Get a sleep window tuned to your shift, not a generic 10pm-6am bedtime. - No red scores for daytime sleep. No "you missed your goal" notifications at 3 AM. No moralizing. - Built on circadian science: AASM clinical guidelines, CDC NIOSH shift-work data, NASA chronotype research, Phase Response Curve algorithms. WHAT YOU GET - Personalized sleep window โ€” tuned to your specific rotation (3x12, 24/48, continental, custom). The window moves with you. - Melatonin timing by chronotype โ€” not a generic "take 3mg at 9pm." The PRC algorithm calculates your circadian phase shift and tells you the exact window. - Caffeine cutoff by sensitivity โ€” slow metabolizers get 8 hours, fast metabolizers get 4. We ask, we adapt. - Transition plans for rotating shifts โ€” multi-day plans for night-to-day and day-to-night flips. When to nap. When to expose to morning light. When to skip melatonin. The killer feature competitors don't have. - Light and dark protocol โ€” when to wear blue-blockers, when to seek bright light, when to nap before a night shift. - Always-free baseline โ€” schedule input, basic sleep window, generic caffeine cutoff. Never paywalled. WHO IT'S FOR - ICU and ER nurses on 3x12 night rotations. - Firefighters and EMS on 24/48 or 48/96 schedules. - Factory workers on continental 2-2-4 patterns. - Pilots, oil-rig crews, doctors on call, anyone whose body is asked to do something the sun didn't agree to. NOT FOR - 9-to-5 office workers (try Sleep Cycle, RISE, or Pillow). - People looking for a sleep tracker score. - Anyone who wants their app to scold them at 7 AM. THE SCIENCE ShiftRest is built on AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) clinical guidelines for shift work disorder, CDC NIOSH research on rotating shifts, and Phase Response Curve algorithms used by NASA for crew chronobiology. We don't make medical claims โ€” we apply established circadian science to your real schedule. PRICING - Free forever: schedule input, basic sleep window, generic caffeine cutoff. - 7-day free trial of Premium, then: - Monthly $5.99 - Annual $49.99 (save 35%) - Cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. No fine print. NOT A MEDICAL DEVICE ShiftRest supports sleep planning for shift workers. It does not diagnose, treat, or cure sleep disorders. If you suspect shift-work sleep disorder, insomnia, or sleep apnea, consult a board-certified sleep physician. If you are in crisis, contact 988 (US), 116 123 (UK), or 13 11 14 (AU). PRIVACY Your schedule and sleep data stay on your device or in your encrypted account. We do not sell data. HealthKit integration is opt-in. โ€” โ€” You've worked the night shift for 12 years. You know your body. You don't need another app to tell you sleep is important. You need an app that respects that you sleep at noon โ€” and helps you do it well. Rest catches up, gently. Terms of Use (EULA): https://oqapps.pro/legal/shiftsleep/terms Privacy Policy: https://oqapps.pro/legal/shiftsleep/privacy

About

ShiftRhythm

This app helps night shift workers optimize their sleep and light exposure based on their unique roster. It provides personalized guidance for sleep, naps, and light timing to align with your body clock and manage sleep debt.

Highlights
  • Personalized sleep and nap timing
  • Light exposure guidance
  • Circadian rhythm dial
  • Sleep score and debt tracking
  • Roster presets and custom schedules
  • Apple Watch app and widgets
Features
Read full description

Night shifts flipped your sleep? Enter your roster and ShiftRhythm tells you when to sleep, when to nap, and when to seek or avoid light โ€” today. WHAT IT DOES โ€ข 24-hour body-clock dial โ€” see your estimated melatonin onset (DLMO) and biological night (CBTmin) at a glance โ€ข Light, nap & caffeine guidance โ€” timed to your circadian rhythm and updated as your shifts change โ€ข Sleep score, sleep debt & recovery โ€” last night's sleep plus HRV and resting heart rate from Apple Watch, telling you whether to push or recover โ€ข Presets that match real rosters โ€” Panama 2-2-3 schedule (day/night), Pitman, DuPont, Fire 48/96, 12-hour rotating shifts, plus Korean and Japanese patterns. Or build your own custom rotation โ€ข Melatonin timing card (optional) โ€” an informational window based on your estimated body clock. Not a recommendation to take melatonin; talk to your doctor or pharmacist first BUILT FOR SHIFT WORKERS Whether you're a night shift nurse, a firefighter on 48/96, a plant operator on a DuPont rotation, or a driver on a rotating roster โ€” ShiftRhythm adapts to your schedule, not the other way around. โ€ข Tap any calendar day to correct that day's shift โ€ข Works from your schedule alone โ€” no Apple Watch required โ€ข Apple Watch app and widgets included; available in English, Spanish, Korean, and Japanese PRIVATE BY DESIGN โ€ข No account. No server. Your data stays on your phone. โ€ข All circadian math runs on-device โ€” health data never leaves your iPhone โ€ข No ads, no tracking PRICING โ€ข 30-day free trial โ€” full features, no account needed โ€ข Then Monthly or Annual (Annual saves vs. monthly), or a one-time Lifetime purchase if you'd rather not subscribe โ€ข Subscriptions auto-renew; cancel anytime in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://yoonspower.github.io/shiftrhythm/privacy.html ShiftRhythm is for general wellness and reference only. It is not a medical device and does not diagnose, treat, or monitor any medical condition. Values shown are estimates and may be inaccurate. Consult a professional for health concerns.

Screenshots

ShiftRest4 screens
ShiftRhythm4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ShiftRest at 15.1 against ShiftRhythm's 17.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. ShiftRest sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and ShiftRhythm sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 7 level
ShiftRest versus ShiftRhythm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShiftRestShiftRhythm
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviewsโ€”100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyโ€”Every 2 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetizationโ€”Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch โ€” better
Requires iOS15.1 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size61 MB16 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperEugene AgafonovJaeyoun Kim

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ShiftRest

Subscriptions3
  • Premium Weekly7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
3 purchases

ShiftRhythm

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Yearly$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is ShiftRest free?
ShiftRest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShiftRhythm free?
ShiftRhythm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ShiftRest or ShiftRhythm have ads?
Neither ShiftRest nor ShiftRhythm shows ads.

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