# VA Ready vs Second Muster

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Second Muster at none against VA Ready's 3. Second Muster also leads on update cadence (daily vs weekly) and review sentiment (100% vs 77%). VA Ready's advantage is ratings volume (751 vs 1) and chart position (#158 vs unranked). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VA Ready sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Second Muster asks for nothing beyond the download.

Second Muster holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VA Ready has 751 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of VA Ready's written reviews are positive against 100% of Second Muster's.

VA Ready ships an update weekly, Second Muster daily. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VA Ready | Second Muster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (751 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/va-ready/id6761733758/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/second-muster/id6818541842/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **751** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 76.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#158** | — |
| Size | 17 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [JDL Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6792281423) | [Margaret Laughlin](https://appshunter.io/developer/6818541844) |

## What reviewers say

### VA Ready

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/va-ready/id6761733758)

**Currently charting:** #158 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

This tool helps veterans understand their potential disability ratings and navigate the claims process. It calculates combined ratings using VA math, provides access to accredited representatives, and offers research to support claims. Features include exposure calculators and detailed filing guides.

**Highlights:** Disability rating calculation with VA math, Find accredited VSOs by location, Access 2,300+ medical studies for claims, Exposure calculator for PACT Act and more, Detailed filing guides for conditions, Symptom logging and PDF export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VA Ready Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| VA Ready Pro Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


### Second Muster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/second-muster/id6818541842)

This app provides veterans and service members with a comprehensive guide to civilian careers, VA benefits, and state-specific perks. It features a skill translator, resume assistance, and a separation timeline with reminders. Access vital information on healthcare, insurance, and discounts, all while working offline.

**Highlights:** Skill translator for MOS/rating to civilian jobs, Resume jargon conversion, Separation timeline with deadlines, VA and state benefits explained, Federal and retail discounts, VA medical center locator, Job application tracker

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VA Ready free?

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

### Is Second Muster free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VA Ready or Second Muster?

Second Muster is rated higher. VA Ready averages 4.8 out of 5 from 751 ratings, while Second Muster averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do VA Ready or Second Muster have ads?

Neither VA Ready nor Second Muster shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VA Ready or Second Muster?

VA Ready ships an update weekly, and Second Muster daily. Most recently, VA Ready was updated on October 31, 2026 and Second Muster on October 26, 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.*