Top 5 Best Substitute Teacher Scheduling & Absence Management Software

As the pandemic rages, schools in America continue to reel under budgetary cuts, increasing costs, and new uncertainties. So, it’s a good thing that there are powerful, efficient substitute management software that make their work a lot easier and help them save some costs.

We’ve compared the leading substitute management solutions against a variety of criteria and came up with this ranked list to make it easy for you to find the right option for your school or district.

1. InstaSub

Easily the most advanced and feature-rich substitute management software in the market.

Ease of Use	Brilliantly user-friendly with a flat learning curve.
Features	Automated substitute scheduling, instant job alerts, employee absence tracking, SMS notifications, 24/7 online & mobile access
Standout Features	Internal class coverage, iOS & Android apps-for subs, teachers and admin, availability calendar, analytics dashboard
Reasons to Buy	Excellent for Small and Medium-size schools and districts All-in-one absence management software Best-in-class value for money
Reasons to Avoid	Singular solution. Does not offer complete school management software

InstaSub is an advanced substitute management software that radically eliminates substitute management tasks for schools. It automates many substitute scheduling tasks, ensures that the most qualified substitutes are secured, and maximizes fill rates.

By reducing communications to text messages and app notifications, InstaSub gets more done in less time. On top of it, InstaSub features built-in analytics to give schools data-driven insights to make better operational decisions.

2. Frontline

A time-tested solution for larger school districts.

Ease of Use	Not so user-friendly, and the interface keeps changing with frequent updates
Features	Automated payroll management, cloud-based, substitute reviews, easy absence scheduling and tracking, substitute history, and quick notifications
Standout Features	Other districts’ performance analytics for comparison, online training support
Reasons to Buy	Benchmarking with other districts’ helps performance improvement A proven solution with a good track record.
Reasons to Avoid	Most expensive solution in the market Hefty annual price increases Customer service wait times can be challenging Text notifications not available. .

Frontline Absence Management, formerly known as Aesop, is one of the oldest solutions in the business. Frequent updates over the years have ensured that Frontline is up to date in terms of technology and features.

Although it offers plenty of features for schools, teachers, and substitutes, the user interface of the software keeps changing. Changes that require little documentation or training to the users. Besides this impediment to a clean user experience, Frontline is an excellent tool.

3. Smart Find Express

An easy-to-use solution that simplifies the lives of school admins, teachers, and substitutes.

Ease of Use	Exceptionally user-friendly.
Features	Automated substitutes scheduling, absence & attendance tracking, customizable substitutes list, job listing, and easy applications, and automated notifications
Standout Features	Customizable reports;swift notifications via email, mobile app, and automated phone calls.
Reasons to Buy	30+ years of experience in absence management solutions Interactive voice response (IVR) technology adds another dimension of convenience
Reasons to Avoid	Their mobile apps tend to be buggy and unusable Has a steep learning curve (difficult) for users

Smart Find Express is an absence and substitute management solution from one of the industry’s best-known brands. The solution is baked with several cutting-edge features that make it a pleasant experience for your users – admins and teachers alike – to use the software.

Due to the presence of so many features, the software can feel bulky and confusing to users initially, but once they get the hang of it, it’seffortless to use. The mobile apps, however, require some thought into their design.

4. ReadySub

A powerful, fully loaded substitute management solution for big districts.

Ease of Use	Fairly user-friendly.
Features	Financial management, reporting and analytics, automated substitutes scheduling, absence & attendance tracking, real-time job notifications, mobile app for iOS, and cloud-based solution
Standout Features	Automated substitute matching for classes; swift notifications via text, email, mobile app, and automated phone calls; easy integration with a variety of school management tools
Reasons to Buy	Outstanding human-centric customer service In-depth training, resources, and frequently updated knowledgebase
Reasons to Avoid	No Android app. It’s still in the pipeline Too expensive for small and medium-size schools and districts

ReadySub Teacher Placement Software is an all-in-one substitute management solution that brings you almost every feature and functionality you’d ever need. However, it’s an enterprise-grade solution designed for large school districts.

And, that’s reflected in its relatively high pricing. However, the software does come with solid customer support.

5. EZ School Apps Substitute Management Software

An affordable solution for schools looking for the basics.

Ease of Use	Simple and easy to use
Features	Automated substitute teacher scheduling, absence & attendance tracking, real-time job notifications, automatic notifications via text and email, substitute groups, and payroll management
Standout Features	Excellent customer support via phone and email, mobile apps
Reasons to Buy	Lowest priced solution US-based customer support Available with a complete suite of school management software
Reasons to Avoid	Lacks advanced features

The Substitute Management Software from EZ School Apps is one of the most affordable solutions in the market. Although they lack some of the more modern features like substitute matching, and customizable reports, they more than make up for it with reliable and responsive customer support. One of the many things that schools love about this software is that it’s just one of the many school management solutions offered by EZ School Apps.

A good substitute management software should reduce manual labor, help schools schedule the suitable substitute efficiently, and require minimal oversight. That’s how schools can save time, energy, and costs on their operations, while ensuring students’ learning continuity. So, choose wisely.

To learn more about InstaSub and how it can simplify your substitute management, get in touch.