KareShift vs ShiftCare NZ
ShiftCare charges NZ$9–25 per user per month. KareShift charges NZ$59–299/month flat per tier. From 10 workers KareShift costs less than ShiftCare's Growth and Intelligence tiers, and from 20 workers less than every ShiftCare tier — and it includes eMAR, Xero Payroll (Scale and aged-care plans), and NZ-specific compliance (Whaikaha, Pay Equity Settlement).
Try KareShift Free — 90 DaysNo credit card · No lock-in · 90-day trial vs ShiftCare's 7-day trial
ShiftCare operates in NZ with per-user pricing from NZ$9/user/month. KareShift offers flat-tier pricing from NZ$59/month with NZ-specific compliance: Whaikaha alignment, Pay Equity Settlement pay levels, NZ Police Vet + Safety Check tracking, NZ public holidays, and KiwiSaver/IRD in payroll export. Both handle rostering well — the difference is pricing model, NZ regulatory depth, and whether you need eMAR. (Source: shiftcare.com/pricing, Aug 2026)
Pricing comparison (NZD)
Last verified: 28-Aug-2026
ShiftCare
Per-user pricing — NZ$9 to NZ$25/user/month
| Team size | Monthly cost (est.) |
|---|---|
| 5 workers | NZ$45–125/mo |
| 10 workers | NZ$90–250/mo |
| 20 workers | NZ$180–500/mo |
| 50 workers | NZ$450–1,250/mo |
Source: shiftcare.com/pricing, Aug 2026. 4 tiers: Essentials NZ$9, Growth NZ$15, Intelligence NZ$25 (monthly). Annual saves ~11-20%. Min 5 users.
KareShift
Flat-tier pricing — NZ-specific compliance included
| Plan | Monthly + GST |
|---|---|
| Starter (up to 5 workers) | NZ$59/mo |
| Growth (up to 20 workers) | NZ$119/mo |
| Scale (50 incl., +NZ$6/worker) | NZ$299/mo |
Annual billing saves 20%. Admins always free. NZ compliance: Whaikaha, Pay Equity Settlement, NZ Police Vet, Safety Check.
Annual savings vs ShiftCare Intelligence (NZ$25/user)
10 workers
Save NZ$1,572/yr
ShiftCare: NZ$250/mo · KareShift: NZ$119/mo
20 workers
Save NZ$4,572/yr
ShiftCare: NZ$500/mo · KareShift: NZ$119/mo
50 workers
Save NZ$11,412/yr
ShiftCare: NZ$1,250/mo · KareShift: NZ$299/mo
ShiftCare Intelligence tier (NZ$25/user/mo) from shiftcare.com (Aug 2026). KareShift prices exclude GST. Contact ShiftCare directly for current NZ rates.
Feature comparison
Feature data from shiftcare.com as at Aug 2026. Verify directly with each vendor.
| Feature | ShiftCare | KareShift |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | NZ$9–25/user/mo (shiftcare.com, Aug 2026) | Flat tier NZ$59–299/mo + GST |
| Free trial | 7 days | 90 days, up to 5 workers (no credit card) |
| NZ compliance (Whaikaha) | Basic certifications | ✓ NZ Police Vet, Safety Check, NCNZ, Pay Equity Settlement levels |
| eMAR / Medication management | Not listed in public documentation (Aug 2026) | ✓ Full eMAR — orders, rounds, PRN, controlled drugs, MAR chart, allergy alerts |
| Xero Payroll (KiwiSaver/IRD) | Not publicly documented as of Aug 2026 | ✓ Direct sync with KiwiSaver + IRD + tax code mapping (Scale and aged-care plans) |
| Custom forms | Intelligence tier only | ✓ Growth, Scale and aged-care plans (conditional logic, PDF export, signature pad) |
| Invoicing | ✓ Built-in | ✓ Credit notes, receipts, PDF export |
| Rostering | ✓ All tiers | ✓ All plans (NZ presets, conflict detection) |
| GPS clock-in | ✓ | ✓ + geofencing |
| In-app messaging | Some tiers | ✓ All plans (push notifications) |
| NHI number field | Not publicly documented as of Aug 2026 | ✓ NZ client profiles |
| 2FA | Not publicly documented as of Aug 2026 | ✓ TOTP + trusted devices + admin reset |
| Aged care (residential) | Community care focus | ✓ Community + residential (same platform) |
| Countries | AU, NZ, UK, US, CA | AU, NZ, UK, CA — country-specific compliance |
Honest assessment
Where ShiftCare is stronger
- Larger user base — 7,000+ AU/NZ providers, established community
- Native mobile app (App Store / Google Play)
- AI care signals and AI note rephrase (Intelligence tier)
- Free NDIA/NDIS claiming (AU-focused but cross-Tasman if you operate in both)
- Public job board for recruiting new workers (KareShift's open shift board fills shifts from your existing team)
- Longer track record (operating since 2016)
- Family/client portal
Where KareShift is stronger
- Flat-tier pricing — lower than every ShiftCare tier from 20 workers
- 90-day trial (13x longer than ShiftCare's 7 days)
- NZ-specific compliance: Whaikaha, Pay Equity Settlement, NZ Police Vet, Safety Check, NCNZ
- Full eMAR — medication orders, rounds, PRN, controlled drugs, MAR chart
- Xero Payroll with KiwiSaver + IRD mapping
- Custom forms with conditional logic, PDF export, signature pad on Growth, Scale and aged-care plans
- Open Shift Board — post unfilled shifts, eligible workers self-claim
- Cancellation policy automation — calculates late-cancel and no-show fees and adds them to invoices
- Visit confirmation — GPS + clock evidence and anomaly flags on every timesheet
- Two-factor authentication (TOTP + trusted devices + admin reset)
- Residential aged care on the same platform
- NHI number field in client profiles
- Voice dictation for progress notes
- In-app messaging with push notifications on all plans
Frequently asked questions
Yes. ShiftCare operates in NZ with per-user pricing from NZ$9/user/month. They're primarily AU-focused but serve NZ providers. KareShift has NZ-specific compliance (Whaikaha, Pay Equity Settlement, NZ Police Vet) and KiwiSaver/IRD payroll built in.
Different pricing model. ShiftCare charges per-user — your bill grows with every worker. KareShift charges per-tier — NZ$119/month covers up to 20 workers. At 10 workers on ShiftCare's Intelligence tier (NZ$25/user), you'd pay NZ$250/month vs KareShift's NZ$119. On its Essentials tier (NZ$9/user), KareShift is lower from 14 workers (NZ$126 vs NZ$119).
As of Aug 2026, ShiftCare does not publicly document eMAR or medication management. KareShift includes full eMAR with medication orders, rounds, PRN, controlled drugs, MAR chart, allergy alerts, and error reporting.
Built for NZ care providers
90 days free. Whaikaha compliance, Pay Equity levels, KiwiSaver payroll. No credit card.
Start Free Trial — 90 Days FreeQuestions? Email hello@kareshift.com