# SurgeryPal vs SubSpark

The clearest difference is rating: SubSpark at 5.0 against SurgeryPal's 2.7. SubSpark also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). SurgeryPal's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). 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.

SubSpark holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively.

SurgeryPal ships an update every 3 months, SubSpark every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SurgeryPal | SubSpark |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surgerypal/id1501756259/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subspark/id6575345302/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 34 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Seattle Children's Hospital](https://appshunter.io/developer/575737934) | [SubSpark, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759240288) |

## What reviewers say

### SurgeryPal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surgerypal/id1501756259)

This app helps teens aged 12 and up prepare for and recover from spinal fusion surgery. It offers weekly lessons and skills practice, along with symptom tracking for personalized tips. Daily use is encouraged for maximum benefit.

**Highlights:** Spinal fusion surgery preparation, Post-surgery recovery guidance, Weekly new lessons and skills, Symptom tracking, Personalized tips, Daily practice encouragement

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### SubSpark

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subspark/id6575345302)

This app streamlines substitute teacher management for schools. It allows administrators and teachers to quickly find, book, and manage substitute educators, eliminating the need for traditional, time-consuming methods. The platform aims to ensure consistent coverage and reduce scheduling chaos.

**Highlights:** Fast and easy booking of substitute teachers, Build and manage preferred substitute lists, All-in-one admin dashboard (desktop), Intuitive and user-friendly interface, Reduces scheduling complexity

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SurgeryPal free?

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

### Is SubSpark free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SurgeryPal or SubSpark?

SubSpark is rated higher. SurgeryPal averages 2.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while SubSpark averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do SurgeryPal or SubSpark have ads?

Neither SurgeryPal nor SubSpark shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SurgeryPal or SubSpark?

SurgeryPal ships an update every 3 months, and SubSpark every 5 days. Most recently, SurgeryPal was updated on October 9, 2026 and SubSpark on October 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*