# Spark Mail vs Email App for Gmail

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Email App for Gmail at none against Spark Mail's 10. Spark Mail's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (83K vs 4.2K). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spark Mail sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Email App for Gmail asks for nothing beyond the download.

Spark Mail holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark Mail has 83K ratings behind it against 4.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of Spark Mail's written reviews are positive against 68% of Email App for Gmail's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spark Mail | Email App for Gmail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (83K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-mail-ai-email-assistant/id997102246/reviews)** | [4.4 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/email-app-for-gmail/id1145412791/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **83K** | 4.2K |
| Positive reviews | 61.0% of reviews | **68.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#115** | — |
| Size | 393 MB | 258 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Readdle Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/285035419) | [Craigpark Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/737311904) |

## What reviewers say

### Spark Mail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-mail-ai-email-assistant/id997102246)

**Currently charting:** #115 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

Streamline your email and calendar management with an AI-powered assistant. Organize multiple accounts, declutter your inbox with smart sorting, and use AI to draft replies, summarize threads, and manage your schedule efficiently.

**Highlights:** Unified inbox for multiple email accounts, AI-powered email summarization and drafting, Smart Inbox for prioritizing emails, Calendar management and meeting scheduling, Gatekeeper for sender screening, Team collaboration on emails, Integrations with productivity apps

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spark Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Spark Plus Monthly | $10.00 | per month |
| Spark Pro Monthly | $20.00 | per month |
| Get Spark Premium | $41.99 | per year |
| Get Spark Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| Spark Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| Spark Plus Annual | $99.00 | per year |
| Spark Pro Annual | $199.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent email management features
- 👍 Clean and intuitive user interface
- 📂 Effective email organization and categorization
- ⏱️ Efficient workflow with snooze, scheduling, and templates
- 💻 Seamless cross-device experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional sync and stability issues
- 🔒 Concerns over privacy and data usage
- 💰 Aggressive push for paid subscription
- 📥 Unreliable notification delivery
- 🔍 Inconsistent search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Emails disappearing from the inbox
- Delayed email delivery and sync
- Crashes and freezes when opening the app
- Issues with Exchange calendar and account sync
- Incorrect email grouping and threading

**Requested features**

- Improved spam filtering and email blocking
- Option to disable email threading
- Better calendar integration and management
- Customizable email signatures and layouts
- Expanded third-party app integrations


### Email App for Gmail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/email-app-for-gmail/id1145412791)

Manage your Gmail and other email accounts with a beautifully designed, fast, and secure application. Enjoy intuitive actions, custom notifications, and advanced security features to keep your inbox organized and protected.

**Highlights:** Custom push notifications, User-friendly interface, Contact avatars and email threads, Advanced search functionality, Personalized email filters, PIN password security

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 💡 Convenient email management
- 🚀 Streamlined experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 💸 Ads and paid features
- 🤔 Inconsistent performance
- 🤨 Privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues after updates
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Delayed email syncing
- Disappearing emails and folders
- Unreliable push notifications

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete emails in bulk
- More customization options
- Improved notification system
- Better integration with other apps
- Enhanced search functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spark Mail free?

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

### Is Email App for Gmail free?

Email App for Gmail is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Spark Mail or Email App for Gmail?

Spark Mail is rated higher. Spark Mail averages 4.6 out of 5 from 83K ratings, while Email App for Gmail averages 4.4 from 4.2K ratings.

### Do Spark Mail or Email App for Gmail have ads?

Email App for Gmail shows ads; Spark Mail does not.

### Which is updated more often, Spark Mail or Email App for Gmail?

Spark Mail ships an update weekly, and Email App for Gmail weekly. Most recently, Spark Mail was updated on November 8, 2026 and Email App for Gmail on November 6, 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.*