# Orphek vs Reef Buddy

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Orphek | Reef Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orphek/id1078596183/reviews) | **[3.9 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reef-buddy-reef-tank-tracker/id1593580822/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **54.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 10 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ORPHEK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078596182) | [District Web](https://appshunter.io/developer/595076846) |

## What reviewers say

### Orphek

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orphek/id1078596183)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Reef Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reef-buddy-reef-tank-tracker/id1593580822)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reef Buddy Pro Weekly | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Reef Buddy Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| Reef buddy pro month | $3.99 | per month |
| Reef buddy pro annual | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*