Comparison

theHRDIRECTOR vs SHRM Certification

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

Head to head
About

theHRDIRECTOR

Access free strategic HR content, news, legal updates, and job listings for senior HR professionals. Subscribers get early digital access to magazine issues, with options to purchase single copies or subscribe annually.

Highlights
  • Free HR news and features
  • Senior HR job listings
  • Regular legal updates
  • Monthly HR director interviews
  • Digital magazine issues for subscribers
  • Offline reading
  • Social media sharing
Features
Read full description

theHRDIRECTOR App provides free independent strategic hr content specifically for Senior HR Practitioners via in-depth features and hr related news. Regular legal updates and monthly hr director interviews are also a benefit of the free App as well as senior hr job roles. Digital issues of the flagship publication are available for Subscribers however if you are not a subscriber you are able to purchase single issue. The App includes - Free HR News, features, interviews, legal updates and Senior hr jobs - Issues of the magazine available before the print version for Subscribers - Download your issues and read offline at your leisure - Share articles via social media - Purchase single copies or subscribe via your iTunes account using In App Purchases SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION • A single issue is £3.99. • A digital subscription is £39.99 per year • Payment will be charged to the user's iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • The user's iTunes Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before end of the current period. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. Privacy Policy: https://www.thehrdirector.com/suppliers/privacy-policy/ Terms of use: http://www.thehrdirector.com/suppliers/terms/ EXISTING SUBSCRIBERS Subscriber’s receive full access to theHRDIRECTOR App by signing in with their Members user name and password allows them to view the latest issue of theHRDIRECTOR publication in digital format as well as previous issues.

About

SHRM Certification

This app helps SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP credential holders manage their professional development credits. Track completed activities, discover upcoming approved events, and receive notifications for recertification.

Highlights
  • Add professional development credits (PDCs)
  • Track completed activities
  • Find upcoming approved activities
  • Search and filter activities by competencies, date, or location
  • Recertification readiness notifications
Features
Read full description

The official certification app from the Society for Human Resource Management, exclusive for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential holders. Maintain and grow your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP via the SHRM Certification app! • Easily add your professional development credits (PDCs) under the Advance Your Education section. • Track all of the activities you have already added to your record. • Find upcoming approved activities in your area. Search and filter a number of different ways including by competencies, by date, or use your location to find activities close to you. • Be notified when you are ready to apply for recertification.

Screenshots

theHRDIRECTOR2 screens
SHRM Certification4 screens

Verdict

The call

theHRDIRECTOR and SHRM Certification both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of theHRDIRECTOR's written reviews are positive against 32% of SHRM Certification's. theHRDIRECTOR also leads on ads (none vs shown). SHRM Certification's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 44) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 6). On price, rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. theHRDIRECTOR sells 44 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. SHRM Certification asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

theHRDIRECTOR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SHRM Certification has 2.5K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of theHRDIRECTOR's written reviews are positive against 32% of SHRM Certification's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

theHRDIRECTOR ships an update every 8 months, SHRM Certification every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
theHRDIRECTOR versus SHRM Certification: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametertheHRDIRECTORSHRM Certification
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.8 (2.5K ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better32.1% of reviews
Number of ratings62.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 6 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHR DIRECTORSociety for Human Resource Management

Customer experience

theHRDIRECTOR

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SHRM Certification

All ratings2,490 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral2.2%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive32.1%
Neutral3.6%
Negative64.3%

Bugs and requests

theHRDIRECTOR

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SHRM Certification

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login not working
  • Unable to add credits, get error messages
  • Inconsistent data between app and website

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improve training/education search functionality
  • Add summary/progress view of entered credits
  • Fix app support link

In-app purchases

44 purchases

theHRDIRECTOR

Subscriptions1
  • HR Director Subscription$49.991 Year
One-time43
  • HRD 146$4.99
  • HRD 162$4.99
  • HRD 219$4.99
Show 40 more
  • HRD 222$4.99
  • HRD 224$4.99
  • HRD 227$4.99
  • HRD 226$4.99
  • HRD 221$4.99
  • HRD 223$4.99
  • HRD 231$4.99
  • HRD 232$4.99
  • HRD 233$4.99
  • HRD 234$4.99
  • HRD 264$4.99
  • HRD 263$4.99
  • HRD 262$4.99
  • HRD 261$4.99
  • HRD 260$4.99
  • HRD 257$4.99
  • HRD 258$4.99
  • HRD 259$4.99
  • HRD 256$4.99
  • HRD 255$4.99
  • HRD 253$4.99
  • HRD 254$4.99
  • HRD 252$4.99
  • HRD 251$4.99
  • HRD 250$4.99
  • HRD 248$4.99
  • HRD 249$4.99
  • HRD 247$4.99
  • HRD 246$4.99
  • HRD 245$4.99
  • HRD 244$4.99
  • HRD 243$4.99
  • HRD 242$4.99
  • HRD 241$4.99
  • HRD239$4.99
  • HRD 240$4.99
  • HRD238$4.99
  • HRD 237$4.99
  • HRD 235$4.99
  • HRD 236$4.99
None

SHRM Certification

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is theHRDIRECTOR free?
theHRDIRECTOR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SHRM Certification free?
SHRM Certification is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, theHRDIRECTOR or SHRM Certification?
theHRDIRECTOR is rated higher. theHRDIRECTOR averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while SHRM Certification averages 4.8 from 2.5K ratings.
Do theHRDIRECTOR or SHRM Certification have ads?
SHRM Certification shows ads; theHRDIRECTOR does not.
Which is updated more often, theHRDIRECTOR or SHRM Certification?
theHRDIRECTOR ships an update every 8 months, and SHRM Certification every 6 months. Most recently, theHRDIRECTOR was updated on October 16, 2026 and SHRM Certification on October 13, 2026.

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