How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Clipboard Health is the largest per diem marketplace: browse local shifts, claim them in the app, and choose instant pay for a small fee or free pay in a few days.
- ShiftKey lets you bid your own rate on shifts, with strength in long term care and skilled nursing, and next day pay options.
- Nursa posts rates upfront with no contracts and no minimum hours, and many clinicians work as 1099 contractors there, which changes your taxes.
- CareRev focuses on hospital and health system shifts, and ShiftMed offers guaranteed shift options and W-2 style employment in many markets.
- The warning every clinician should read: legitimate platforms never charge you a fee to pick up a shift, and they verify your licence and credentials before your first booking. Verify the facility independently, keep your documents inside the official app, and be suspicious of anyone recruiting over text or social media who asks for money or banking details.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Clipboard Health | The biggest per diem shift marketplace | Free | Yes |
 ShiftKey | Bidding your rate in long term care | Free | Yes |
 Nursa | Upfront rates and instant pay options | Free | Yes |
 CareRev | Hospital and health system shifts | Free | Yes |
 ShiftMed | Guaranteed shifts and steadier work | Free | Yes |
 IntelyCare | Per diem with benefits at enough hours | Free | Yes |
 Vivian Health | Comparing agency and travel pay openly | Free | Yes |
 Medely | Higher acuity per diem shifts | Free | Yes |
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The best nursing shift apps
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Clipboard Health is the name most per diem clinicians start with, because the shift pool is deep and the mechanics are simple: verify your credentials once, browse what is open near you, claim it, work it, get paid. The instant pay option, money within minutes for a fee or in days for free, is the feature users praise most.
The trade off is discipline enforced by algorithm. Reviews describe a points system where a cancellation for a sick child can cost most of your standing, and recovery is slow. Clipboard Health fits clinicians with reliable availability who can protect their score, and who value shift volume and pay speed over forgiveness.
What we like- A large pool of shifts across nursing homes, hospitals, and clinics in many US markets
- Claim shifts directly in the app, with rates shown before you book
- Instant pay available after a shift for a small fee, or free payment within a few days
- Covers nurses and aides across many roles
Watch out for- A strict points and reliability system penalises cancellations heavily, including genuine emergencies, per user reviews
- Facilities can cancel late with less consequence than clinicians face
- Rates vary widely by market, and some users report the platform's margin is large
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
ShiftKey's bidding changes the negotiation. Rather than take the posted rate, you name yours, and facilities accept the bids that suit them. In long term care, where ShiftKey built its base, experienced CNAs, LPNs, and RNs learn what their market clears at and price themselves accordingly. Credential automation keeps your documents current so a lapsed file never silently blocks you.
The trade off is uncertainty. A bid is not a booking, and income planning around auctions takes experience. ShiftKey fits clinicians in post acute and long term care who know their local market and would rather negotiate than accept.
What we like- A bidding marketplace: propose your rate for a shift instead of accepting a posted one
- Strong in long term care, skilled nursing, and assisted living
- Next day pay through its paycard, or weekly direct deposit
- Automated credential tracking warns you before documents expire
Watch out for- Bidding means desirable shifts can go to lower bids
- Facility coverage varies by region
- Contractor style engagement means handling your own taxes
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Nursa pitches transparency: see the rate, see the facility, apply, and let the facility choose. Its own material is frank that shifts are 1099 contracts, which is why the hourly numbers can look higher than staff roles; nothing is withheld, so a share of every payment belongs to the tax authority until you settle it. Instant pay on eligible shifts is the other draw.
The trade off is that homework. Set aside tax money from every shift, track your expenses, and expect quarterly payments if you earn steadily. Nursa fits organised clinicians who want rate clarity and flexibility, and who treat the 1099 side as a small business they run properly.
What we like- Rates shown upfront on every shift, with no contracts and no minimum hours
- Facilities review applicants and both sides rate each other after the shift
- Nursa Direct can pay instantly on eligible shifts after in app check out
- Popular with CNAs, LPNs, and RNs for PRN work
Watch out for- Many clinicians are engaged as 1099 contractors, so no tax is withheld and no benefits attach
- You apply and wait for selection rather than claiming instantly
- Facility density varies by state
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
CareRev aims at the acute care end of per diem work. Its health system partnerships mean the shifts are hospital shifts, med surg, telemetry, ICU, ED, with the credential and experience checks that implies. For hospital nurses who want extra shifts without a travel contract, it is the natural first download alongside Clipboard.
The trade off is access. CareRev's selectivity keeps rates respectable and shuts out clinicians without recent acute experience. CareRev fits experienced hospital nurses and allied professionals in its active markets who want per diem flexibility inside real health systems.
What we like- Focused on hospitals and health systems rather than nursing homes
- Professional roles across nursing and allied health
- Fast pay options after shifts
- Credential verification handled inside the platform
Watch out for- A smaller facility network than Clipboard, concentrated in certain regions
- Hospital shifts demand current acute care experience, so it is not an entry door
- Shift supply rises and falls with hospital census
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
ShiftMed is the steadier temperament in this category. Guaranteed shifts address the gig nurse's worst surprise, the shift cancelled on the drive in, and its W-2 model in many markets suits clinicians who want taxes withheld and an employer of record rather than contractor paperwork.
The trade off is a little less freedom and sometimes a little less top rate. ShiftMed fits clinicians building a regular per diem routine, especially in long term care, who value predictability of income over squeezing the highest bid.
What we like- Guaranteed shift options, where pay is protected if a facility cancels
- Employs many clinicians as W-2 staff, with the withholding and structure that brings
- A large facility network across post acute and hospital settings
- Next day and instant pay features
Watch out for- W-2 employment can mean more onboarding and scheduling rules than pure marketplaces
- Availability and employment model vary by state
- Rates can trail the highest bidding marketplaces
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
IntelyCare's difference is what happens around the shifts. Where most marketplaces treat clinicians as pure contractors, IntelyCare employs its nurses and aides and offers benefits pathways for those working regularly, which blurs the line between agency work and a flexible job. In post acute markets, that structure attracts clinicians who want per diem freedom without giving up a benefits floor.
The trade off is reach and thresholds. Work too few hours and you have a standard marketplace with a smaller map. IntelyCare fits CNAs and nurses in its states who can work enough hours for the employment benefits to become real.
What we like- Per diem shifts with an employment model that can include benefits for clinicians who work enough hours
- Strong in nursing homes and post acute care
- An app based schedule with rates shown per shift
- Support and training resources for aides and nurses
Watch out for- Benefits depend on hours worked, so casual users will not qualify
- Concentrated in certain states and facility types
- Less hospital work than CareRev or Clipboard
#7
Vivian Health
Best for: Comparing agency and travel pay openly
Visit vivian.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Vivian is the comparison shop. Travel agencies, hospitals, and staffing firms post roles with pay ranges visible, and clinicians apply with one profile. Even if you book your shifts elsewhere, Vivian's listings are the quickest reality check on whether your current rates are fair for your city and specialty.
The trade off is that Vivian does not run your shifts. The employer behind each post sets the terms, the pay, and the reliability. Vivian Health fits clinicians weighing per diem against travel or a staff move, and anyone who negotiates better with market data in hand.
What we like- A jobs platform spanning travel contracts, staff roles, and per diem, with pay shown upfront on many listings
- Salary transparency is its founding pitch, so rates are easier to compare than anywhere else
- One profile serves applications across many agencies and employers
- Useful market data on what roles pay by city
Watch out for- It is a marketplace of employers rather than a single shift app, so the experience varies by poster
- Per diem depth is thinner than Clipboard's
- Recruiters from listed agencies will contact you, which not everyone wants
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Medely positions itself as the professionals' per diem pool: operating rooms, PACU, ICU, and specialty roles where facilities pay for verified experience. Its stricter credentialing is pitched as the reason rates hold up, and speciality clinicians often find shifts here that general marketplaces do not carry.
The trade off is the door. Newer clinicians and aides will find fewer openings, and onboarding takes longer. Medely fits experienced speciality nurses and allied professionals in metro areas who want per diem work at their actual skill level.
What we like- Per diem shifts with a focus on higher acuity settings, including hospitals and surgical centres
- Careful vetting, which the company credits for sustaining professional rates
- Covers nurses and allied roles such as surgical techs
- An established platform in major metro markets
Watch out for- The vetting bar means slower onboarding and fewer entry level openings
- Shift supply concentrates in larger cities
- Like other marketplaces, cancellation policies deserve a careful read
How we chose
We compared the platforms clinicians name most in 2026 staffing guides and app reviews, and checked how each handles the four things that decide a per diem clinician's experience: how shifts are claimed, how and how fast pay arrives, the employment model, and cancellation treatment. Rates are deliberately not printed, because per shift pay is set per facility and market and any figure here would mislead someone in a different city. Every platform listed is free for clinicians to join and verifies credentials before booking. We did not work shifts or claim hands on testing.
Before your first shift: verification, taxes, and scams
Verify the work before you work it. Legitimate platforms verify you first: licence, certifications, background check, and health documents, all inside the official app or its secure portal. Confirm the facility is real and the shift is confirmed in the app before you travel, and keep all communication inside the platform, where a record exists if pay is disputed.
Understand your employment shape, because it decides your April. On W-2 platforms, tax is withheld and the platform is your employer for that work. On 1099 platforms such as much of Nursa, nothing is withheld: set aside a fixed share of every payment, keep receipts for scrubs, mileage, and licence renewals, and expect quarterly tax payments once the income is steady. The higher hourly rate is partly your own tax money passing through your hands.
Finally, the scam warning, stated plainly. No legitimate nursing platform charges clinicians a fee to pick up shifts, to release pay, or to verify credentials. Recruiters who approach you by text or social media, ask you to buy gift cards or equipment, request your banking login, or offer pay far above your market for vague duties are not recruiters. Facilities and platforms will never ask you to pay to start work. If an offer arrives outside the official apps in this guide, check it by contacting the facility or platform through their published channels, not through the number that messaged you.
Frequently asked questions
Do these apps charge nurses to join or to book shifts?
No. Every platform in this guide is free for clinicians; facilities pay the platform. That is the standard model across Clipboard Health, ShiftKey, Nursa, and the rest. Anyone asking you for a sign up fee, a credential release fee, or payment to release your earnings is running a scam, whatever logo they use.
What is the difference between W-2 and 1099 shift apps?
On a W-2 platform, such as ShiftMed in many markets or IntelyCare, the platform employs you: taxes are withheld, and benefits may attach at enough hours. On a 1099 marketplace, you are an independent contractor: the rate looks higher, but you owe the tax yourself, get no benefits, and should set money aside from every shift. Neither is automatically better; the honest comparison is after tax, after benefits.
How fast do nurses get paid on these apps?
Fast pay is now standard. Clipboard offers instant pay after a shift for a small fee, or free payment in a few days; Nursa Direct pays instantly on eligible shifts; ShiftKey pays next day on its paycard or weekly by deposit; ShiftMed and CareRev also advertise next day style options. Read the fee before choosing instant: a small percentage of every shift, taken weekly, becomes real money across a year.
How do the apps verify my licence and credentials?
During sign up, inside the app: you upload your nursing licence, certifications such as BLS, identification, and health records, and the platform verifies them against state databases and runs a background check. Facilities may add their own requirements. Keeping documents current inside the app matters, because expired credentials quietly remove you from search results.
Can a facility cancel my shift at the last minute?
Yes, and how each platform handles that is a real difference between them. Some, like ShiftMed, sell guaranteed shifts where pay is protected. On open marketplaces, facilities often cancel with less penalty than clinicians face for cancelling, a frustration that dominates user reviews of the biggest apps. Protect yourself: favour facilities with good ratings, confirm the shift in the app before travelling, and build your reputation score carefully in your first months, since it decides which shifts you are offered.
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Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.