SubHubEdu vs. ESS & willsub+
Your subs. Your school. Your rules.
Looking for an ESS substitute alternative? ESS is a staffing agency. When a district partners with ESS, the agency takes over substitute hiring and management, and your subs become ESS employees. SubHubEdu takes a different approach: modern software that lets you run a better sub program, with no middleman.
| SubHubEdu | ESS & willsub+ | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Substitute management software | A staffing agency that runs your sub program |
| Who employs your subs? | You do. | ESS does. |
| Who picks the sub? | Your teachers and your rules, with fit-over-fill matching | The agency and its placement system |
| Cost model | Simple pricing based on your full-time teachers | A markup on sub pay, billed per sub day |
| Hiring a great sub full-time | It’s your call, with no fees | Contracts can include a finder’s fee |
| Your schedule | Custom schedules for divisions, schools, and buildings | Set up by the agency |
| Your data | Your dashboard: fill rates, sub reliability and absence patterns | Reporting through the agency |
| Getting started | Launch in a day | A transition period while subs move to agency employment |
Keep the subs who know your kids
Your best subs already know your students, your staff and your building. With SubHubEdu they stay your subs, and your teachers can put them at the top of their list.
No markup on every sub day
Agencies typically bill a percentage on top of each substitute’s pay. SubHubEdu is a simple subscription based on your teachers, so you know your cost upfront.
Fit over fill
SubHubEdu’s exclusive matching algorithm weighs teacher preferences and your school’s rules, so the right sub walks into each classroom, not just whoever is next on an agency list.
Is an agency ever the right call?
If you don’t have enough subs to start with, an agency can help you recruit more. If you have subs and need a better way to schedule them, SubHubEdu gives you control without handing your program over.
See the difference in 15 minutes.
Comparison based on ESS’s public website and published district agreements as of November 2026. Terms vary by district.