SubFinder review
A focused SMS dispatch tool for schools assigning substitute coverage quickly.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
SubFinder is a cloud-based substitute coverage tool for Pre-K, daycare, and K–12 administrators. It organizes substitute rosters and classrooms, creates coverage requests, and sends SMS offers to selected substitutes or the full pool. Substitutes reply by text, while administrators can let the first qualified yes response fill the job or review replies and choose manually. The web dashboard adds classroom history, a weekly schedule with open and filled statuses, and a real-time offer activity feed. It suits small and mid-market schools that want dispatch centered on text messaging rather than a separate substitute app.
Pricing is available in three tiers with monthly or annual billing. Starter costs $24 per month billed annually or $29 billed monthly and includes a dedicated local number, SMS dispatch, auto-confirmation, dashboard, and reporting. Growth costs $65 annually or $79 monthly and adds priority support. District costs $124 annually or $149 monthly, adding unlimited schools and dedicated onboarding. Setup is free through September 30, 2026; afterward, the one-time $149 setup fee is waived on annual plans. Larger networks or accounts needing more than 100 substitutes must request custom pricing.
The strongest fit is a school that needs configurable response timeouts, classroom-based routing, and a clear weekly view of open versus filled jobs. Substitutes can respond without installing an app, keeping participation tied to SMS. The service is delivered through the web, with email support and GDPR compliance identified, and it is explicitly a scheduling and communications tool rather than a payroll or HR system. Schools seeking integrated payroll, HR records, or broader workforce administration should choose a platform built for those functions instead. SubFinder is most appropriate when rapid text-based coverage coordination is the central requirement.
Questions about SubFinder
Does SubFinder have a free plan? No free plan is listed; paid plans start at $24/mo (Starter).
How much does SubFinder cost? SubFinder lists 3 paid plans; the lowest is Starter at $24/mo.
What does SubFinder run on? Web. It runs in the cloud.
Who is SubFinder built for? Small businesses and mid-market companies (our editorial estimate).
SubFinder pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Broadcasts SMS offers to the whole pool or selected substitutes
- Assigns the first qualified yes response or supports manual selection
- Weekly schedule, classroom routing, and live offer activity feed
- Where it doesn't
- Substitutes interact by SMS rather than through a mobile app
- It is not a payroll processor or HR information system
- Networks over 100 substitutes must request custom pricing
SubFinder fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update