# SwitchBot vs TP

The clearest difference is rating: TP at 4.8 against SwitchBot's 3.4. TP also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 32%) and ratings volume (21K vs 835). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SwitchBot sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and TP sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TP holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TP has 21K ratings behind it against 835, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of SwitchBot's written reviews are positive against 74% of TP's.

SwitchBot ships an update fortnightly, TP every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SwitchBot | TP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (835 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/switchbot/id1087374760/reviews) | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-tapo/id1472718009/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 835 | **21K** |
| Positive reviews | 31.6% of reviews | **73.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#12** |
| Size | 645 MB | 822 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [wonderlabs, Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/1087374759) | [TP-Link Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1713842892) |

## What reviewers say

### SwitchBot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/switchbot/id1087374760)

Control smart devices like bots, hubs, and sensors remotely. Schedule appliance operation and monitor environmental conditions. Expand your smart home ecosystem with new devices and features.

**Highlights:** Remote device control, Appliance scheduling, Environmental monitoring, Hub integration, Camera cloud storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (18)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cloud storage-2cams weekly | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| AI Agent Plan | $1.69 | per month |
| Basic Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Test | $3.99 | per month |
| Test | $3.99 | per month |
| Starter Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly Plan | $6.99 | per month |
| Home Plan | $8.99 | per month |
| Basic Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| cloud storage-3cams monthly | $10.99 | per month |
| Home Plus | $13.99 | per month |
| Family Monthly Plan | $20.99 | per month |
| Home Max | $22.99 | per month |
| Basic Annual Plan | $34.99 | per year |
| Starter Plan(Annual) | $49.99 | per year |
| Plus Annual Plan | $69.99 | per year |
| cloud storage-1cam weekly | $99.99 | per 7 days |
| Family Annual Plan | $209.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable and stable app
- 👍 Easy to use and set up
- 💡 Useful features like temperature/humidity monitoring
- 🚀 Responsive customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes and disconnections
- 👎 Poor user interface and unintuitive navigation
- 🔋 Battery life issues with some devices
- 🔒 Security concerns with mandatory account creation and data sharing

**Reported bugs**

- Firmware update issues
- Devices disappearing from the app
- Unreliable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
- Incorrect temperature and humidity readings

**Requested features**

- Sunrise/sunset automation support
- Ability to set more than 5 schedules
- Improved widget functionality
- Integration with Apple HomeKit and Siri


### TP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-tapo/id1472718009)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Grossing · Lifestyle, #27 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Manage and control your smart home devices, including cameras, plugs, and lighting, from a single app. Monitor your home in real-time, automate routines with Smart Actions, and enjoy hands-free voice control. Enhance your home's security and convenience with intelligent features.

**Highlights:** Remote device control, Real-time status monitoring, Instant notifications, Smart Actions automation, Voice control integration, Device sharing

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tapo Care Basic 1 Cam/monthly | $2.49 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium 1 Cam/month | $3.49 | per month |
| Tapo Care Cloud – 1 Camera | $3.49 | per month |
| Tapo Care Cloud – 2 Cameras | $6.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium 2 Cam/month | $6.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Basic 5 Cam/month | $8.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium 3 Cam/month | $10.49 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium (Monthly) | $11.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Cloud Advanced | $11.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Cloud Advanced AI | $19.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium 1 Cam/year | $34.99 | per year |
| Tapo Care Premium 2 Cam/year | $69.99 | per year |
| Tapo Care Premium 3 Cam/year | $104.99 | per year |
| Tapo Care Premium (Yearly) | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy setup and use
- 👍 Clear and responsive app
- 🔒 Reliable security features
- 💡 Customizable settings and modes
- 🔍 Excellent video and audio quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔒 Limited user sharing/access controls
- 🔋 Frequent notifications/timeout prompts
- 💻 Compatibility issues on some devices
- 💰 Subscription required for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent camera positioning/control
- Date/time stamp errors on recordings
- Unreliable motion detection triggering
- Frequent app crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete recorded footage
- Landscape mode support on tablets
- Customizable motion detection zones
- Improved Alexa/Google Home integration
- Battery-powered camera option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SwitchBot free?

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

### Is TP free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SwitchBot or TP?

TP is rated higher. SwitchBot averages 3.4 out of 5 from 835 ratings, while TP averages 4.8 from 21K ratings.

### Do SwitchBot or TP have ads?

Neither SwitchBot nor TP shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SwitchBot or TP?

SwitchBot ships an update fortnightly, and TP every 2 weeks. Most recently, SwitchBot was updated on October 13, 2026 and TP 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.*