# SpareRoom vs CalPenTab

The clearest difference is rating: SpareRoom at 4.7 against CalPenTab's 3.0. SpareRoom also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 15 months) and ratings volume (4.2K vs 2). CalPenTab's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

SpareRoom holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SpareRoom has 4.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of SpareRoom's written reviews are positive against 50% of CalPenTab's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SpareRoom ships an update fortnightly, CalPenTab every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SpareRoom | CalPenTab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spareroom/id400181250/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calpentab/id1605820011/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.2K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 48.7% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 60 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | [Flatshare Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/397979250) | [churchme LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1384209471) |

## 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


### CalPenTab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calpentab/id1605820011)

Connect with your community and stay updated on all events and conversations. Watch videos and engage with content relevant to your interests. This app keeps you informed and involved.

**Highlights:** Join conversations, Stay updated on events, Watch videos, Community engagement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SpareRoom free?

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

### Is CalPenTab free?

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

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

SpareRoom is rated higher. SpareRoom averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.2K ratings, while CalPenTab averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do SpareRoom or CalPenTab have ads?

Neither SpareRoom nor CalPenTab shows ads.

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

SpareRoom ships an update fortnightly, and CalPenTab every 15 months. Most recently, SpareRoom was updated on October 27, 2026 and CalPenTab on October 19, 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.*