# Spark vs John Widget

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Spark at none against John Widget's 1. Spark also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. John Widget sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Spark asks for nothing beyond the download.

Spark ships an update every 3 days, John Widget every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spark | John Widget |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 9 days |
| Size | 52 MB | 164 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Good Effect](https://appshunter.io/developer/432391844) | [Qian Kun zhu](https://appshunter.io/developer/967535010) |

## What reviewers say

### Spark

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-quick-note/id1109857170)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### John Widget

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-widget/id1537355334)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Edition | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spark free?

Spark is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is John Widget free?

John Widget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Spark or John Widget have ads?

Neither Spark nor John Widget shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spark or John Widget?

Spark ships an update every 3 days, and John Widget every 9 days. Most recently, Spark was updated on October 24, 2026 and John Widget on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*