# Smart Reef — user reviews > 26 indexed App Store user reviews of Smart Reef by Reef Factory sp. z o.o., rated 1.58/5 from 19 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-reef/id1480355166/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-reef/id1480355166.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 15 ## Newest reviews (12 of 26) ### 1/5 — Does NOT work *2024-06-27, version 1.5.1* I’m a tech guy, even an app developer, and this app does not work for connecting to a WiFi network. I only have local (in person physical) control over my roller mat now. 7 months since the last app update? Are you guys out of business now? ### 1/5 — App gets worse with every update *2024-04-15* I have been using ReefFactory for three years. The app has always been clunky and lacking decent analytics. It has got worse with each update: often hangs, simple things getting harder to do. Adding new devices, or moving WiFi networks is woefully hard and unreliable. Five hours today trying to add one device after a WiFi change and still caught it to work. Avoid! ### 1/5 — Company don’t stand behind their products *2024-04-07, version 1.5.1* Long story short there is a serious flaw in the product having to rely on connection to their cloud server. When their server fails (happened twice in a week before I swapped equipment) it’s anyone’s guess what happens in your tank, Reef Factory trying to shark responsibility for the damage their product caused ### 1/5 — Not Great! *2024-02-25, version 1.5.1* App isn’t great tbh. Continually stuck in a connection loop and it’s very clunky. It’s a shame because the hardware is great. We just need a great app to compliment the hardware. ### 1/5 — App is complete garbage *2024-02-24, version 1.5.1* I cannot believe this company is making seemingly useful products. The app simply doesn’t work, lowered my signal to 2.4ghz. Connected then won’t connect, app does what it wants. The whole thing feels like some old code someone wrote and they patched in their own content. I have used horrible Chinese apps and got them to work. Everyone complains they can’t get their dosing pumps to work. Returning mine, Epic fail on the developer’s part. ### 1/5 — Unbelievable Does not work *2024-02-21, version 1.5.1* What a disgrace I am returning my over $900 light because this app is hands down the absolute worst I’ve ever encountered please do better!! It doesn’t even open nor let you set up an aquarium and light! Disgraceful!! ### 1/5 — Slow and Broken *2024-01-11, version 1.5.1* Very frustrated with Reef Factory and this app. The app is slow to process, not very user friendly, and struggles to connect the product to a Wifi network. There is no refresh option when searching for a network either, so if it doesn’t pick up your network on the first sweep, you have to restart the setup process. In addition, the reef log does not allow the user to add a new task and does not load the proper date. For me, every time I try to add a task the date suddenly changes to a random previous date. Absolutely useless. Finally, the ICP tab does not let me upload data, parameters will not let me change PO4 to ppb units, and I do not see any preset options for my light so I am required to create my own lighting schedule as opposed to choosing one that has been vetted by the community. Whole app and website need A LOT of work. Hope to see improvements soon. ### 1/5 — Fix it !!! *2023-12-05, version 1.5.1* Doesn’t detect the serial number ! ### 1/5 — Not good *2023-10-27, version 1.5.0* The app keeps dropping out you log in and all it does is whirl around saying connecting. This was my first and last reef factory purchase. The heat controller is ok the app is terrible. Needs sorting to be on a par with Red Sea. ### 1/5 — Device setup is impossible with mesh network *2023-07-04, version 1.4.0* I recently moved and had to re-setup my Reef Factory devices on my new home network that has 5 and 2.4 GHz bands on the same SSID. My hardware's management software unfortunately doesn't allow me to separate both bands' SSIDs. Somehow the device setup process on the Smart Reef app changed and tries to auto detect 2.4 GHz networks, bypassing the previous process that allowed me to manually enter between login information. The app 100% of the time for both my x4 Doser and KH Keeper fails to identify any 2.4 Ghz network, figuratively bricking my devices and preventing me from managing my reef's health. Reef Factory, please fix your device setup protocols and process! My devices are useless and I have to at least purchase a new doser. ### 1/5 — Notification Issues *2022-12-31, version 1.1* Has a permanent unread notification icon despite there being no unread notifications. I’m one of those people that likes to keep my phone clear from notifications so this is a huge issue for me and makes me want to disable notifications for this app which would therefore render my water level sensor useless. Other than that the app is quite clunky, difficult to navigate and could do with an all-round update ### 1/5 — Useless *2022-12-14, version 1.1* Needs a update to work with iOS 16+ ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Great to worst *2026-03-15, version 1.6.0* Great product but the app is worst, keep loading with blank screen. Please fix the issue otherwise we can’t use the light to do settings. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2025-09-14, version 1.6.0* App will not load. Hard stop doesn’t work. 😞 ### 1/5 — Terrible *2025-08-27, version 1.6.0* Had this app for 2 years and in that time I don’t believe it’s ever worked properly. ### 1/5 — Worst company ever *2025-07-01, version 1.6.0* I own a store and I foolishly purchased 10 systems worth of Smart Reef Accessories. The lights are the only thing that are half way decent if the transformers aren’t breaking. This is the worst app I have ever used in my life. Over $50k dollars spent with this company. One year after use every single thing is broken. Do not buy this equipment! ### 1/5 — Bugs Galore *2025-05-16, version 1.6.0* I recently purchased a Reef Factory roller mat for my aquarium. I want to use the app to monitor the equipment, but I can’t even register an account. The phone verification step isn’t functional. Additionally, the UI doesn’t intuitively indicate you need to scroll to enter more information. Please fix these bugs! ### 1/5 — No good *2025-01-27, version 1.6.0* The app is an endless source of frustration. Not intuitive, connection issues and freezes. One star. ### 1/5 — Does not work *2025-01-12, version 1.6.0* App does not work, do not buy this product! ### 1/5 — Just getting worse *2024-12-15, version 1.6.0* Most apps improve over time. This one just keeps getting more complicated and unstable. ### 1/5 — non functional *2024-12-13* Tried to connect a device on an Apple iPhone 14 and 15, the device wifi was connected to the phone, but the app kept coming back with unable to connect to network. Without the app adding the device, the device is non functional. Pretty poor performance when you purchase a 700$ item and it’s controlled by a 1$ app that won’t function ### 1/5 — Horrible app for good products *2024-06-28, version 1.5.1* My experiences with this app have been nothing but infuriating, continuous problems trying to set time on the stupid slider while the dot glitches around the screen and goes nowhere I want it to, until it gets close to where I want it and give up. If more effort goes into this app and all the glitches get fixed, I might actually consider not selling my RF equipment and buying a brand that has an app that actually works ## Most praised reviews (4 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — So easy to navigate and set up a new device *2022-11-09, version 1.1* Such a great app that keeps on getting better. Keep up the great work Reef Factory. ### 3/5 — I like the app but *2025-09-24, version 1.6.0* Keeps going blank and not showing anything tried deleting this is going to be the last time I delete or I will just return item I wanted to buy the smart reef tester device but I think I will stick with apex ### 3/5 — Not the easiest app to use. *2024-09-17, version 1.5.2* Ran into several problems originally. Couldn’t register due to no SMS. Later found this went to email for some reason. Set up my feeder only for it to never work at the scheduled time. Turns out there’s a firmware update you have to run first. When you first start it asks tons of questions that should be optional and hidden away rather than part of the initial flow. Very annoying but it does actually work despite the other reviews. ### 3/5 — Looks too small on iPhone 13 Pro Max running ios16 *2022-10-02, version 1.1* Everything looks too small and cramped and is difficult to read on iPhone 13 Pro Max running iOS 16, also the entire screen is not used….update needed? --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-11.*