# SpareRoom vs Flatmate NZ

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Flatmate NZ at 88% against SpareRoom's 49%. Flatmate NZ also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). SpareRoom's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SpareRoom sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Flatmate NZ asks for nothing beyond the download.

SpareRoom ships an update fortnightly, Flatmate NZ every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SpareRoom | Flatmate NZ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spareroom/id400181250/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4.2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.7% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 60 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Flatshare Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/397979250) | [Aaron Barnett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1097950740) |

## 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 (9)**

| 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 |
| 30-Day Upgrade | $15.49 | one-time |
| 14-Day Upgrade | $23.99 | one-time |
| 2-Week Upgrade | $25.00 | 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


### Flatmate NZ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flatmate-nz/id1097950741)

Find people and places to share a home with. This app helps you search for flatmates, rooms, and sublets. Connect with like-minded individuals to create a harmonious living situation.

**Highlights:** Search for flatmates, Find flats and rooms to rent, Discover sublets, Connect with like-minded people, Share a home

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SpareRoom free?

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

### Is Flatmate NZ free?

Flatmate NZ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do SpareRoom or Flatmate NZ have ads?

Neither SpareRoom nor Flatmate NZ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SpareRoom or Flatmate NZ?

SpareRoom ships an update fortnightly, and Flatmate NZ every 6 weeks. Most recently, SpareRoom was updated on October 21, 2026 and Flatmate NZ on October 6, 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.*