NEWJoin 1M+ SaaS Professionals|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe Free →

Spotsaas logo

Nowsta vs Shiftboard Comparison

Last updated:

Nowsta

4.7(197 reviews)

Starting at $3 /User/Month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Nowsta is online employee scheduling software that helps to take control of when employees work and their wage costs. With Nowsta users can reduce overtime and create consistent scheduling when managers and staff use Now…

Shiftboard

4.4(341 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Shiftboard is a web-based employee scheduling software solution that comes fully loaded and ready to go. Updated and maintained by Shiftboard Inc., it's the only scheduling system that doesn't require any technical knowl…

Nowsta leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 197 reviews.

Nowsta vs Shiftboard — at a glance

FeatureNowstaShiftboard
Rating4.7 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews197341
Starting price$3 /User/MonthContact for pricing
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryEmployee Scheduling SoftwareEmployee Scheduling Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailable
Support modesOnline24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Nowsta and Shiftboard

  • Pricing: Nowsta starts at $3 /User/Month. Shiftboard pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Shiftboard offers a free trial; Nowsta does not.
  • User satisfaction: Nowsta scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: Nowsta supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Shiftboard supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Nowsta vs Shiftboard — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Employee Scheduling Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Nowsta - Employee Scheduling Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
Shiftboard - Employee Scheduling Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Nowsta

Best for flexible, detailed scheduling in event, hospitality, and retail sectors.

Choose if
  • You need intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling with real-time shift swapping.
  • Your business operates in event management, hospitality, or retail with 50-500 employees.
  • You want geo-location clock-in tailored for catering and hospitality staff tracking.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company requires extensive third-party app integrations beyond Nowsta’s limited options.
  • You prefer very simple scheduling tools without customization or a steep initial learning curve.

Shiftboard

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Nowsta typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Shiftboard tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Nowsta is online employee scheduling software that helps to take control of when employees work and their wage costs. With Nowsta users can reduce overtime and create consistent scheduling ... Read More about Nowsta

Shiftboard is a web-based employee scheduling software solution that comes fully loaded and ready to go. Updated and maintained by Shiftboard Inc., it's the only scheduling system that ... Read More about Shiftboard

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $3 , Billed Yearly
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.9/10

Not Available

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

50-500 employeesMedium to Large Enterprises
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Nowsta

  • Streamlined Scheduling: Nowsta simplifies the scheduling process by allowing managers to effortlessly create and manage shifts in real-time, ensuring optimal workforce utilization without the hassle of spreadsheets.
  • Enhanced Communication: With built-in messaging features, Nowsta fosters clear communication between management and staff. This means no more missed messages or miscommunications, leading to a more cohesive team environment.
  • Data-Driven Insights: By harnessing powerful analytics, Nowsta provides managers with critical insights into labor costs and staffing patterns. This enables informed decision-making that can enhance operational efficiency and reduce overhead.
Best fit

Best fit

Nowsta

  • 50 to 500 employees
  • Event Management, Hospitality, Retail, and Food Services
  • Event Coordinators, Shift Managers, Operations Managers, and Human Resources Professionals
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Nowsta

  • Users may seek alternatives to Nowsta if they require more robust features for employee scheduling, such as advanced analytics or better integration with existing HR systems that cater to their specific operational needs.
  • Companies with unique workforce management requirements might consider other solutions that offer customizable workflows and more flexibility in managing diverse employee roles and locations, ensuring a tailored fit for their operations.
  • Organizations operating on a tight budget might look for more cost-effective alternatives that provide essential scheduling and communication functionalities without the additional costs associated with Nowsta’s premium features.

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Nowsta has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do Nowsta and Shiftboard Compare on Features?

Total Features

9 Features

7 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Nowsta and Shiftboard on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $3 , Billed Yearly
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Starter

        • Beautiful, clean interface for scheduling events

        • Unlimited SMS communication and reminders to workers

        • iPhone & Android app for your workers

        Show more +

      • Professional

        • Beautiful, clean interface for scheduling events

        • Unlimited SMS communication and reminders to workers

        • iPhone & Android app for your workers

        Show more +

      • Enterprise

        • Beautiful, clean interface for scheduling events

        • Unlimited SMS communication and reminders to workers

        • iPhone & Android app for your workers

        Show more +

      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Nowsta pricing
      Shiftboard pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      ISO 27001

      ✗ No

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      Nowsta User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      9

      0

      0

      1

      0

      45

      21

      2

      0

      1

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall, users express high satisfaction with Nowsta’s ease of use, detailed scheduling capabilities, and responsive customer support, despite some concerns about integration options and initial complexity.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Customer support
      • Detailed scheduling features

      Common complaints

      • Limited integrations
      • Initial learning curve

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 69 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • No technical knowledge required
      • Web-based accessibility
      • Streamlines communication

      Common complaints

      • May lack advanced features
      • Limited customization options
      • Can be overwhelming for new users

      Pros and Cons

      • User-friendly and intuitive interface praised by both staff and schedulers

      • Efficient scheduling that ensures adequate and timely event staffing

      • Responsive and attentive customer service

      • Limited options for additional app integrations and connectors

      • Feature richness and customization can be initially complex without support

      • Eliminates the need for technical setup.

      • Enhances communication between staff and management.

      • Streamlines the hiring process with ease.

      • May not offer advanced scheduling features.

      • Customization options are limited.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Negative Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      Securitas

      Securitas

      Marriott

      Marriott

      Garces

      Garces

      AAA

      AAA

      Randstad

      Randstad

      UPMC

      UPMC

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Calendar

      3 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Nowsta and Shiftboard in 2026

      Expand your shortlist

      Add another option to compare side by side

      Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Nowsta or Shiftboard?
      Nowsta edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Nowsta and Shiftboard offer a free trial?
      Shiftboard offers a free trial. Nowsta does not.
      What is the starting price of Nowsta vs Shiftboard?
      Nowsta starts at $3 /User/Month. Shiftboard starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Nowsta?
      Top alternatives to Nowsta include 7shifts, Shiftboard, TrackSmart Scheduling, eSchedule, Shiftworkz.
      What are the top alternatives to Shiftboard?
      Top alternatives to Shiftboard include ShiftBase, 7shifts, Findmyshift, TrackSmart Scheduling, MakeShift.

      Grow your pipeline with buyers who are already looking for you

      254,000+ buyers use Spotsaas every month to evaluate and shortlist software. Get in front of them — for free, or with a managed growth plan built around your category.