# Simple Home vs Kangaroo

The clearest difference is rating: Kangaroo at 4.6 against Simple Home's 1.4. Kangaroo also leads on review sentiment (35% vs 4%) and ratings volume (7.4K vs 126). Simple Home's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kangaroo sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Simple Home asks for nothing beyond the download.

Kangaroo holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kangaroo has 7.4K ratings behind it against 126, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 4% of Simple Home's written reviews are positive against 35% of Kangaroo's.

Simple Home ships an update every 11 days, Kangaroo weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Home | Kangaroo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.4 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-home/id1018218403/reviews) | **[4.6 (7.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kangaroo-simple-home-security/id1388241447/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 126 | **7.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 4.0% of reviews | **34.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 53 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jem Accessories, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/900475200) | [ROO INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1359081310) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Home

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-home/id1018218403)

Effortlessly transform your house into a smart, automated home. This application enables you to set up and manage all compatible WiFi-enabled products remotely. Control lights, monitor your home, and automate actions based on motion or schedules.

**Highlights:** Remote control of smart devices, Automated lighting control, Home monitoring and recording, Motion detection alerts, Device scheduling, Control from anywhere

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ App doesn't load
- ❌ Account creation fails
- ❌ Devices won't connect
- ❌ No email verification
- ❌ App crashes frequently

**Reported bugs**

- App stuck on loading/buffering
- Cannot create account
- Account confirmation email not sent
- App does not send verification email
- Unable to connect smart devices

**Requested features**

- Update app for new iPhones
- Add Touch ID login
- Develop iPad version
- Add smoke/carbon monoxide detector


### Kangaroo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kangaroo-simple-home-security/id1388241447)

Monitor and manage your home security system remotely. Set up devices easily and receive alerts on your phone. Opt for free self-monitoring or upgrade to plans with professional monitoring and reimbursement for theft or damage.

**Highlights:** Remote monitoring, Arm/disarm controls, Customizable alerts, Step-by-step setup, Self-monitoring option, Optional protection plans, Theft and damage reimbursement

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kangaroo Complete Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Kangaroo Complete Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Porch Protection Annual | $23.99 | per year |
| Porch Protection Annual 300 | $23.99 | per year |
| Porch Protection Annual | $23.99 | per year |
| Camera Protect Annual 250 | $23.99 | per year |
| Kangaroo Complete Yearly | $98.99 | per year |
| Complete Protect Annual 1000 | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy setup
- 👍 User-friendly app
- 🔒 Affordable security system
- 🚀 Reliable performance
- 👍 Great value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔋 Battery life problems
- 📷 Poor camera quality
- 🔔 Quiet siren
- 🐛 Buggy app and features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Devices randomly disconnect from WiFi
- Arm/disarm feature not working consistently
- Notifications not working as expected
- Camera not capturing clear images

**Requested features**

- Add live video streaming
- Improve motion detection sensitivity
- Provide more customization options
- Integrate with Google Home/Assistant
- Offer monthly subscription option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Home free?

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

### Is Kangaroo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simple Home or Kangaroo?

Kangaroo is rated higher. Simple Home averages 1.4 out of 5 from 126 ratings, while Kangaroo averages 4.6 from 7.4K ratings.

### Do Simple Home or Kangaroo have ads?

Neither Simple Home nor Kangaroo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Home or Kangaroo?

Simple Home ships an update every 11 days, and Kangaroo weekly. Most recently, Simple Home was updated on October 24, 2026 and Kangaroo on October 24, 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.*