# IRS vs Spruce

The clearest difference is update cadence: Spruce at every 3 weeks against IRS's every 3 months. Spruce also leads on review sentiment (34% vs 26%). IRS's advantage is chart position (#76 vs unranked). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for IRS against 4.5 for Spruce. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11K and 5.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of IRS's written reviews are positive against 34% of Spruce's.

IRS ships an update every 3 months, Spruce every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IRS | Spruce |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irs/id414113282/reviews)** | [4.5 (5.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spruce-mobile-banking/id1595592028/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 5.4K |
| Positive reviews | 26.1% of reviews | **34.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#76** | — |
| Size | 25 MB | 308 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Internal Revenue Service](https://appshunter.io/developer/414113285) | [HRB Tax Group, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/350051876) |

## What reviewers say

### IRS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irs/id414113282)

**Currently charting:** #76 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Access official IRS services on your mobile device. Check refund status, make payments, find tax preparation help, and receive tax tips and news. Stay connected with the IRS anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Check refund status, Make tax payments, Find free tax preparation assistance, Sign up for tax tips, Follow IRS news

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💰 Helps with tax payments
- 🔍 Provides refund status updates
- ⏱️ Convenient for checking tax info

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent errors and glitches
- 📱 Limited functionality compared to website
- 🔒 Security/authentication issues
- 🕰️ Slow/delayed updates

**Reported bugs**

- Login/authentication problems
- Incorrect refund information displayed
- Inability to check status after multiple attempts
- Lack of compatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to view tax transcripts
- Improved payment scheduling options
- Notifications for refund status changes
- Expanded historical data access


### Spruce

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spruce-mobile-banking/id1595592028)

Manage your daily finances and budget for future goals with this mobile banking app. It offers a spending account, a high-yield savings account, and tools to track spending and set savings goals. Build a better relationship with your money through easy-to-use financial management features.

**Highlights:** Spending account management, High-yield savings account, Financial goal setting, Automated deposits, Transaction categorization, Credit score monitoring

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Helpful savings tools
- 👍 Beautiful UI
- 🚀 Fast direct deposits

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- ⏱️ Slow check deposits
- 🔒 Security concerns
- 🤖 Poor customer service
- 💰 Unexpected fees

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Syncing problems
- Disappearing funds
- Deactivated cards

**Requested features**

- Ability to transfer funds to external accounts
- Improved account management features
- Faster check clearing times


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IRS free?

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

### Is Spruce free?

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

### Which has better reviews, IRS or Spruce?

IRS is rated higher. IRS averages 4.6 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Spruce averages 4.5 from 5.4K ratings.

### Do IRS or Spruce have ads?

Neither IRS nor Spruce shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IRS or Spruce?

IRS ships an update every 3 months, and Spruce every 3 weeks. Most recently, IRS was updated on October 31, 2026 and Spruce on October 30, 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.*