# Spireworks vs Ping

The clearest difference is rating: Ping at 4.9 against Spireworks's 3.5. Ping also leads on review sentiment (98% vs 58%) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Ping holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 136 and 107 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Spireworks's written reviews are positive against 98% of Ping's.

Spireworks ships an update every 2 months, Ping every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spireworks | Ping |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spireworks/id1372884614/reviews) | **[4.9 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ping-social-map/id1659229059/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **136** | 107 |
| Positive reviews | 58.3% of reviews | **97.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 96 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Spireworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1372884613) | [Sodality Technologies Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609277658) |

## What reviewers say

### Spireworks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spireworks/id1372884614)

Control iconic building spire lights from your phone, choosing colors and special effects. Request an invite to participate in this unique experience and support charitable causes.

**Highlights:** Sign in and control spire lights, Select colors and special effects, View real-time light changes, Support charities and special events, Request an invite

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Changing building lights is cool
- 🤩 Amazing concept/idea
- 👍 App updates are awesome
- 🔥 Allows changing colors of One Bryant Park

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive usage fee ($10 for 2 mins)
- 🚫 Invite-only access is frustrating
- 🤔 Users question if it works
- ⏳ Long wait for access requests
- 💰 Per-session donation model disliked

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work
- No difference in building lights
- App requires donation every time
- App didn't work after donation
- App shows only yellow, doesn't change spire

**Requested features**

- Subscription all-access fee
- Fundraiser events
- Access to all buildings
- One-time donation option
- Unlimited access option


### Ping

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ping-social-map/id1659229059)

Share your current status and see where friends are on a live map. Get notified when friends are nearby and use quick pings to coordinate meetups. It's a location-based social utility for real-time updates.

**Highlights:** Map statuses of friends, Real-time friend location updates, Notifications for nearby friends, Quick ping feature for meetups, Live snapshot of friend activities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Great idea for connecting friends
- 👍 Easy to use and fun
- 🚀 Helps make new friends
- 📍 Useful for spontaneous meetups
- 🗺️ Good for seeing friends' locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Potential security concerns (hacking)
- ❓ UI can be a bit busy at times

**Requested features**

- Get all friends on the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spireworks free?

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

### Is Ping free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Spireworks or Ping?

Ping is rated higher. Spireworks averages 3.5 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while Ping averages 4.9 from 107 ratings.

### Do Spireworks or Ping have ads?

Neither Spireworks nor Ping shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spireworks or Ping?

Spireworks ships an update every 2 months, and Ping every 2 days. Most recently, Spireworks was updated on October 23, 2026 and Ping on October 24, 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.*