NoMachine vs SparkShift
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NoMachine
Access your PC or Mac remotely with lightning-fast speed. Control your computer from anywhere, stream media, play games, and provide support. Seamlessly work with all your files and applications as if you were physically present.
- Remote PC/Mac access
- High-speed performance
- HD video and audio streaming
- File transfer
- Remote administration
- Access behind firewalls
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Your computer, anywhere. With NoMachine, secure, fast remote access is always available no matter where you are, putting your files, documents, videos, and music right in the palm of your hand. Whether you're an individual accessing your desktop at home or an IT professional managing an entire infrastructure, NoMachine gives you instant access so you can stay connected to what matters most. The perfect travel companion, you can use it to: - Control your office and home computers remotely over any network as if you were sitting in front of them - Work with all your files, desktop applications and other programs all running on your computer elsewhere - Share and transfer files easily between devices - Manage unattended computers and provide on-the-go support to colleagues and friends - Enjoy your media, including HD movies, TV shows, and music - Play graphics-intensive games remotely with smooth performance Key features: - Connect to any computer, wherever it is - Sign in to NoMachine Network for easy remote connections - High-quality video and audio streaming - Bi-directional file transfer - Record any activity on the remote desktop - Intuitive touch and control gestures - Guest connections to share the desktop, no local account required - Remote terminal connections (from iPad) - Protect logins with 2FA through your iPhone or iPad Quick guide 1) Install this app. 2) Download NoMachine from our website and install it on the computer you want to access. 3) In the NoMachine for iOS GUI enter the IP of your computer or the Machine Id. 4) You must already have an account on the remote computer. Enter the credentials for your system account when prompted or use a guest account. 5) For more detailed instructions check the tutorial here: https://www.nomachine.com/getting-started-with-nomachine-for-ios.
SparkShift
This app helps electricians streamline OJT logging, jobsite organization, and exam preparation. It provides field calculators and reference tools, consolidating essential resources for apprentices and journeymen in one place.
- Log OJT and work hours
- Field calculators for electrical work
- Journeyman and master exam practice
- Organize jobsite details and notes
- Track apprenticeship progress
- Export hour records
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SparkShift helps electricians stop rebuilding hours from memory: log OJT records, organize jobsites, open field calculators, and study for exams from one jobsite-ready app. Built for electrical apprentices, journeymen, foremen, and contractors, SparkShift keeps the paperwork and reference tools you already reach for close to the work. OJT AND WORK HOURS - Log apprenticeship and work hours from your phone - Add timestamps, notes, work categories, and optional location context - Track progress across union and merit-shop workflows - Review and export hour records before sharing with a training program, employer, union local, contractor, state board, or provincial authority FIELD CALCULATORS AND REFERENCES - Use NEC/CEC-aware calculators for common electrical work - Check voltage drop, conduit fill, box fill, wire sizing, load calculations, and other field references - Keep practical code-study tools nearby when service is weak or you are moving between jobsites EXAM PREP - Practice journeyman and master exam questions - Review explanations, study notes, and confidence feedback - Keep prep connected to the same trade record you use in the field JOBSITES, CREWS, AND RECORDS - Organize jobsite details, schedules, absences, and field notes - Support submitted-hour review and crew visibility for foremen and contractor workflows - Keep certifications, work history, community, and career tools in one electrician-first system SparkShift was built from real jobsite paperwork pain: lost logs, rebuilt hours, scattered notes, and reference tools spread across too many apps. IMPORTANT LIMITS SparkShift is a recordkeeping and workflow tool. It is not a licensing board, apprenticeship sponsor, employer of record, payroll provider, legal advisor, code authority, inspector, or safety authority. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, training program, employer, union local, province, state, and storefront. Always verify current rules before relying on an export, calculation, report, or submission. LEGAL Privacy Policy: https://sparkshift.app/privacy Terms of Service: https://sparkshift.app/terms Community Guidelines: https://sparkshift.app/community-guidelines Support: https://sparkshift.app/contact
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SparkShift at 5.0 against NoMachine's 3.0. SparkShift also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 7 months). NoMachine's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (125 vs 3). On price, ads and device support 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. SparkShift sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. NoMachine asks for nothing beyond the download.
SparkShift holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NoMachine has 125 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
NoMachine ships an update every 7 months, SparkShift every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on August 6, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NoMachine | SparkShift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (125 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 37.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 125 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 16.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 121 MB | 199 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NoMachine S.à r.l. | SPARKSHIFT LLC |
Customer experience
NoMachine
SparkShift
Bugs and requests
NoMachine
Reported bugs
20 issues- App hangs and freezes on startup with iOS 16+
- Screen display shifted to right with black bars on iPad
- Help/intro screen misplaced and cannot be dismissed
- App crashes when changing display resolution
- Stored settings lost after crashes
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- Magic Keyboard not recognized or working
- Trackpad two-finger scroll not functioning
- Keyboard input not registering properly
- First tap on input box ignored
- Mouse cursor lags significantly
- Blank screen when reconnecting
- App not compatible with M1/M2 iPad Pro
- Username field only accepts single letter
- External keyboard disconnection after connection
- App covers notch and hardware elements on iPhone
- Rotation to landscape causes black screen
- Network auto-discovery not working
- Connection settings not saved properly
- Text rendering fuzzy and blurry
- App unresponsive in portrait mode
Requested features
16 requests- App Store payment option instead of direct credit card
- Full iPad Pro native resolution support
- Magic Keyboard and external keyboard full support
- Two-factor authentication support
- Multi-monitor selection and switching
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- Portrait orientation support on iPad
- Bluetooth audio/AirPods support
- Auto-discovery of machines on network
- Stage Manager compatibility on iPad
- Chinese language support
- Screen keep-alive option for streaming
- Better display scaling and 1:1 pixel resolution
- Hardware acceleration for newer devices
- Trackpad gesture support (two-finger click)
- External monitor support with full resolution
- Improved keyboard layout with configurable keys
SparkShift
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NoMachine
No in-app purchases
SparkShift
- Journeyman Month$0.991 Month
- Apprentice Month Subscription$6.991 Month
- Journeyman Year Subscription$29.001 Year
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- Apprentice Yearly Sub$69.991 Year









