# Spireworks vs SideQuest

The clearest difference is rating: SideQuest at 5.0 against Spireworks's 3.6. SideQuest also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 58%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). Spireworks's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SideQuest sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Spireworks asks for nothing beyond the download.

SideQuest holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spireworks has 135 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Spireworks's written reviews are positive against 100% of SideQuest's.

Spireworks ships an update every 2 months, SideQuest every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spireworks | SideQuest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spireworks/id1372884614/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidequest-tiny-adventures/id6781441096/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **135** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 58.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 96 MB | 392 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spireworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1372884613) | [OMG Career](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822692415) |

## 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


### SideQuest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidequest-tiny-adventures/id6781441096)

Discover and complete real-life quests designed to turn ordinary days into small adventures. Earn XP, collect badges, and document your experiences in a personal journal. Packs can be unlocked with one-time purchases.

**Highlights:** Curated quest packs, Real-life challenges, XP and badge system, Personal quest journal, Solo or group play, One-time pack purchases

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One SideQuest Pack Key | $9.99 | one-time |
| Originals Vault | $14.99 | one-time |
| Discounted Originals Vault | $19.99 | one-time |
| Originals Vault | $34.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spireworks free?

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

### Is SideQuest free?

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

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

SideQuest is rated higher. Spireworks averages 3.6 out of 5 from 135 ratings, while SideQuest averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Spireworks or SideQuest have ads?

SideQuest shows ads; Spireworks does not.

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

Spireworks ships an update every 2 months, and SideQuest every 4 days. Most recently, Spireworks was updated on October 19, 2026 and SideQuest on October 15, 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.*