Comparison

Orphek vs Reef Buddy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Orphek

Control and monitor Orphek Atlantik V4 and V3 Plus LED lighting systems wirelessly. Manage your aquarium lights from any location with internet access, offering advanced programming and monitoring capabilities.

Highlights
  • Wireless IoT control
  • Remote monitoring
  • Programming capabilities
  • Local and global access
  • Supports Atlantik V4/V3 Plus series
Features
Read full description

Orphek App for control Orphek Atlantik V4 and V3 Plus Control & monitor Wireless(IoT) ALL Orphek Atlantik v4/V3 Plus LED Lighting Series Our newest technology features built-in wireless control IoT - Internet of Things allowing users to easily program, control, and monitor their light(s) locally or from any location in the world where internet access is available (Wifi/3G/4G). The app is available free of charge for IOS (Iphone ,Ipad ). This App is for: Atlantik V4/V3 plus - https://orphek.com/atlantik-v4-reef-aquarium-led-lighting/ Atlantik P300 v4 Plus - https://orphek.com/atlantik-p300-v4-plus-reef-aquarium-led-lighting/ Atlantik Compact V4/V3 plus - https://orphek.com/orphek-atlantik-compact-v3-plus-internet-of-things-aquarium-led-lighting/ Atlantik P 110 V4/V3 plus

About

Reef Buddy

Easily log, monitor, and analyze your saltwater aquarium's critical parameters. Get smart insights and personalized advice to maintain a healthy reef tank. Syncs across devices and offers guidance for manual test results.

Highlights
  • Log critical aquarium parameters
  • Monitor KH, salinity, pH, Ca, Mg, and more
  • Analyze data with automated insights
  • Sync data across iPhone and iPad
  • Guidance for manual test kit results
  • Personalized advice with premium subscription
Features
Read full description

Reef Buddy – Track Your Reef Tank With Confidence Reef Buddy is the reef tracker and water test log built for saltwater tank and saltwater aquarium keepers. Log water tests, monitor parameter trends, and understand what is changing in your reef before small swings become real problems. Track Every Essential Reef Parameter Record KH, salinity, pH, Ca, Mg, NO₂, NO₃, PO₄, SiO₂, temperature, and more. Keep a clear aquarium log with visual trends for the values reef keepers watch most. Smart Insights for Saltwater Aquariums Get automated insights from your measurements so you can react earlier, keep your reef tank stable, and make better maintenance decisions. Sync Across Devices All your data is safely stored and automatically synced across your iPhone and iPad. Manual Test Help Enter results from your favorite test kits faster with guided steps designed for reef routines, regular water tests, and day-to-day reef journaling. Unlock Premium with Shrimpy Shrimpy, your reef assistant, unlocks powerful features: • Expert analysis of your tank data • Personalized advice • Photo analysis of your aquarium • Start and continue conversations with Shrimpy for personalized reefing tips Why Reef Keepers Choose Reef Buddy • Built for reef tanks and saltwater aquariums • Clean tracking without unnecessary clutter • Compatible with major test kits, including Red Sea, Salifert, Hanna, and more Subscription Info Shrimpy Premium is available as a monthly or yearly subscription. Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage your subscription anytime in your Apple account settings. Terms & Privacy Policy: https://reef-buddy.app

Screenshots

Orphek3 screens
Reef Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Reef Buddy at 3.9 against Orphek's 1.5. Reef Buddy also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (20 vs 2). Orphek's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Reef Buddy sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Orphek asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reef Buddy holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reef Buddy has 20 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Orphek's written reviews are positive against 55% of Reef Buddy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Orphek ships an update every 11 months, Reef Buddy every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Orphek versus Reef Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOrphekReef Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.5 (2 ratings)3.9 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews54.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings220 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS8.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperORPHEK LIMITEDDistrict Web

Customer experience

Orphek

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Reef Buddy

All ratings20 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative45.5%

In-app purchases

None

Orphek

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Reef Buddy

Subscriptions4
  • Reef Buddy Pro Weekly$0.997 Days
  • Reef Buddy Pro3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Reef buddy pro month$3.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Reef buddy pro annual3 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is Orphek free?
Orphek is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reef Buddy free?
Reef Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Orphek or Reef Buddy?
Reef Buddy is rated higher. Orphek averages 1.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Reef Buddy averages 3.9 from 20 ratings.
Do Orphek or Reef Buddy have ads?
Neither Orphek nor Reef Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Orphek or Reef Buddy?
Orphek ships an update every 11 months, and Reef Buddy every 2 weeks. Most recently, Orphek was updated on October 8, 2026 and Reef Buddy on October 24, 2026.

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