# Spond vs Downwind Crew

The clearest difference is monetization model: Downwind Crew at free against Spond's free with in-app purchases. Downwind Crew also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Spond's advantage is ratings volume (3.7K vs 3) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Spond against 5.0 for Downwind Crew. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spond has 3.7K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Spond ships an update weekly, Downwind Crew monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spond | Downwind Crew |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spond/id755596884/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downwind-crew/id6800841171/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.7K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 61.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#153** | — |
| Size | 118 MB | 188 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SPOND AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/755596887) | [Styron Enterprises, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1691743228) |

## What reviewers say

### Spond

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spond/id755596884)

**Currently charting:** #153 Top Free · Sports (US App Store)

This app streamlines sports team and club organization. It simplifies scheduling, payment collection, and communication for coaches, admins, parents, and players. Save time on administrative tasks and focus more on the sport.

**Highlights:** Schedule training, matches, and events, Automatic RSVP tracking, Secure payment collection, Group communication tools, Manage multiple teams and roles, Sync with personal calendar, Player of the match voting

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and manage
- 🚀 Effective for organizing teams and events
- 💡 Useful features like polls, availability requests, and payments
- 🤝 Helps improve team communication and coordination

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Notification issues (spam, delayed, unable to turn off)
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 📅 Calendar sync problems
- 🤔 Confusing sign-up and setup process
- 💰 Expensive payment processing fees

**Reported bugs**

- Events randomly disappearing
- Inability to create new events in some groups
- Calendar sync issues when crossing time zones
- Verification code not being received
- Crashes when opening messages

**Requested features**

- Add goal scorer and stats tracking features
- Improve recurring event creation and management
- Implement a more granular notification control system
- Develop an iPad-specific app
- Add a car pool feature to connect players in the same area


### Downwind Crew

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downwind-crew/id6800841171)

This app connects paddlers for organized downwind runs. It simplifies shuttle logistics, allowing users to find fellow paddlers by craft, pace, and route. Coordinate vehicles, seats, and transport to ensure a smooth paddling experience.

**Highlights:** Organize downwind runs, Find paddlers by craft and pace, Coordinate shuttle logistics, Direct messaging and crew chat, Browse official routes with safety notes, Track runs and build paddler profiles

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spond free?

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

### Is Downwind Crew free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Spond or Downwind Crew?

Downwind Crew is rated higher. Spond averages 4.9 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while Downwind Crew averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Spond or Downwind Crew have ads?

Neither Spond nor Downwind Crew shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spond or Downwind Crew?

Spond ships an update weekly, and Downwind Crew monthly. Most recently, Spond was updated on October 17, 2026 and Downwind Crew 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.*