# Spark vs CopCal

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Spark at 75% against CopCal's 23%. Spark also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.8) and ratings volume (7.5K vs 16). CopCal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spark sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. CopCal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Spark holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark has 7.5K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Spark's written reviews are positive against 23% of CopCal's.

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, CopCal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spark | CopCal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-shift-calendar/id390915382/reviews)** | [1.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/copcal/id449505734/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.5K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 22.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 10 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **7.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [E.L.K. Equities LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775442602) | [App Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/808581339) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### CopCal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/copcal/id449505734)

Manage your work schedule with custom categories and repeating patterns. Ideal for public safety professionals or anyone needing to separate work shifts from personal life. Supports custom fields for specific event types like court cases.

**Highlights:** Repeating non-traditional work schedules, Customizable event categories, Dynamic fields for specific categories, Separate work and personal schedules, Track time off and earned comp time

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spark free?

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

### Is CopCal free?

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

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

Spark is rated higher. Spark averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.5K ratings, while CopCal averages 1.8 from 16 ratings.

### Do Spark or CopCal have ads?

Neither Spark nor CopCal shows ads.

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

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, and CopCal every 2 months. Most recently, Spark was updated on October 14, 2026 and CopCal on October 8, 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.*