# Spark vs Brass Tacks

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Brass Tacks at none against Spark's 2. Brass Tacks also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Spark's advantage is ratings volume (7.5K vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Brass Tacks holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. 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.

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, Brass Tacks weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spark | Brass Tacks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-shift-calendar/id390915382/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brass-tacks-get-it-done/id6796800345/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.5K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 74.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 10 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [E.L.K. Equities LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775442602) | [SAJID INSAF](https://appshunter.io/developer/6796800347) |

## 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


### Brass Tacks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brass-tacks-get-it-done/id6796800345)

This app helps individuals overcome overwhelm and procrastination by focusing on one task at a time. It offers smart prioritization, task breakdown, timed focus sessions, and AI assistance to boost productivity and manage workload effectively.

**Highlights:** One task at a time prioritization, Task breakdown with AI assistance, Timed focus sessions, Focus companion mode, Rescue mode for overwhelm, Context memory for task switching, AI assistant for task queries

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spark free?

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

### Is Brass Tacks free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Spark or Brass Tacks?

Brass Tacks is rated higher. Spark averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.5K ratings, while Brass Tacks averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Spark or Brass Tacks have ads?

Neither Spark nor Brass Tacks shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spark or Brass Tacks?

Spark ships an update every 5 weeks, and Brass Tacks weekly. Most recently, Spark was updated on October 22, 2026 and Brass Tacks on September 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*