# Sparkbird vs ABA Community

The clearest difference is rating: Sparkbird at 4.7 against ABA Community's 3.4. Sparkbird also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 63%) and ratings volume (48 vs 9). ABA Community's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sparkbird sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. ABA Community asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sparkbird holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sparkbird has 48 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Sparkbird's written reviews are positive against 63% of ABA Community's.

Sparkbird ships an update every 6 weeks, ABA Community every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sparkbird | ABA Community |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkbird/id1440685638/reviews)** | [3.4 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aba-community/id1639941896/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **48** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | **88.9% of reviews** | 62.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 86 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sentryware LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1440685637) | [AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION, INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639941898) |

## What reviewers say

### Sparkbird

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkbird/id1440685638)

Connect with fellow birdwatchers, track your sightings, and identify new species with AI assistance. Share your birding adventures and discover rare finds in a supportive community.

**Highlights:** Personal Life List tracking, Detailed sighting logs with media, Real-time sighting alerts, AI bird identification assistance, Community sharing and learning, Photo and video capture

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sparkbird Plus 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Sparkbird Plus 3 Months | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Sparkbird Plus 12 Months | $49.99 | per year |


### ABA Community

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aba-community/id1639941896)

Connect with fellow bird enthusiasts in a dedicated online community. Engage in themed groups, participate in forums, and get expert advice on bird identification, gear, and travel. Access exclusive opportunities as an ABA member.

**Highlights:** Connect with fellow birders, Engage in themed groups, Participate in forums, Get birding advice, Access exclusive opportunities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sparkbird free?

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

### Is ABA Community free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sparkbird or ABA Community?

Sparkbird is rated higher. Sparkbird averages 4.7 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while ABA Community averages 3.4 from 9 ratings.

### Do Sparkbird or ABA Community have ads?

Neither Sparkbird nor ABA Community shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sparkbird or ABA Community?

Sparkbird ships an update every 6 weeks, and ABA Community every 2 months. Most recently, Sparkbird was updated on October 24, 2026 and ABA Community 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.*