Substime review
A free mobile dispatch option with fair assignment and multi-channel alerts.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Substime is a school workforce-management platform for recording teacher absences, assigning substitute duties and coordinating staff notifications. It is aimed at schools that need a structured dispatch workflow across web, iOS and Android. Core functions include absence reporting, integrated scheduling, automated notifications, one-tap SMS responses, real-time assignment status updates and an administrator dashboard with analytics and activity tracking. Bulk user import and guided onboarding are also part of the feature set.
The freemium structure gives smaller schools a Free plan with basic absence reporting, email notifications, simple scheduling and community support. A 30-day free trial is available. The Professional plan adds SMS and push notifications, a fair assignment algorithm, advanced scheduling, an admin dashboard, mobile apps and priority support; the published plan is marked Coming Soon. Enterprise is designed for broader school operations, adding multi-school management, custom integrations, advanced analytics, white-label options, dedicated support, and training and onboarding, with custom pricing.
Substime’s strongest differentiator is its dispatch workflow: the fair assignment algorithm, multiple notification channels, one-tap SMS responses and live assignment statuses are designed to keep substitute coordination moving. Native mobile apps make the workflow accessible for staff away from a desktop, while the dashboard provides administrative visibility. Schools needing only basic email-based scheduling can start with Free, while schools that require richer notifications and assignment controls should look to Professional when available. Districts needing multi-school administration, custom integrations or white-label delivery fit the Enterprise tier, though its custom pricing warrants a more involved buying process.
Questions about Substime
Does Substime have a free plan? Yes, there is a free plan.
Is there a free trial of Substime? Yes: a 30-day free trial.
What does Substime run on? Web, iOS and Android. It runs as a mobile app.
Who is Substime built for? Small businesses, mid-market companies and enterprises (our editorial estimate).
Substime pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free plan covers basic absence reporting and simple scheduling
- Professional adds fair assignment plus email, SMS and push notifications
- Native iOS and Android apps support mobile assignment responses
- Where it doesn't
- Professional plan is marked Coming Soon
- Free tier limits notifications to email
- Enterprise uses custom pricing for district-level capabilities
Substime fact sheet, pricing and score →
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