# SmartApfel vs TechPulse by CNET Group

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SmartApfel at 65% against TechPulse by CNET Group's 17%. SmartApfel also leads on ads (none vs shown). TechPulse by CNET Group's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (3.4K vs 7). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SmartApfel sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. TechPulse by CNET Group asks for nothing beyond the download.

TechPulse by CNET Group holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TechPulse by CNET Group has 3.4K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of SmartApfel's written reviews are positive against 17% of TechPulse by CNET Group's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SmartApfel ships an update fortnightly, TechPulse by CNET Group monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartApfel | TechPulse by CNET Group |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartapfel/id1056322079/reviews) | **[4.3 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/techpulse-by-cnet-group/id1553808884/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **3.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **64.5% of reviews** | 17.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 26 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [acasa Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/974663980) | [CNET Media, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552912857) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartApfel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartapfel/id1056322079)

Stay updated on Apple HomeKit and Matter smart home technology. Get the latest news, device information, automation ideas, and warnings about problematic firmware updates. Perfect for both beginners and experienced users.

**Highlights:** Latest news on HomeKit & Matter, Device overview, Automation examples, Firmware update warnings, Beginner-friendly information

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small coffee (monthly) | $1.49 | per month |
| Large coffee (monthly) | $3.49 | per month |
| Espresso | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cup of coffee | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pot of coffee | $3.99 | one-time |


### TechPulse by CNET Group

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/techpulse-by-cnet-group/id1553808884)

Stay informed with the latest tech news, expert reviews, and product recommendations. Make smarter purchasing decisions with in-depth analysis and video guides. Get breaking alerts and discover the best deals on technology.

**Highlights:** Featured tech stories, Latest technology news coverage, Product review galleries, Breaking news alerts, Extensive product reviews, Best product recommendations, Product search functionality, Video product reviews

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great source for tech news and reviews
- 👍 Reliable and trustworthy content
- 🚀 Excellent for researching tech products

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 🤔 Too many non-tech related articles
- 🤔 Constant requests to update the app
- 🤔 Ads make the app unusable
- 🤔 Outdated and repeating content

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes frequently
- Notifications don't lead to the correct article
- Videos fail to load consistently
- Login issues and account syncing problems

**Requested features**

- Ability to filter content by category
- Improved search functionality
- Better organization and navigation
- Syncing of bookmarked articles across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartApfel free?

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

### Is TechPulse by CNET Group free?

TechPulse by CNET Group is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SmartApfel or TechPulse by CNET Group?

TechPulse by CNET Group is rated higher. SmartApfel averages 4.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while TechPulse by CNET Group averages 4.3 from 3.4K ratings.

### Do SmartApfel or TechPulse by CNET Group have ads?

TechPulse by CNET Group shows ads; SmartApfel does not.

### Which is updated more often, SmartApfel or TechPulse by CNET Group?

SmartApfel ships an update fortnightly, and TechPulse by CNET Group monthly. Most recently, SmartApfel was updated on October 13, 2026 and TechPulse by CNET Group on October 14, 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.*