# ActivStars vs EMK

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | ActivStars | EMK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activstars/id1469116053/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emk/id1609302945/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 23 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ActivStars, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469116052) | [East Mesa Karate, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609302947) |

## What reviewers say

### ActivStars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activstars/id1469116053)

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.

**Highlights:** Enroll in recreation programs, Register for classes and events, Receive organizational news, Push notifications, Check class schedules, Purchase program gear

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### EMK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emk/id1609302945)

Access martial arts program details, register for events, and view school updates. Track payments, ranks, and attendance history. Refer friends and check class schedules.

**Highlights:** Event registration, Program enrollment, School updates, Messaging, Curriculum viewing, History tracking, Friend referrals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ActivStars free?

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

### Is EMK free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ActivStars or EMK?

EMK is rated higher. ActivStars averages 2.4 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while EMK averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do ActivStars or EMK have ads?

Neither ActivStars nor EMK shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ActivStars or EMK?

ActivStars ships an update every 7 months, and EMK every 23 months. Most recently, ActivStars was updated on October 21, 2026 and EMK 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.*