# Spark vs Frontline

The clearest difference is update cadence: Frontline at every 4 days against Spark's every 5 weeks. Frontline also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%). Spark's advantage is ratings volume (7.5K vs 36). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spark sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Frontline sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Spark against 4.8 for Frontline. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark has 7.5K ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of Spark's written reviews are positive against 100% of Frontline's.

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, Frontline every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spark | Frontline |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-shift-calendar/id390915382/reviews) | [4.8 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frontline-shift-calendar/id6784443590/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.5K** | 36 |
| Positive reviews | 74.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [E.L.K. Equities LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775442602) | [Code3Tek](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896718437) |

## 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


### Frontline

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frontline-shift-calendar/id6784443590)

This app helps first responders manage their complex work schedules with a user-friendly calendar. It supports various shift patterns, allows for logging events and incidents, and offers a private, device-only storage solution. Optional Pro features enhance functionality with advanced logging and widgets.

**Highlights:** Supports diverse shift patterns, Month and week view, Home-screen widgets, Shift trade logging, Event and reminder management, Incident and exposure log, PDF and calendar export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Frontline Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Frontline Pro (Lifetime) | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spark free?

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

### Is Frontline free?

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

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

Spark and Frontline are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7.5K and 36 ratings respectively.

### Do Spark or Frontline have ads?

Neither Spark nor Frontline shows ads.

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

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, and Frontline every 4 days. Most recently, Spark was updated on October 20, 2026 and Frontline on October 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.*