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Compare · Workstream alternative

AppyShift vs Workstream

Workstream is a hiring, HR and payroll platform for hourly teams, best known for AI-assisted hiring, with scheduling and time tracking sold as an add-on. AppyShift starts with the schedule and the time clock, and adds hiring, onboarding and messaging, with prices published.

Workstream's prices and features checked on October 16, 2026, from Workstream's own website. See the sources.

  • 14-day free trial
  • No credit card required
  • Human response within 48 hours
The AppyShift team schedule for a week with scheduled hours, planned labor cost, open shifts and overtime risks above the grid
My Schedule in the AppyShift app: this week's hours and each shift with its status

Side by side

AppyShift and Workstream, feature by feature

AppyShift compared with Workstream
Feature AppyShift Workstream
Starting price $30 a month for up to 30 employees Not published: every plan says get in touch Source
How pricing works One monthly price per plan, employees included: Basic $30 (30), Growth $60 (100), Pro $90 (200). Add 50 employees for $20 a month. 15% off when paid yearly. No contract. Sales quote. Plans: Hiring, Essentials, All-in-one, Premium; payroll is a base fee plus a per-employee fee, both unpublished, plus published per-event fees. Source
Free trial Included. 14-day free trial, no credit card Not offered. No free plan or free trial advertised Source
Scheduling Included. AppySchedule: drag-and-drop schedule, availability, open shifts and callout coverage (every plan); custom labor rules (every plan) Costs extra. Time & Scheduling add-on on every plan Source
Time clock and timesheets Included. AppyTime: phone, computer or shared kiosk, on-site clock-in rules, timesheet approvals (every plan) Costs extra. Geofenced mobile clock or shared tablet, part of the Time & Scheduling add-on Source
Employee app Included. iPhone and Android apps, included for every employee Included. Workstream US app for employees and managers, plus a separate hiring app Source
Shift swaps and time off Included. Swaps, pickups and call-out coverage in AppySchedule, time off and PTO accruals in AppyTime (every plan) Partly. Time off in the app; shift trades with the Time & Scheduling add-on Source
Labor cost while you schedule Included. AppySchedule: planned labor cost and labor budget as you build the week (every plan) Partly. Labor targets by hours, budget or % of sales while you schedule (add-on) Source
Tip pooling Included. AppyTime: tip pooling and cash tip declarations (every plan) Partly. Tip pools, labeled a beta in Workstream's help center (November 2025) Source
Hiring and applicant tracking Included. AppyRecruit: careers page, applicant tracking, texting and interviews (Growth plan) Included. Core product: applicant tracking with AI phone and video screening, text-to-apply and a talent network Source
Onboarding and e-signatures Included. AppyOnboard: onboarding tasks and forms, Form I-9, hand-drawn e-signatures (Growth plan) Included. Mobile onboarding with e-signatures, I-9, E-Verify and tax-credit screening (Essentials and up) Source
Team messaging Included. AppyConnect: messages, announcements and a discussion board (Growth plan); app alerts, email and optional texts (every plan) Partly. Chat and announcements (Essentials and up); chat labeled a beta, mobile only Source
Payroll Costs extra. AppyPayroll runs payroll from your approved hours and files and pays your federal and state payroll taxes, with pay stubs and W-2s in the app: $40.00 a month, plus $4.00 for each person you pay that month, now in early access. Or AppyTime sends approved hours to your current payroll provider (every plan). Partly. Full-service payroll on All-in-one and Premium Source
Needs their point of sale Not offered. No. AppyShift works on its own, with any point of sale. Not offered. No. Integrates with Square, Toast, PAR and other POS systems. Source
Built for Hourly teams: restaurants, retail, healthcare, home care, hotels, cleaning, warehouses, child care and more Mostly restaurants and franchises, plus retail and healthcare hiring Source
Support Human support replies within 48 hours, with most replies under 24 hours. Chat 7 days a week; phone on weekdays, 5 AM to 5 PM Pacific Source

Included Partly Costs extra Not offered

Fair comparison

Where each is stronger

AppyShift

  • AppySchedule and AppyTime included in every plan, not an add-on.
  • Published prices and a free trial: $30, $60 or $90 a month with employees included.
  • Call-out coverage, open shifts, swaps and labor cost while you build the week.
  • Messaging, announcements, recognition and tip pooling as regular features, not betas.
  • Industry tools for home care, child care, hotels, cleaning and warehouses.

Best for: Hourly teams who want scheduling, time, hiring and onboarding in one place, at a published price, without a sales process.

Workstream

  • AI-led high-volume hiring: phone and video screening around the clock, text-to-apply and a talent network for rehires.
  • Onboarding compliance extras: E-Verify, work opportunity tax credit screening and background checks.
  • Full-service payroll with multi-EIN, multi-brand support for franchise groups.
  • Benefits administration and ACA tracking with 1094-C and 1095-C filing on Premium.
  • Done-for-you payroll migration, and an optional managed service that runs HR and payroll for you.

Best for: Multi-location restaurant and franchise operators who hire at high volume and want AI screening, payroll and benefits from one vendor.

Common questions

How much does Workstream cost compared with AppyShift?

Workstream doesn't publish prices; every plan and add-on is quoted. AppyShift's prices are on its website: $30, $60 or $90 a month, with 30, 100 or 200 employees included.

Does AppyShift have hiring like Workstream?

Yes, with AppyRecruit on the Growth plan: job openings, a public careers page, applicant tracking, applicant texting and interview scheduling. Workstream adds AI phone and video screening.

Is scheduling included in Workstream?

Not in any base plan: Time & Scheduling is an add-on on every Workstream plan. In AppyShift, scheduling and the time clock are in every plan.

See if AppyShift fits your team.

14 days free with every Pro feature. No credit card. Or open the demo first and click around.

Start free trial

Compare more: vs 7shifts · vs Gusto · vs QuickBooks · vs Toast · vs ADP · vs Paychex · vs Rippling · All comparisons

Sources (Workstream's website): pricing · shift scheduling · time clock · onboarding · integrations · retail · help center · help: manager view of the app · help: time off and availability · help: labor cost projection · help: tips (beta) · help: chat (beta) · help: tax management

Workstream's prices and features are from Workstream's public website, checked on October 16, 2026, and can change at any time. AppyShift's are current on this page. Workstream is a trademark of its owner, used only to identify the product; AppyShift isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Workstream. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.