Comparison

Spark Water vs Test Strip Scanner

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spark Water

This app automatically reads water test strips using your smartphone camera, providing immediate and accurate results for pool and spa water chemistry. It helps you monitor trends and interpret results easily, ensuring optimal water balance without complex visual charts.

Highlights
  • Automatic test strip reading via camera
  • Immediate and accurate results
  • Trend monitoring with historical data
  • Simple color-coded result interpretation
  • Supports pool and spa water parameters
Features
Read full description

Spark Water Test Strip Reader app is designed to work seamlessly to read Spark Diagnostics’s Water test products. This easy-to-use smartphone app for Spark Diagnostics Water test strip such as W-5P for Pool and Spa, automatically reads the test strip and delivers hassle-free, immediate, and accurate results in 30 seconds in your phone screen without having to interpret complex visual color chart. Note: App requires use of Spark Diagnostics’s W-5P and similar test strips products. The app features automatic reading of the Spark Diagnostics test strips by using your camera from the app or previously taken photos of test strip to give automatic reading. Spark Diagnostics Water test products measures Pool or Spa Water test parameter such as Free Chlorine, Hardness, Alkalinity, pH and more for maintaining healthy Pool & Spa water chemistry for optimum experience. APP FEATURES: FAST, FREE, AND CONVENIENT SMARTPHONE APP READING – easy-to-use smartphone test system app automatically reads the test strip and delivers hassle-free, immediate, and accurate results in your phone screen. TREND MONITORING: save test results in App to build historical trends. Save your spa and pool water test results to build historical trends that helps to improve consistency in maintaining your spa or pool chemical balance. SIMPLE RESULT INTERPRETATION: use the simple color indicators that guides you if the test results are low (light gray), in-required-range (green), borderline high (yellow) or high (red). Note: Instructions on the product package take precedence over the recommendations made by the app. In the event of unexpected or questionable results by App follow instructions from product package inserts.

About

Test Strip Scanner

Easily read water test strip results by taking a photo. View and export charts of chemical readings over time. Ideal for those with visual impairments or limited patience.

Highlights
  • Scan test strip results with photos
  • Save and view readings
  • Export charts of chemical trends
  • Supports multiple popular water test strips
  • No account signup required
Read full description

Test Strip Scanner makes it easy to read results from some of the most popular water test strips on the market. No signing up for an account, no data being funneled into a large company, no annoying notifications, just a handy little utility for water analysis. Test Strip Scanner lets you scan and save the readings of your strip by simply taking a photo. After that you can view & export charts of each chemical reading over your desired time frame. Test Strip Scanner is great for those with poor eyesight, colorblindness, and low patience. Test Strip Scanner supports the following strips: Water - JNW Pool & Spa 7in1 - Easy Test 7in1 - Aquachek Select Connect - HTH 6-way - Baracuda 6in1 And more to come in the future!

Screenshots

Spark Water4 screens
Test Strip Scanner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Test Strip Scanner at every 5 days against Spark Water's every 5 months. Test Strip Scanner also leads on rating (3.2 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (9 vs 2). Spark Water's advantage is iOS requirement (10.1 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Test Strip Scanner holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 9 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spark Water ships an update every 5 months, Test Strip Scanner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Spark Water versus Test Strip Scanner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpark WaterTest Strip Scanner
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)3.2 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings29 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSpark Diagnostics LLCQuentin Reiser

Customer experience

Spark Water

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

Test Strip Scanner

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative43.8%

In-app purchases

None

Spark Water

No in-app purchases

None

Test Strip Scanner

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spark Water free?
Spark Water is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Test Strip Scanner free?
Test Strip Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spark Water or Test Strip Scanner?
Test Strip Scanner is rated higher. Spark Water averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Test Strip Scanner averages 3.2 from 9 ratings.
Do Spark Water or Test Strip Scanner have ads?
Neither Spark Water nor Test Strip Scanner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spark Water or Test Strip Scanner?
Spark Water ships an update every 5 months, and Test Strip Scanner every 5 days. Most recently, Spark Water was updated on June 1, 2026 and Test Strip Scanner on September 23, 2026.

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