ActivStars vs EMK
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ActivStars
This app allows parents to conveniently enroll their children in youth recreation programs like Cheer, Soccer, and Karate. Stay updated with organizational news, receive push notifications, and manage class schedules and attendance. You can also purchase necessary gear directly through the app.
- Enroll in recreation programs
- Register for classes and events
- Receive organizational news
- Push notifications
- Check class schedules
- Purchase program gear
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ActivStars is the leading US provider of affordable youth recreation programs for all families with children ages 4-17. Unlike franchise or volunteer recreation programs, we are company-owned and operated. We partner closely with schools, use trained coaching staff, and focus on teamwork, fun, safety, and friendship. Discover the amazing fun that awaits with Cheer, Soccer, and Karate programs. What you are able to do: Conveniently enroll in ActivStars Programs -Register for classes or events directly from your iPhone or iPad. Keep connected to ActivStars -Stay up to date with the latest news and organizational announcements! -Subscribe to push notifications directly to your lock screen. -Present event tickets directly from the app to be scanned for event entry. - Check class schedules and stay current on attendance. Get the gear needed for a class directly from the app.
EMK
Access martial arts program details, register for events, and view school updates. Track payments, ranks, and attendance history. Refer friends and check class schedules.
- Event registration
- Program enrollment
- School updates
- Messaging
- Curriculum viewing
- History tracking
- Friend referrals
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This app is for members and those who are interested in our award winning programs. * Register for our events * Enroll in our martial arts programs * Get School Updates * Send messages * View our curriculum * View payment, rank and attendance history * Refer your friends * Quick access to our class schedule
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: EMK at 4.8 against ActivStars's 2.4. ActivStars's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 23 months) and ratings volume (19 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
EMK holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 4 respectively.
ActivStars ships an update every 7 months, EMK every 23 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ActivStars | EMK |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.4 (19 ratings) | 4.8 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 19 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months — better | Every 23 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ActivStars, Inc. | East Mesa Karate, LLC |
Customer experience
ActivStars
EMK
In-app purchases
ActivStars
No in-app purchases
EMK
No in-app purchases
