# NoMachine vs SparkShift

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.

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 October 20, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NoMachine | SparkShift |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (125 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nomachine/id874286563/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkshift/id6737710285/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **125** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 37.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 121 MB | 199 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NoMachine S.à r.l.](https://appshunter.io/developer/874286566) | [SPARKSHIFT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1777536968) |

## What reviewers say

### NoMachine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nomachine/id874286563)

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.

**Highlights:** Remote PC/Mac access, High-speed performance, HD video and audio streaming, File transfer, Remote administration, Access behind firewalls

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent performance and speed compared to VNC and RDP
- 💰 Free to use with no account creation required
- 🔌 Works seamlessly across multiple platforms (Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS)
- 🎮 Responsive mouse and keyboard controls when functioning properly
- 📱 Effective remote access from mobile devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Critical iOS 16+ compatibility issues with screen display
- ⚠️ Severely outdated app lacking recent updates
- 🔧 Poor iPad Pro screen optimization and aspect ratio support
- ⌨️ Magic Keyboard and external keyboard support broken
- 🖱️ Trackpad functionality inconsistent

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### SparkShift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkshift/id6737710285)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Journeyman Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Apprentice Month Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| Journeyman Year Subscription | $29.00 | per year |
| Apprentice Yearly Sub | $69.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NoMachine free?

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

### Is SparkShift free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NoMachine or SparkShift?

SparkShift is rated higher. NoMachine averages 3.0 out of 5 from 125 ratings, while SparkShift averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do NoMachine or SparkShift have ads?

Neither NoMachine nor SparkShift shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NoMachine or SparkShift?

NoMachine ships an update every 7 months, and SparkShift every 9 days. Most recently, NoMachine was updated on October 20, 2026 and SparkShift on October 13, 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.*