# 7shifts vs ShiftMate

The clearest difference is monetization model: ShiftMate at free against 7shifts's free with in-app purchases. ShiftMate also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). 7shifts's advantage is ratings volume (31K vs 1) and chart position (#90 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

ShiftMate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 7shifts has 31K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

7shifts ships an update every 10 days, ShiftMate fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 7shifts | ShiftMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (31K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/7shifts-employee-scheduling/id731444612/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftmate/id6741119014/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **31K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 80.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#90** | — |
| Size | 171 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [7shifts, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484119987) | [Nathaniel Kemme Nash](https://appshunter.io/developer/1763306490) |

## What reviewers say

### 7shifts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/7shifts-employee-scheduling/id731444612)

**Currently charting:** #90 Top Free · Business (US App Store)

This app simplifies restaurant staff scheduling and communication for managers and employees. It allows for easy schedule editing, staff notifications, and request management, while empowering employees to handle availability, time-off, and shift trades. Real-time sales and labor data help reduce costs and ensure compliance.

**Highlights:** Manage schedules with automatic updates, Communicate with staff via notifications, Approve/deny time-off and shift trades, Track staff availability and engagement, Real-time sales and labor data tracking, Employee shift viewing and earnings estimates, Shift trading and availability requests

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient scheduling
- 👍 Helpful communication features
- 👍 Practical and efficient
- 👍 Organized and clear

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🐛 Notifications not working properly
- 🐛 Glitches and errors
- 🐛 Inconsistent and unreliable
- 🐛 Frustrating user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Automatic log-outs and login issues
- Schedule not displaying correctly
- Announcement section not working
- Notifications not clearing or disappearing
- Shift bidding and pickup issues

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved notification system
- Better integration with calendar apps
- Ability to record hours and tips manually
- More customization options


### ShiftMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftmate/id6741119014)

This application simplifies shift management for businesses by streamlining shift assignments, tracking employee availability, and providing real-time updates. It allows teams to easily manage their schedules, accept or swap shifts, and sync with their calendars.

**Highlights:** Easy shift assignment and notifications, Employee shift acceptance/rejection/swaps, Availability and conflict tracking, Google Calendar synchronization, Real-time updates and approvals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 7shifts free?

7shifts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ShiftMate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 7shifts or ShiftMate?

ShiftMate is rated higher. 7shifts averages 4.8 out of 5 from 31K ratings, while ShiftMate averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do 7shifts or ShiftMate have ads?

Neither 7shifts nor ShiftMate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 7shifts or ShiftMate?

7shifts ships an update every 10 days, and ShiftMate fortnightly. Most recently, 7shifts was updated on November 3, 2026 and ShiftMate on October 17, 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.*