# AUTOMATE PULSE vs The Shade Store V2

AUTOMATE PULSE and The Shade Store V2 both sit at 2.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 31% of AUTOMATE PULSE's written reviews are positive against 15% of The Shade Store V2's. AUTOMATE PULSE also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

AUTOMATE PULSE holds the better App Store score, 2.6 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 48 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of AUTOMATE PULSE's written reviews are positive against 15% of The Shade Store V2's.

AUTOMATE PULSE ships an update every 3 months, The Shade Store V2 every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AUTOMATE PULSE | The Shade Store V2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.6 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/automate-pulse/id1134859289/reviews)** | [2.4 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-shade-store-v2/id1469402211/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **48** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | **30.6% of reviews** | 14.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 27 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ROLLEASE ACMEDA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1134859288) | [The Shade Store, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1165318929) |

## What reviewers say

### AUTOMATE PULSE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/automate-pulse/id1134859289)

Control motorized window shades remotely with an intuitive interface. Visualize shade positions, check battery health, and set custom timers and scenes for automated comfort, whether you're home or away.

**Highlights:** Remote shade control, Bi-directional communication, Visualize shade positioning, Check battery health, Create rooms, timers, and scenes, Motor limit adjustment, Up, down, stop, and position control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good app functionality (when working)
- 📞 Excellent and responsive tech support (George mentioned multiple times)
- 💡 Integrates with Alexa (when working)
- 💡 Integrates with Apple HomeKit (mentioned by one user)
- 🖼️ Real-life curtain picture on app (Automate Pulse)

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Hub stopped working/refuses to connect
- ❌ App suddenly stopped working
- ❌ App not maintained/abandoned
- ❌ Cannot add locations
- ❌ Horrible support/company won't respond

**Reported bugs**

- Hub stopped working
- App not connecting to WiFi
- App not working for no reason
- Cannot add location
- App not compatible with hub

**Requested features**

- Add tablet support
- Add widget support for quick scene access
- Add sunrise/sunset timers
- Add HomeKit integration
- Add Alexa support (for some users)


### The Shade Store V2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-shade-store-v2/id1469402211)

Control your motorized shades, blinds, and drapery remotely. Set custom positions, schedule timers for natural light, and group treatments by room or individually. Requires a wireless link accessory.

**Highlights:** Motorized shade, blind, and drapery control, Set up to 30 shade configurations, Schedule automatic timers, Control shades individually or in groups, Remote control from anywhere

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Shades themselves are high quality and beautiful
- 🏠 HomeKit integration works well (when functional)
- 🎯 Easy to set up scenes and timers (once connected)
- 🔊 Voice control with Alexa/Google Home works
- ⚡ Improved performance with newer hub versions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App frequently deletes all devices and settings
- 🔌 Hub connectivity is extremely unreliable
- 📡 Poor WiFi range, requires hub in each room
- 🔗 Incompatible with dual-band routers without workarounds
- 😤 Setup process is unnecessarily complex and fragile

**Reported bugs**

- App loses all saved devices after hub unplugging
- Shades randomly disappear from app
- Hub won't reconnect after power outages
- Firmware requires frequent soft resets
- App stuck in endless pairing loop

**Requested features**

- Battery percentage display in app
- Sunrise/sunset timer functionality
- Labeled buttons during setup process
- Display upcoming timer activation times
- Correct sunrise/sunset time calculations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AUTOMATE PULSE free?

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

### Is The Shade Store V2 free?

The Shade Store V2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AUTOMATE PULSE or The Shade Store V2?

AUTOMATE PULSE is rated higher. AUTOMATE PULSE averages 2.6 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while The Shade Store V2 averages 2.4 from 18 ratings.

### Do AUTOMATE PULSE or The Shade Store V2 have ads?

Neither AUTOMATE PULSE nor The Shade Store V2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AUTOMATE PULSE or The Shade Store V2?

AUTOMATE PULSE ships an update every 3 months, and The Shade Store V2 every 5 months. Most recently, AUTOMATE PULSE was updated on November 2, 2026 and The Shade Store V2 on November 3, 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.*