# Home Assistant vs Whisker

The clearest difference is monetization model: Home Assistant at free against Whisker's free with in-app purchases. Home Assistant also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). Whisker's advantage is ratings volume (149K vs 4K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Home Assistant against 4.8 for Whisker. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Whisker has 149K ratings behind it against 4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Home Assistant's written reviews are positive against 52% of Whisker's.

Home Assistant ships an update every 10 days, Whisker every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Home Assistant | Whisker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/home-assistant/id1099568401/reviews) | **[4.8 (149K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whisker/id1475805212/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4K | **149K** |
| Positive reviews | **54.3% of reviews** | 51.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 229 MB | 169 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nabu Casa, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525301324) | [Automated Pet Care Products Inc. dba AutoPets](https://appshunter.io/developer/1240404533) |

## What reviewers say

### Home Assistant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/home-assistant/id1099568401)

Control your entire smart home from one app, locally and privately. Automate devices, receive notifications, and manage your home's data securely. Integrates with thousands of smart devices and open standards.

**Highlights:** Control entire home from one app, Discover and configure new devices, Automate device actions, Local data privacy, Connect to open standards (Z-Wave, Zigbee, Matter), Remote access via Home Assistant Cloud, Location-based automation

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Whisker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whisker/id1475805212)

Remotely monitor and control your WiFi-enabled pet devices, including litter boxes and feeders. Receive real-time alerts, track usage insights, and manage schedules from anywhere. Enhance your pet care routine with smart technology.

**Highlights:** Real-time alerts for device status, Remote control of device functions, Usage insights and trend tracking, Flexible feeding schedules, Multi-robot management, On-demand pet treat dispensing

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient, hassle-free
- 👍 Keeps litter box clean and odor-free
- 💡 Tracks cat usage and weight
- 🚀 Saves time and effort

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent false 'drawer full' notifications
- 🐛 Connectivity issues with app
- 🐛 Sensor malfunctions and interrupted cycles
- 🔋 Drains phone battery with constant notifications

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently disconnects from litter box
- App fails to properly register litter box
- Litter box gets stuck in cleaning cycle

**Requested features**

- Customizable cleaning cycle settings
- Ability to identify which cat used the litter box
- Improved app stability and responsiveness
- Better integration with smart home devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Home Assistant free?

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

### Is Whisker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Home Assistant or Whisker?

Whisker is rated higher. Home Assistant averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4K ratings, while Whisker averages 4.8 from 149K ratings.

### Do Home Assistant or Whisker have ads?

Neither Home Assistant nor Whisker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Home Assistant or Whisker?

Home Assistant ships an update every 10 days, and Whisker every 3 weeks. Most recently, Home Assistant was updated on October 26, 2026 and Whisker on October 28, 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.*