# Smart Shades vs Total Shade Link +

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Total Shade Link + at 12.0 against Smart Shades's 15.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Smart Shades ships an update every 2 months, Total Shade Link + every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Shades | Total Shade Link + |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.1 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-shades/id1016406862/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **65** | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wazombi](https://appshunter.io/developer/922472388) | [Total Shade Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1588177525) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Shades

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-shades/id1016406862)

Transform your existing window shades into smart devices with this solar-powered, wireless gadget. Control your blinds remotely via a smartphone app, setting custom schedules and automated movements for enhanced convenience.

**Highlights:** Turns regular shades into smart shades, Solar-powered operation, Wireless and easy installation, Smartphone app control, Automated patterns and schedules, Bluetooth Low Energy communication

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works with HomeKit
- 👍 Automations and scenes work
- 👍 Good product, great service
- 👍 Easy to set up
- 👍 Works well with HomeKit

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App not opening
- 🐛 Basic and poorly designed
- 🐛 Unreliable connectivity
- 🐛 Software awful

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes with Smart Shades 3
- App crashes after update
- App crashes instantly
- App closes itself right away
- App won't open at all

**Requested features**

- Matter support
- Change app language
- Change highest/lowest position
- Recalibrate function
- Simple up and down buttons


### Total Shade Link +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/total-shade-link-plus/id1588177523)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Shades free?

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

### Is Total Shade Link + free?

Total Shade Link + is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Smart Shades or Total Shade Link + have ads?

Neither Smart Shades nor Total Shade Link + shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Shades or Total Shade Link +?

Smart Shades ships an update every 2 months, and Total Shade Link + every 3 months. Most recently, Smart Shades was updated on November 1, 2026 and Total Shade Link + on October 25, 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.*