# The Shift vs Pirates

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Shift at none against Pirates's 3. Pirates's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 92%). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pirates sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. The Shift asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for The Shift against 5.0 for Pirates. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 12 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of The Shift's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pirates's.

The Shift ships an update every 3 days, Pirates every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Shift | Pirates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-shift-work-schedule/id6782529001/reviews) | [5.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pirates-cat-pomodoro-timer/id6787769872/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 160 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jeeyun Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852487076) | [John Jang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1857417631) |

## What reviewers say

### The Shift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-shift-work-schedule/id6782529001)

Easily view your work schedule without opening your work app. Upload a screenshot of your shifts, and get instant updates via home screen widgets or export to your personal calendar. Never miss a shift again.

**Highlights:** Smart schedule import from screenshots, Live countdown widget for next shift, Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, Direct calendar export, Local data processing and storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pirates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pirates-cat-pomodoro-timer/id6787769872)

Take back control of your time by blocking distracting apps and websites. Utilize a focus timer with custom soundscapes to enhance productivity. Enjoy a fun, engaging experience with unique characters and ships while gaining clear insights into your progress.

**Highlights:** App and website blocking, Focus timer with Pomodoro, Customizable soundscapes, Engaging character and ship designs, On-device blocking via Screen Time API, Progress insights

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Shift free?

The Shift is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pirates free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Shift or Pirates?

The Shift and Pirates are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 12 ratings respectively.

### Do The Shift or Pirates have ads?

The Shift shows ads; Pirates does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Shift or Pirates?

The Shift ships an update every 3 days, and Pirates every 4 days. Most recently, The Shift was updated on October 9, 2026 and Pirates on October 13, 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.*