# Spark vs ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar

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

Both are free to download. Spark sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spark | ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 74.5% 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 | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [E.L.K. Equities LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775442602) | [Pablo Almancio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1859498121) |

## 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


### ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftcal-shift-work-calendar/id6757965010)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ShiftCal PRO Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| ShiftCal PRO Annual | $11.99 | per year |
| ShiftCal PRO Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spark free?

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

### Is ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar free?

ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Spark or ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar have ads?

ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar shows ads; Spark does not.

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

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, and ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar every 5 days. Most recently, Spark was updated on September 22, 2026 and ShiftCal Shift Work Calendar on August 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.*