# SpareRoom vs Roomster

The clearest difference is rating: SpareRoom at 4.7 against Roomster's 4.0. SpareRoom also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (49% vs 22%). Roomster's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly) and chart position (#73 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SpareRoom sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Roomster sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SpareRoom holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roomster has 22K ratings behind it against 4.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of SpareRoom's written reviews are positive against 22% of Roomster's.

SpareRoom ships an update fortnightly, Roomster every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SpareRoom | Roomster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spareroom/id400181250/reviews)** | [4.0 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roomster/id1045548013/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4.2K | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | **48.9% of reviews** | 22.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#73** |
| Size | 60 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | [Flatshare Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/397979250) | [Roomster Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1045548007) |

## What reviewers say

### SpareRoom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spareroom/id400181250)

Find your ideal room or flatmate with the UK's leading platform. Browse thousands of listings across the UK, connect with potential housemates, and secure your perfect living situation on the go.

**Highlights:** Room and roommate search, Thousands of UK listings, On-the-go access, User support, Connect with housemates

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Boost | $9.99 | one-time |
| 7-Day Upgrade | $12.99 | one-time |
| 1-Week Upgrade | $15.00 | one-time |
| Verification | $15.00 | one-time |
| 14-Day Upgrade | $23.99 | one-time |
| 30-Day Upgrade | $25.99 | one-time |
| 4-Week Upgrade | $30.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Great for finding rooms/flatmates
- 💡 Useful features like filters
- 🌟 Positive overall experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💰 Expensive paid features
- 🤖 Fake/unresponsive listings
- 🚫 Discrimination in listings

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and sign-outs
- Inconsistent behavior between app and website
- Issues with updating and editing listings

**Requested features**

- Better messaging/communication tools
- More advanced search and filtering options
- Improved verification of listings and users
- Feedback/review system for landlords/tenants


### Roomster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roomster/id1045548013)

**Currently charting:** #73 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Find a room to rent or a compatible roommate globally. Connect with verified individuals and browse thousands of listings with photos and detailed descriptions. Securely message potential matches and receive real-time alerts for new opportunities.

**Highlights:** Browse rooms and apartments for rent, Connect with validated roommates, Global listings in 18 languages, Private in-app messaging, Easy profile setup with social validation, Real-time alerts

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Full access | $11.99 | per 7 days |
| Full access | $19.99 | per month |
| Full access | $29.99 | per month |
| Full access | $49.99 | per 2 months |
| Id Verification | $2.99 | one-time |
| Id Verification | $5.99 | one-time |
| Background Check | $9.99 | one-time |
| Id Verification | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Lots of options
- 🚀 Convenient for travelers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Privacy concerns
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
- 🗣️ Fake/spam messages
- 💰 Misleading pricing

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Frequent crashes
- Listings not updating
- Verification problems

**Requested features**

- Better search filters
- Ability to delete account
- More transparent pricing
- Improved user experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SpareRoom free?

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

### Is Roomster free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SpareRoom or Roomster?

SpareRoom is rated higher. SpareRoom averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.2K ratings, while Roomster averages 4.0 from 22K ratings.

### Do SpareRoom or Roomster have ads?

Roomster shows ads; SpareRoom does not.

### Which is updated more often, SpareRoom or Roomster?

SpareRoom ships an update fortnightly, and Roomster every 3 days. Most recently, SpareRoom was updated on November 6, 2026 and Roomster on November 7, 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.*