# AbsenceNow® vs symplr Workforce

The clearest difference is rating: symplr Workforce at 2.2 against AbsenceNow®'s 1.5. symplr Workforce also leads on ratings volume (2.1K vs 27). AbsenceNow®'s advantage is review sentiment (11% vs 3%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

symplr Workforce holds the better App Store score, 2.2 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: symplr Workforce has 2.1K ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 11% of AbsenceNow®'s written reviews are positive against 3% of symplr Workforce's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AbsenceNow® ships an update every 2 months, symplr Workforce every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AbsenceNow® | symplr Workforce |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.5 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absencenow/id784719243/reviews) | **[2.2 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symplr-workforce/id934444927/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 27 | **2.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **11.1% of reviews** | 3.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 38 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ComPsych Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/556008766) | [symplr software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/505907766) |

## What reviewers say

### AbsenceNow®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absencenow/id784719243)

Manage your work absences easily from your mobile device. Request, track, and update leave time, download important documents, and check request statuses. Managers can also manage employee absences.

**Highlights:** Report leave time, Open new absence requests, Download forms and documents, Check request status, Update request information, Manage employee absences (managers)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### symplr Workforce

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symplr-workforce/id934444927)

This app allows employees to manage their schedules, request time off, and clock in/out with location verification. Managers can oversee employee timecards, approve requests, and monitor staffing levels to ensure optimal workforce management.

**Highlights:** Self-scheduling and shift requests, Location-based clocking with alerts, Timecard management and approval, Request time off, View employee schedules and timecards, Monitor staffing levels

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Convenient for clocking in/out
- 🔒 Secure login options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🔍 Confusing schedule display
- ⏱️ Slow app performance
- 🔒 Unreliable biometrics
- 🤔 Unintuitive user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent clock-in/out registration
- Timecard errors and discrepancies
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Schedule not accurately reflecting shifts

**Requested features**

- Ability to view full team schedules
- Option to customize schedule display
- Improved calendar integration
- Streamlined login process
- More flexible time editing capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AbsenceNow® free?

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

### Is symplr Workforce free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AbsenceNow® or symplr Workforce?

symplr Workforce is rated higher. AbsenceNow® averages 1.5 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while symplr Workforce averages 2.2 from 2.1K ratings.

### Do AbsenceNow® or symplr Workforce have ads?

Neither AbsenceNow® nor symplr Workforce shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AbsenceNow® or symplr Workforce?

AbsenceNow® ships an update every 2 months, and symplr Workforce every 5 weeks. Most recently, AbsenceNow® was updated on November 1, 2026 and symplr Workforce on November 14, 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.*