# SpareRoom vs Grainger

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Grainger at none against SpareRoom's 13. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

SpareRoom ships an update fortnightly, Grainger monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SpareRoom | Grainger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spareroom/id400181250/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4.2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 60 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | [Flatshare Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/397979250) | [Grainger](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599071844) |

## 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


### Grainger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grainger/id6744686471)

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SpareRoom free?

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

### Is Grainger free?

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

### Do SpareRoom or Grainger have ads?

Neither SpareRoom nor Grainger shows ads.

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

SpareRoom ships an update fortnightly, and Grainger monthly. Most recently, SpareRoom was updated on October 14, 2026 and Grainger on October 3, 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.*