# Survivor Pool Optimizer vs ZGuards Max

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ZGuards Max at none against Survivor Pool Optimizer's 1. Survivor Pool Optimizer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Survivor Pool Optimizer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. ZGuards Max asks for nothing beyond the download.

Survivor Pool Optimizer ships an update daily, ZGuards Max every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Survivor Pool Optimizer | ZGuards Max |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/survivor-pool-optimizer/id1641574665/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **16** | — |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 164 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Montalbano](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481125271) | [ZSmart LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718467831) |

## What reviewers say

### Survivor Pool Optimizer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/survivor-pool-optimizer/id1641574665)

This tool helps you win your NFL survivor pool by optimizing your picks. Customize future week importance, required picks, team exclusions, and minimum win percentages. View the NFL schedule with projected win percentages for every game to find the highest probability path to survival.

**Highlights:** Customize future week importance, Set required picks per week, Define team pick/exclusion rules, Set minimum win percentage for suggestions, Optimize until a specific week, View NFL schedule with win percentages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access | $9.99 | per month |


### ZGuards Max

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zguards-max/id6473126201)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Survivor Pool Optimizer free?

Survivor Pool Optimizer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ZGuards Max free?

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

### Do Survivor Pool Optimizer or ZGuards Max have ads?

ZGuards Max shows ads; Survivor Pool Optimizer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Survivor Pool Optimizer or ZGuards Max?

Survivor Pool Optimizer ships an update daily, and ZGuards Max every 5 weeks. Most recently, Survivor Pool Optimizer was updated on September 27, 2026 and ZGuards Max on October 3, 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.*