# Spark vs ShiftWave

The clearest difference is ads: Spark at none against ShiftWave's shown. ShiftWave's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spark sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and ShiftWave sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, ShiftWave every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spark | ShiftWave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-shift-calendar/id390915382/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 74.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 14 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [E.L.K. Equities LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775442602) | [MyProjectX, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/505736740) |

## 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

**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


### ShiftWave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftwave-repeating-schedule/id6742365343)

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ShiftWave Premium - Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| ShiftWave Premium - Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| ShiftWave Premium - Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spark free?

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

### Is ShiftWave free?

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

### Do Spark or ShiftWave have ads?

ShiftWave shows ads; Spark does not.

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

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, and ShiftWave every 5 days. Most recently, Spark was updated on October 1, 2026 and ShiftWave on September 28, 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.*