DayReady review
A California-focused substitute platform pairing dispatch workflows with classroom and payroll tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
DayReady brings staff absence management, substitute matching and dispatch, classroom information, time tracking, and payroll export into one platform for California K–12 districts. It covers absence requests for teachers, classified staff, and administrators, with approval workflows and leave balances. Substitute offers can go out by email or SMS, while classroom snapshots provide seating charts, schedules, routines, and contacts. The platform also includes lesson-plan delivery and a role-based viewer for IEP/504 and medical accommodations. Its scope suits districts seeking connected substitute workflows rather than a tool limited to filling vacancies.
The annual per-student plans add capabilities in stages. Readiness Core is $4 per student per year and includes classroom readiness tools, clock-in/out, SFTP roster import, and Google SSO. Substitute Platform is $9 per student per year and adds staff absence requests, approvals, leave balances, ranked matching, offers, notifications, and an availability calendar. Complete is $14 per student per year; it adds sequential or parallel auto-dispatch, kiosk mode, California overtime and double-time enforcement, payroll exports to QSS, Escape, and Tyler Munis, Aeries and PowerSchool SIS sync, and compliance and credential tracking. A 60-day pilot is offered, with 30% off first-year pricing for pilot districts.
The workflow depth is the main distinction: matching can account for preferences and do-not-use exclusions, and dispatch can run sequentially or in parallel. Phone, workstation, and PIN kiosk time tracking connect assignments with time records, while payroll exports reduce the gap between substitute management and payroll processing. The integrations include Google Workspace SSO, Microsoft Entra ID SSO, SFTP, Aeries, PowerSchool, and the three named payroll systems. Districts that need those dispatch and payroll connections may find the higher tier a fit; those seeking a general-purpose staffing tool or a lower-priced flat-rate plan should compare alternatives.
Questions about DayReady
Does DayReady have a free plan? No free plan is listed; paid plans start at $4/unit/yr (Readiness Core).
How much does DayReady cost? DayReady lists 3 paid plans; the lowest is Readiness Core at $4/unit/yr.
Is there a free trial of DayReady? Yes: a 60-day free trial.
What does DayReady run on? Web. It runs in the cloud and as a mobile app.
What does DayReady integrate with? 8 integrations, including QSS, Escape, Tyler Munis, Aeries and PowerSchool.
Who is DayReady built for? Mid-market companies and enterprises (our editorial estimate).
DayReady pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Ranks substitutes using preferences and do-not-use exclusions
- Delivers lesson plans, classroom details, and accommodations
- Exports payroll to QSS, Escape, and Tyler Munis
- Where it doesn't
- Published plans use annual per-student pricing
- Complete tier is required for payroll exports and SIS sync
- The platform is focused on California K–12 districts
DayReady fact sheet, pricing and score →
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