Best Nursing Agency Apps in 2026: 8 Apps Compared
Compare the best nursing agency apps for per diem shifts, pay speed, and flexibility. We reviewed 8 real platforms nurses use to pick up shifts in 2026.
- Editor's choice
Clipboard HealthBooking shifts without approval
Starts atFreeVisit clipboard.comFull review - Great alternative
ShiftKeyBidding on your own rate
Starts atFreeVisit shiftkey.comFull review - Also consider
NursaDirect facility shifts
Starts atFreeVisit nursa.comFull review
TL;DR:
- Most of the best nursing agency apps are free for clinicians, and you pay nothing to browse shifts, since facilities pay the platform.
- Per diem apps suit nurses who want control over their schedule, while travel platforms suit nurses who want a longer contract and benefits.
- Pay speed, shift cancellation rules, and local facility coverage matter more than a flashy app design.
- Credential checks, license verification, and background screening are part of every serious platform, so set up your profile before you need a shift.
- Our pick for most nurses starting with per diem work is Clipboard Health for its simple booking flow, with ShiftKey close behind for nurses who want to bid on rates.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starts at | Free plan? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clipboard Health | Booking shifts without approval | Free | Yes | Visit |
| ShiftKey | Bidding on your own rate | Free | Yes | Visit |
| Nursa | Direct facility shifts | Free | Yes | Visit |
 CareRev | Hospital and health system shifts | Free | Yes | Visit |
 IntelyCare | Per diem work with benefits options | Free | Yes | Visit |
 ShiftMed | Guaranteed shift options | Free | Yes | Visit |
 Medely | Higher acuity per diem shifts | Free | Yes | Visit |
 ConnectRN | Community and repeat facilities | Free | Yes | Visit |
The best nursing agency apps
Per diem nursing has changed how many nurses plan their week. Instead of calling a staffing office and waiting for a callback, you can open an app, see open shifts near you, and claim one that fits your license and your life. The eight apps below are all active in the United States in October 2026, and each one works a little differently.
Clipboard Health is built around speed and control. You browse open shifts at nearby facilities, check the rate and the shift time, and book directly in the app. For many nurses, that direct booking step is the main draw, because it removes the wait for a scheduler to confirm you. The app also covers a wide range of roles, from certified nursing assistants to registered nurses, which helps if your household has more than one clinician picking up work.
The honest catch is coverage. In a large metro area, you may see many shifts each day. In a smaller market, the list can be thin, and popular weekend shifts go fast. Pay attention to cancellation rules and facility ratings before you claim, and keep your credentials current so a last minute shift is not blocked by an expired document.
- Book a shift with no facility approval step
- Instant payout option after a shift
- Clear pay rates shown before you claim
- Shift availability varies a lot by city
- Instant payout carries a small fee
ShiftKey works like a marketplace where facilities post shifts and clinicians can bid. If you know your local market well, that bidding model can work in your favor on hard to fill shifts, such as nights and weekends. The platform is well known in long term care, so nurses and aides who like skilled nursing settings often find steady options here.
Bidding also cuts the other way. When several clinicians want the same shift, the winning bid may be lower than you hoped. We suggest setting a floor rate you will not go below, and skipping shifts that fall under it. That discipline keeps per diem work worth your time instead of turning it into a race to the bottom.
- Bid on shifts to set your own rate
- Strong presence in long term care and skilled nursing
- Flexible scheduling with no long contract
- Bidding can mean lower pay if many clinicians bid on the same shift
- You need to watch the market in your area
Nursa connects clinicians straight to facilities that need coverage, without a traditional recruiter in the middle. You create a profile, upload your license and credentials, and pick up shifts that match your role. The direct model appeals to nurses who want to build familiarity with a small set of nearby facilities, since repeat shifts at the same place make the workday smoother.
The main limit is geography. Nursa does not operate everywhere, so check your state and city before you count on it as your main source of shifts. It works best as one of two or three apps you keep active, so you have a backup when one platform is quiet in your area.
- Facilities post shifts directly
- No long term contract
- Pay can arrive within about a day of a completed shift in many cases
- Coverage is limited to the states where Nursa operates
- Shift supply depends on local facility demand
CareRev is a good fit if you prefer hospital units over long term care. The platform focuses on health system shifts, and that focus shows in the kinds of postings you see, from med surg to specialty units in larger facilities. Nurses who already work in a hospital setting often find the expectations familiar, which makes a first per diem shift less stressful.
Hospital shifts also attract more applicants, so you may need to claim quickly when a good shift appears. Keep your unit experience up to date in your profile, because facilities use that detail when they review who has claimed a shift. CareRev also publishes pay details up front, which helps you compare a hospital shift with a long term care shift on the same day.
- Focus on hospital and health system work
- Local shifts with competitive rates
- Tools to manage availability and pay
- Hospital shifts can be more competitive than long term care shifts
- Coverage varies by market
IntelyCare blends per diem flexibility with some of the support nurses usually associate with staff jobs. Clinicians who work a qualifying number of hours may be able to access benefits, which is unusual in per diem work and worth checking if you rely on this income. The platform covers hospitals, long term care, and other care settings, so you are not locked into one kind of facility.
Read the eligibility details carefully before you assume a benefit applies to you. Hours thresholds and plan terms change, and they differ from a staff job. Still, for nurses who want flexibility without giving up every benefit, IntelyCare deserves a place on your shortlist.
- Per diem shifts through an app
- Benefits options for clinicians who work enough hours
- Wide range of facility types
- Benefits depend on hours worked and eligibility rules
- Shift supply varies by region
ShiftMed stands out for clinicians who want more predictability than pure per diem work usually offers. Some of its programs include guaranteed shifts, which can help you plan income and childcare with more confidence. The app still lets you pick up shifts around that core schedule, so you keep a degree of control.
Guaranteed hours are not free of trade offs. A guarantee may ask you to commit to certain days or to a set number of shifts, so read the terms for your program before you sign up. If your life needs full freedom week to week, a standard per diem app may fit better. If you want a steadier base, ShiftMed is worth a closer look.
- Guaranteed shift options in some programs
- Fast pay options
- Shifts for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs
- Guaranteed shifts may come with schedule commitments
- Availability depends on your market
Medely focuses on on demand staffing for facilities that need skilled clinicians, often in hospital and higher acuity settings. That focus means the vetting process is thorough, which can slow your first shift, but it also helps explain why rates can be strong once you are approved. Nurses with ICU, emergency, or other specialty experience tend to get the most from this platform.
If you mainly work in long term care or assisted living, Medely may have fewer shifts for you than a broader platform. Think of it as a specialist tool: excellent for the right clinician, and less useful as a general backup. Keep a broader app active alongside it if you want coverage across settings.
- Focus on per diem work in hospitals and higher acuity settings
- Vetting that supports higher pay rates
- Clear shift details
- Vetting can take longer than on simpler platforms
- Fewer shifts in lower acuity settings
ConnectRN combines shift booking with a community feel, which some nurses prefer over a bare marketplace. You can find shifts, manage your schedule, and connect with other clinicians, and repeat work at familiar facilities is a common pattern on the platform. That familiarity matters, because knowing the charting system and the unit layout makes a shift far less tiring.
As with every app here, local supply is the deciding factor. ConnectRN is stronger in some cities than in others, so treat it as part of a small set of apps rather than your only source. Check bonus offers in the app itself, since public bonus claims change often and the in app terms are the ones that count.
- Community features for clinicians
- Shifts across many care settings
- Bonuses and support for new users in some programs
- Shift volume varies by city
- Bonus terms change and should be checked before you rely on them
How we picked these
We compared official feature pages, pricing and pay pages, app store listings, and public reviews for per diem and agency platforms active in the United States in October 2026. We kept only platforms that let clinicians browse and claim real shifts through an app or online platform, and we left out traditional agencies that work only by phone and recruiter assignment. We also weighed role coverage, facility types, pay transparency, pay speed, and how widely each platform operates, because a great app with no shifts near you is not useful.
What to check before you claim a shift
Start with your license and credentials. Upload a current license, certifications, immunization records, and any background check documents the platform asks for, then check expiry dates each month. A lapsed document is the most common reason a clinician loses a shift they wanted, and it is easy to prevent with a quick monthly check.
Next, compare the full shift, not just the hourly rate. Look at drive time, parking, unit type, patient load where stated, start time, and cancellation rules. A slightly lower rate close to home can beat a higher rate that adds an hour of driving each way, especially on a night shift. Also note whether pay is weekly, next day, or instant, and whether instant pay carries a fee.
Finally, protect yourself on taxes and benefits. Per diem pay through these apps is usually taxable income, and you may not get health insurance, paid time off, or retirement contributions through the platform. Set aside money for taxes, keep records of mileage and expenses, and talk to a tax professional if per diem work becomes a large share of your income. This is general information, not financial advice.
Questions to ask any platform
Ask how cancellations work on both sides, what happens if a facility cancels late, and how disputes over hours are handled. Ask whether you are classed as an employee or an independent contractor for that platform, because that status affects taxes and benefits. Ask about support hours too, since a shift problem at 5 a.m. needs a real answer, not a form that gets read on Monday.
Building a steady per diem routine
Most nurses we read about in public reviews do best with two or three active apps. One app covers your main setting, one covers a backup setting, and one covers a different part of town. Claim shifts a few days ahead when you can, keep one rest day protected each week, and track which facilities you enjoy so you can favor repeat shifts there. Over time, familiarity with a facility often matters more than a small pay difference.
FAQ
What is the best per diem nursing app?
There is no single winner for every nurse, because local shift supply decides so much of the experience. Clipboard Health is a strong starting point for simple direct booking, ShiftKey suits nurses who want to bid on rates, and CareRev suits nurses who prefer hospital shifts. Try two apps in your city for two weeks, then keep the one with better shifts for your license and schedule.
Are nursing agency apps free for nurses?
Yes, the apps on this list are free for clinicians to join and use to browse shifts. Facilities pay the platform, not the nurse, in the standard model. Watch for optional costs instead, such as a small fee for instant payout, background check fees in some cases, or travel costs you pay yourself.
How much can you earn with the best nursing agency apps?
Earnings vary by license, specialty, city, shift time, and facility type, and they are not guaranteed income. Night, weekend, and holiday shifts often pay more than weekday day shifts, and hospital shifts often pay differently from long term care shifts. Compare the posted rate for the exact shift, after any platform fees, rather than trusting a headline hourly figure.
Do I need experience to use a per diem nursing app?
Most platforms require an active license and completed credential checks, and many facilities prefer clinicians with some experience in the setting. New graduates can still find shifts, especially in long term care, but hospital shifts may ask for unit experience. Build your profile with honest experience details, and start with settings where you are already confident.
Can I work per diem while I hold a staff job?
Many nurses do, but check your staff job contract first for moonlighting rules, non compete terms, or limits on working at competing facilities. Also watch fatigue and patient safety: a per diem shift after a run of staff shifts can leave you tired, and tired clinicians make more errors. Protect rest days, and be honest with yourself about how many shifts you can safely work in a week.