# Banner Basic vs Spark

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Banner Basic at 56% against Spark's 4%. Banner Basic also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and rating (3.2 vs 2.9). Spark's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (203 vs 25). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spark sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Banner Basic asks for nothing beyond the download.

Banner Basic holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark has 203 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Banner Basic's written reviews are positive against 4% of Spark's.

Banner Basic ships an update every 2 months, Spark every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Banner Basic | Spark |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.2 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banner-basic/id285522567/reviews)** | [2.9 (203 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-pro-screensavers/id6450141767/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 25 | **203** |
| Positive reviews | **56.2% of reviews** | 3.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 6 MB | 194 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.7** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Masayuki Akamatsu](https://appshunter.io/developer/284722836) | [Danute Noreika](https://appshunter.io/developer/1692029799) |

## What reviewers say

### Banner Basic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banner-basic/id285522567)

Create custom LED-style messages and display them on your device. Show text, symbols, date, time, music info, and even social media feeds. Customize scrolling, blinking, colors, and element shapes for a unique display.

**Highlights:** Customizable LED-style messages, Display symbols, date, and time, Show music artist and song, Integrate social media feeds, Adjust scroll and blink speed, Customize element size and shape, Color customization with randomization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🤩 Fun and creative
- 🙌 Useful for communicating across a room
- 😊 Great for quick messages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- ⏱️ Slow scrolling speed
- 🎨 Limited customization options
- 💤 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Distorted text display
- Incompatibility with iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Speed control for scrolling
- Color and font customization
- Ability to save/recall preset messages
- Orientation and display options
- Improved performance and stability


### Spark

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-pro-screensavers/id6450141767)

Personalize your iPhone and Apple Watch with a vast collection of high-quality wallpapers and watch faces. Discover exclusive designs, enjoy a seamless display, and easily find your favorites with intuitive navigation. Refresh your devices with elegant and unique aesthetics.

**Highlights:** Exclusive wallpaper and watch face collection, Optimized for perfect device fit, Easy navigation and search, Favorites folder for quick access, Premium and exclusive designs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spark PRO - Premium week. | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Spark PRO - Premium Week. | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Full Access | $9.99 | per month |
| Full Access | $19.99 | per month |
| Full Access | $39.99 | per year |
| Spark PRO - Lifetime Premium. | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Faces not bad
- 🚀 Amazing Watch Faces

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work
- 🐛 Faces keep disappearing
- 🐛 Watch face does not stay on watch
- 🐛 Problem!
- 🐛 Does not integrate with Apple

**Reported bugs**

- Watch faces disappear after a short time
- Faces not available as advertised
- Syncing issues
- Compatibility problems

**Requested features**

- Permanent watch face option
- Better integration with Apple Watch
- More watch face options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Banner Basic free?

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

### Is Spark free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Banner Basic or Spark?

Banner Basic is rated higher. Banner Basic averages 3.2 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Spark averages 2.9 from 203 ratings.

### Do Banner Basic or Spark have ads?

Both Banner Basic and Spark show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Banner Basic or Spark?

Banner Basic ships an update every 2 months, and Spark every 3 weeks. Most recently, Banner Basic was updated on November 1, 2026 and Spark 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.*