# Scheduler vs Spark

The clearest difference is price: Spark at Free against Scheduler's $7.99. Spark also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (7.5K vs 75). Scheduler's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Spark is free to download; Scheduler costs $7.99 up front. Spark sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Scheduler asks for nothing beyond the download.

Spark holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark has 7.5K ratings behind it against 75, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Scheduler's written reviews are positive against 75% of Spark's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Scheduler ships an update every 9 days, Spark every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scheduler | Spark |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $7.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.9 (75 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scheduler/id315190568/reviews) | **[4.8 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-shift-calendar/id390915382/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 75 | **7.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.9% of reviews** | 74.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 10 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Buddy System, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/295810928) | [E.L.K. Equities LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775442602) |

## What reviewers say

### Scheduler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scheduler/id315190568)

Easily visualize and manage your rotating work shifts for up to six years in advance. Ideal for public service employees, it handles common and custom schedules, vacation time, and even overlays a partner's schedule for better family planning.

**Highlights:** Visualize schedule for six years, Supports custom and common shift patterns, Tracks vacation and sick time, Records and formats shift trades, Overlays partner's schedule, Logs events with date, time, and location, Countdown to retirement

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Outstanding app for shift workers
- 👍 Highly customizable and flexible
- 📆 Excellent for planning schedules years in advance
- 💰 Worth every penny
- 🤝 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Steep learning curve
- 🔀 Issues with repeating events and schedules
- 🔄 Problems with updates causing data loss
- 💤 Outdated UI and appearance

**Reported bugs**

- Events and schedules disappearing after updates
- Vacation and overtime tracking not working correctly

**Requested features**

- Drag and drop support for shift swapping
- List view option for events
- Ability to use emojis in event titles
- Removal of unnecessary time zone settings


### Spark

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-shift-calendar/id390915382)

This app simplifies shift work for professionals like first responders and healthcare workers. It offers full customization, secure cloud syncing, and streamlined shift trading. Plan your life and stay organized with instant visual cues and reliable support.

**Highlights:** Full shift customization, Secure cloud sync, Streamlined shift trades, Instant visual cues, Comprehensive shift coverage, User-friendly interface

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription Renewal | $0.99 | one-time |
| Initial Annual Subscription | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent calendar app
- 👍 Easy to use and set up
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 💡 Customizable and feature-rich
- 👍 Great for shift work and emergency services

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 💰 Subscription model and pricing issues
- 🔧 Needs more frequent updates
- 🔧 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 🔧 Lack of certain features (e.g., widgets, dark mode)

**Reported bugs**

- Login and authentication problems
- Data loss and sync issues after updates
- Unreliable performance on some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to sync with more calendar services
- More customization options
- Improved user interface and design
- Ability to view past schedules and events


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scheduler free?

Scheduler costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Spark free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scheduler or Spark?

Spark is rated higher. Scheduler averages 3.9 out of 5 from 75 ratings, while Spark averages 4.8 from 7.5K ratings.

### Do Scheduler or Spark have ads?

Neither Scheduler nor Spark shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scheduler or Spark?

Scheduler ships an update every 9 days, and Spark every 5 weeks. Most recently, Scheduler was updated on October 21, 2026 and Spark on October 20, 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.*