ADCB vs Spare
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ADCB
Manage your finances on the go with this intuitive mobile banking application. Access payments, transfers, bill payments, and locate ATMs and branches with a user-friendly interface. Offers dual language support and balance preview.
- Simplified Payments and Transfers
- Search Payees and Transaction History
- Dual Language Support (Arabic/English)
- Balance Preview
- Bill Payment
- Funds Transfer
- Locate ATMs and Branches
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Experience more power at your fingertips. Experience the new and improved mobile banking app from ADCB. Enjoy seamless banking on-the-go with the enhanced features combined with an intuitive and user-friendly visual experience. More power at your fingertips - A simplified 'Payments and Transfers' section where you can view your beneficiaries and registered billers all in one screen - Search Payees and Transaction History by name, amount and much more - Dual language option in Arabic and English Plus, you can continue to enjoy these services - Balance Preview - Bill Payment - Funds Transfer - Locate ADCB ATM and Branches If you are a new ADCB Mobile App user or if you are using the app on a new device, register with the following steps: - Download and launch the ADCB Mobile App - When prompted, enter your ADCB Credit Card/Debit Card Number and PIN; enter the activation key that is sent to your registered mobile number - Alternatively, you can enter your ADCB Customer ID and activation key which you can obtain through our Personal Internet Banking or the 24/7 Contact Centre If you are an existing user, you will be prompted to enter your existing ADCB Mobile App password for authentication and biometric re-enrollment (handset dependent).
Spare
This platform connects schools, parents, and students for secure campus transactions. Parents can monitor spending, track nutrition, and ensure child safety without cash. The app simplifies payments and account management for a seamless school experience.
- Secure campus transactions
- Cashless payments
- Spending limits
- Nutritional tracking
- Child safety monitoring
- Easy account recharge
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The Spare platform connects schools, stores on campus, parents, and students. At Spare-enabled schools, parents can rest assured that their children have arrived at school safely, and are able to buy whatever they want without carrying any cash. Furthermore, they can add limits to their child's account to promote healthy spending habits, and can keep track of their child's nutritional intake. The on-boarding process is simple: parents download an app, pair their child's wristband, and recharge their account using cash at the school or using their credit card in-app. The platform does not require a credit card nor a bank account, nor does it require any complex sign-up procedures; all you need to get started is a valid phone number, a Spare Digital ID, and a quick visit to the app store.
Screenshots
Verdict
ADCB and Spare both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 41% of ADCB's written reviews are positive against 11% of Spare's. ADCB also leads on ratings volume (4.9K vs 495) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
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 — 4.7 for ADCB against 4.7 for Spare. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ADCB has 4.9K ratings behind it against 495, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of ADCB's written reviews are positive against 11% of Spare's.
ADCB ships an update every 2 weeks, Spare fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | ADCB | Spare |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (4.9K ratings) | 4.7 (495 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews — better | 10.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4.9K — better | 495 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 230 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ADCB | Spare Payments |
Customer experience
ADCB
Spare
Bugs and requests
ADCB
Reported bugs
5 issues- Login issues and active session problems
- Inability to clear cache and switch accounts
- Incompatibility with iPhone 15 and iOS 13
- Freezing and crashing on launch
- Inconsistent performance and functionality
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to redeem touchpoints
- Improved credit card management
- Better transaction history and categorization
- Support for newer devices and iOS versions
- Streamlined bill payment process
Spare
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ADCB
No in-app purchases
Spare
No in-app purchases
