# Shift Master Shift Calendar vs Spark

The clearest difference is price: Spark at Free against Shift Master Shift Calendar's $1.99. Spark also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.2) and review sentiment (75% vs 47%). Shift Master Shift Calendar's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Spark is free to download; Shift Master Shift Calendar costs $1.99 up front. Spark sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Shift Master Shift Calendar asks for nothing beyond the download.

Spark holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark has 7.5K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Shift Master Shift Calendar's written reviews are positive against 75% of Spark's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shift Master Shift Calendar | Spark |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.2 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift-master-shift-calendar/id385155631/reviews) | **[4.8 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-shift-calendar/id390915382/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 25 | **7.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 46.9% of reviews | **74.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 2 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gil Estes](https://appshunter.io/developer/349882768) | [E.L.K. Equities LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775442602) |

## What reviewers say

### Shift Master Shift Calendar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift-master-shift-calendar/id385155631)

A highly customizable shift calendar designed for Firefighter, EMS, and Paramedic professionals. It supports up to four platoons or teams with flexible shift patterns up to 35 days long.

**Highlights:** Fully configurable shift calendar, Supports up to 4 platoons/teams, Single or first/second shift patterns, Shift rotation up to 35 days, Designed for Firefighter, EMS, Paramedic

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Works for various shift rotations
- 👍 Good for long-term planning
- 👍 Customizable colors
- 👍 Prompt customer support (historically)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App won't open/load
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Lost data after updates
- 🐛 Confusing setup/not user-friendly
- 🐛 Incompatible with iOS updates

**Reported bugs**

- App does not open
- App crashes frequently
- App disappeared after iOS update
- Calendar days are purple/won't change color
- Erases notes and resets shift days after updates

**Requested features**

- Update for newest iOS versions
- Sync with iPhone calendar
- Add appointment scheduler with reminders
- Display shift letters across the top
- Enter half color/symbol for partial OT shifts


### 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

**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 Shift Master Shift Calendar free?

Shift Master Shift Calendar costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Spark free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shift Master Shift Calendar or Spark?

Spark is rated higher. Shift Master Shift Calendar averages 2.2 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Spark averages 4.8 from 7.5K ratings.

### Do Shift Master Shift Calendar or Spark have ads?

Neither Shift Master Shift Calendar nor Spark shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shift Master Shift Calendar or Spark?

Shift Master Shift Calendar ships an update every 5 weeks, and Spark every 5 weeks. Most recently, Shift Master Shift Calendar was updated on September 26, 2026 and Spark on September 27, 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.*