Comparison

Spark vs Rescue Shift

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spark

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
Read full description

Spark: Your Ultimate Shift Calendar App For over 15 years, Spark has been the go-to app for simplifying shift work. Loaded with powerful, user-friendly features, Spark helps you balance work and personal life in one place—trusted daily by fire, police, EMS, healthcare professionals, and shift workers worldwide. With Spark’s unique "Cloud Connect" system, you can sync and share your schedule across all devices, keeping you and your loved ones in the loop anytime, anywhere. Why Spark? Here’s why your colleagues love it: Full Customization Spark is designed for you. Track and log anything you need—vacation, sick time, comp time, overtime, trades, and more. Can’t find something? Add it with ease! Spark’s sleek, intuitive design lets you personalize everything to suit your work style. Secure & Reliable Your data is safe with us. Spark’s "Cloud Connect" syncs your encrypted calendar across devices, linked to your email. Lose or upgrade your phone? Just log back in, and it’s like you never left. Comprehensive Shift Coverage From pre-loaded schedules to custom department setups, Spark supports thousands of shift calendars. Don’t see yours? Easily create it, and it’s saved for you and your team. Streamlined Shift Trades & Swaps Manage and track all your trades and swaps down to the individual. Spark’s “Trade Board” lets you request and confirm trades within the app, automatically updating your calendar and stats—no extra steps. Instant Visual Cues Color-code shifts, events, and stats for at-a-glance planning. With Spark, you’ll know exactly what’s on the agenda without extra clicks. Unmatched Customer Support Our app thrives on user feedback. We’re committed to fast, helpful support, with most emails resolved in under two hours. Spark evolves with your input, making it the app you can rely on for years to come. Try Spark free for 30 days, and experience the app that’s helping shift workers around the world stay organized. Visit www.LeakyNozzle.com to learn more!

About

Rescue Shift

This app helps firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs manage their complex rotating work schedules. It displays your entire work calendar, tracks overtime and training, and allows you to share your schedule with family.

Highlights
  • Custom rotation scheduling
  • Overtime and training tracking
  • Retirement countdown
  • Family schedule sharing
  • First responder focused
Features
Read full description

RescueShift is shift scheduling software built for fire departments, EMS agencies, and 24/7 public-safety crews. Retire the station whiteboard, the group text, and the spreadsheet. Your whole crew (and your family) works off one live schedule. WHAT YOU CAN DO • See who's on duty today, by station and apparatus • Run traditional rotations: 24/48, 48/96, 24/72, 3x12, 4x10, Kelly days, or a custom pattern • Post open shifts to a sign-up board and let members claim them from their phone • Catch coverage gaps before a unit drops below minimum staffing • Approve trades, PTO, and shift drops in one inbox with a staffing-impact check • Track FLSA 7(k) overtime across 7–28 day work periods • Put a live, read-only coverage board on any station TV, no login needed • Track certifications and continuing education so nothing expires unnoticed • Share your personal schedule with up to 10 family members BUILT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, engineers, and 911 dispatchers. It also fits contract ambulance services, hospital emergency departments, and any team that runs around-the-clock coverage. PRICING Free for individuals (ad-supported). Premium ($2.99/mo) removes ads and adds family sharing. Department plans add the admin dashboard, roster, trades, whiteboard, and analytics. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://rescueshift.com/privacy https://rescueshift.com/terms

Screenshots

Spark4 screens
Rescue Shift4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Spark at 75% against Rescue Shift's 0%. Spark also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.0) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Spark sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Rescue Shift sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spark holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark has 7.5K ratings behind it against 1, 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 0% of Rescue Shift's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, Rescue Shift monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Spark versus Rescue Shift: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSparkRescue Shift
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (7.5K ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews74.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings7.5K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperE.L.K. Equities LLCEduardo Verde

Customer experience

Spark

All ratings7,300 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews157 reviews
Positive74.5%
Neutral8.9%
Negative16.6%

Rescue Shift

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Spark

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Rescue Shift

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Spark

One-time2
  • Annual Subscription Renewal$0.99
  • Initial Annual Subscription$5.99
1 purchases

Rescue Shift

Subscriptions1
  • Premium RescueShift$2.991 Month

Questions

Is Spark free?
Spark is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rescue Shift free?
Rescue Shift is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Spark or Rescue Shift?
Spark is rated higher. Spark averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.5K ratings, while Rescue Shift averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Spark or Rescue Shift have ads?
Rescue Shift shows ads; Spark does not.
Which is updated more often, Spark or Rescue Shift?
Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, and Rescue Shift monthly. Most recently, Spark was updated on September 27, 2026 and Rescue Shift on September 9, 2026.

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