Comparison

Sparrow vs Calgary Sun

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sparrow

This app delivers personalized corporate communications to employees, ensuring the right information reaches the right people on their preferred devices. It offers customizable news channels, push notifications for urgent messages, and robust analytics to track content engagement and improve communication strategies.

Highlights
  • Personalized news channels
  • Push and priority notifications
  • Content consumption analytics
  • Real-time data and analytics dashboard
  • Multi-system integration
  • Complete publishing platform
  • Video support
Features
Read full description

Sparrow connects organizations by delivering personalized corporate communications; getting the right information, to the right people, on the device they use most. - Personalized News - develop organization-specific optional or mandatory news channels (i.e. location, division, role) - Push notifications indicate availability of new content - Priority notifications signify urgent communications - Content Consumption Heuristics enable managers to analyze specific pieces of content by tracking scroll activity and read patterns - Real-time data and analytics empower proactive communications management over time - Analytics Dashboard - set targets and work towards communications goals, forecast into the future, and receive tips from Sparrow on how to improve based on historical data - Multi system integration with tools including SharePoint, OpenText, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP and more - Complete Publishing Platform - Sparrow comes with a complete publishing system, no intranet required. - New integrations and features added frequently - Video support

About

Calgary Sun

Access local news, politics, sports, and entertainment. Customize your feed with favorite writers and topics. Stay updated with breaking news and comprehensive sports coverage.

Highlights
  • Customizable news feed
  • Breaking news alerts
  • Local and national sports coverage
  • Seamless browsing of multiple brands
  • Personalized content selection
  • Photo and video coverage
Features
Read full description

The Calgary Sun is your trusted source for local news, politics, sports and entertainment. Create your custom feed so you don’t miss the latest from your favourite writers. Stay up to date throughout the day with breaking news in Calgary, Alberta and around the world. Plus get the latest on the Calgary Flames, Calgary Stampeders, Calgary Roughnecks and the Calgary Hitmen with the best sports coverage in Canada including scores, standings, highlights and commentary. Features include: • Stay connected to the best local news, sports, entertainment, commentary and beyond. • Browse the Toronto Sun, Ottawa Sun, Edmonton Sun, Calgary Sun, The Province and Canoe brands seamlessly. • You will be prompted to choose your preferred publications when you first open the new app, ensuring a curated news feed that aligns with your interests. • Use the Discover tab to explore trending stories from Postmedia newsrooms across Canada • Personalize your news experience by selecting topics, journalists and columnists you care about, so your feed will be filled with the content and perspectives you enjoy. • As a registered user, you are recognized consistently across web and app platforms for a more cohesive experience. Register to sample the wide variety of breaking news and special features — plus extensive photo and video coverage. Home delivery print subscribers receive unlimited access, included as part of their print subscription and can gain access by simply signing in with their existing account when prompted. If you’re not an existing print subscriber, you can easily subscribe to the app through the App Store for iOS devices. Subscription details • Monthly subscription cost: $5.99 plus applicable taxes • Complete your subscription at the App Store for iOS devices. Payment will be charged to your account upon confirmation of purchase. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Account will be charged $5.99 each month within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. • Subscriptions may be managed and auto-renewal turned off by going to your Account Settings after purchase. Privacy policy: https://www.postmedia.com/privacy-statement/ Terms of use: https://www.postmedia.com/terms-and-conditions/ We appreciate and value your feedback. Please send any comments, suggestions or questions to: appfeedback@postmedia.com

Screenshots

Sparrow4 screens
Calgary Sun4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sparrow at 50% against Calgary Sun's 0%. Sparrow also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Calgary Sun sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Sparrow asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sparrow ships an update every 4 weeks, Calgary Sun monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sparrow versus Calgary Sun: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSparrowCalgary Sun
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size136 MB65 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSparrow Connected IncPostmedia Network INC.

Customer experience

Sparrow

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Calgary Sun

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral4.7%
Negative95.3%

In-app purchases

None

Sparrow

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Calgary Sun

Subscriptions1
  • Full Access1 Month trial$4.991 Month

Questions

Is Sparrow free?
Sparrow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Calgary Sun free?
Calgary Sun is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sparrow or Calgary Sun have ads?
Calgary Sun shows ads; Sparrow does not.
Which is updated more often, Sparrow or Calgary Sun?
Sparrow ships an update every 4 weeks, and Calgary Sun monthly. Most recently, Sparrow was updated on October 12, 2026 and Calgary Sun on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons