# giffgaff vs Spark NZ

The clearest difference is rating: giffgaff at 4.5 against Spark NZ's 3.5. giffgaff also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (28% vs 8%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

giffgaff holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: giffgaff has 1K ratings behind it against 87, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of giffgaff's written reviews are positive against 8% of Spark NZ's.

giffgaff ships an update every 3 weeks, Spark NZ every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | giffgaff | Spark NZ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/giffgaff/id571246020/reviews)** | [3.5 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-nz/id703229756/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 87 |
| Positive reviews | **28.3% of reviews** | 7.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 99 MB | 212 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [giffgaff](https://appshunter.io/developer/571246023) | [Spark New Zealand Trading Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/703229759) |

## What reviewers say

### giffgaff

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/giffgaff/id571246020)

Manage your mobile account effortlessly. Track data usage, renew plans, and access WiFi hotspots across the UK. This app provides a comprehensive overview of your mobile services and allows for easy top-ups and account management.

**Highlights:** Check data usage, Buy or renew plans, Plan expiry notifications, Add credit/auto top-up, WiFi Extra access, Community access

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy to use
- 💰 Affordable pricing
- 👍 Straightforward app
- 🔒 Secure login process

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- ⚠️ Poor network coverage
- 🔍 Lack of customer support
- 🔧 Technical issues with SIM activation

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Inability to update payment methods
- Inconsistent app behavior across devices
- Unreliable app performance after updates

**Requested features**

- Detailed data usage tracking
- Ability to manage family accounts
- Landscape mode support for tablets
- Seamless SIM card switching


### Spark NZ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-nz/id703229756)

Manage all your mobile, broadband, and wearable plans in one convenient app. Easily top up, pay bills, track data usage, and discover the latest offers and content.

**Highlights:** Manage all accounts in one place, Quick bill payments, Track data usage by hour, day, month, Top up plans and add data/minutes, Discover latest offers and content

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good overall app
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 📊 Useful for tracking usage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive UI
- 💸 Overcharging and billing issues
- 📞 Poor customer support
- 🔌 Connectivity problems

**Reported bugs**

- Login and password reset issues
- Unreliable data tracking and usage information
- Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
- Transactions failing or not reflecting properly

**Requested features**

- Improve payment and top-up functionality
- Add more self-service options
- Provide better visibility into account details
- Integrate with other Spark services


## Frequently asked questions

### Is giffgaff free?

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

### Is Spark NZ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, giffgaff or Spark NZ?

giffgaff is rated higher. giffgaff averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Spark NZ averages 3.5 from 87 ratings.

### Do giffgaff or Spark NZ have ads?

Neither giffgaff nor Spark NZ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, giffgaff or Spark NZ?

giffgaff ships an update every 3 weeks, and Spark NZ every 5 weeks. Most recently, giffgaff was updated on November 1, 2026 and Spark NZ on October 29, 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.*