Comparison

Ember vs Pentair Pool

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

Head to head
About

Ember

This app allows you to precisely control the temperature of your hot beverages using a smart mug. Customize presets, receive notifications when your drink reaches the perfect temperature, and explore recipes. Personalize your mug settings for an enhanced drinking experience.

Highlights
  • Precise temperature control
  • Save temperature presets
  • Beverage recipes and blogs
  • Customizable notifications
  • Manage multiple mugs
  • Personalize mug settings
Features
Read full description

At Ember®, we use temperature control to change the world in ordinary (and extraordinary) ways. With an Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug and the Ember app, you can transform your mornings by making hot beverages set to your chosen temperature an everyday reality. Our redesigned Ember app is simple, easy to use, and customizable. Whether you are a first-time user or a long-time customer, get ready for a whole new temperature control experience. The Ember app seamlessly pairs with your Ember products to precisely adjust your favorite hot drinks to your preferred drinking temperature, saves temperature presets, offers recipes, sends notifications when your desired drinking temperature has been reached, and more. Ember App Features: - Control the temperature of your beverage down to the degree - Use your previous temperature setting for a set-it-and-forget-it beverage experience - Manage unlimited paired mugs on an all-new Ember home screen - Find recipes and blogs you can save and share with friends and family in the new Explore section - Receive notifications when your preferred temperature has been reached, or your battery is low - Customize presets for multiple beverages and engage timers - Personalize your mugs with names and adjust the color of the smart LED - Easily switch between °C/°F and control sounds and haptic feedback in the redesigned Account section - Access Ember x Health with Apple Health

About

Pentair Pool

Manage your swimming pool system, monitor water chemistry, and receive instant status updates from a single dashboard. Control connected Pentair pool devices remotely for energy efficiency and peace of mind. Receive alerts for equipment or pool conditions to avoid costly service calls.

Highlights
  • Remote pool system control
  • Water chemistry monitoring
  • Instant status updates
  • 24/7 device monitoring
  • Equipment alerts
  • Energy-efficient solutions
Features
Read full description

Pentair Home is Now Pentair Pool! It's the same great app with a new name and logo. You'll continue to enjoy the functionality you know and love with a modern, refined look. Your app will continue functioning as it always has — seamlessly and reliably! Rule the Pool with Smart, Connected Pentair Products All in One Place The Pentair Pool app and its range of connected products makes managing your pool easier than ever. Control your swimming pool system, monitor water chemistry, and access instant status updates from one easy-to-use dashboard on your smart device. Enjoy energy-efficient solutions and peace of mind with remote monitoring anytime, anywhere. With the Pentair Pool app, you can: + Receive alerts sent directly to your phone and, if you choose, to your trusted pool professional. + Monitor your connected Pentair pool devices remotely, 24/7, to ensure peak performance. + Easily see when equipment or pool conditions need attention to avoid unnecessary and costly service calls. Compatible Pentair Pool & Spa Products: + IntelliCenter® Pool Control System + IntelliFlo3® Variable Speed & Flow Pump + IntelliVibe Pool & Spa Lights + IntelliSync® Pool Pump Control + ChemCheck® Water Quality Monitoring System + IntelliConnect® Pool Control System + Prowler® 930W Robotic Pool Cleaner + Color Sync™ Controller for Color LED Pool Lights Note: Product alerts, professional connectivity, and features are dependent on user settings and device capabilities. Internet connection, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth® may be required. Some features may not be supported on all smart devices. Terms of Service and Privacy Notice apply.

Screenshots

Ember4 screens
Pentair Pool4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pentair Pool at 4.7 against Ember's 3.3. Pentair Pool also leads on review sentiment (30% vs 18%) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pentair Pool holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.5K and 24K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Ember's written reviews are positive against 30% of Pentair Pool's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ember ships an update every 2 months, Pentair Pool monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Ember versus Pentair Pool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmberPentair Pool
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (7.5K ratings)4.7 (24K ratings) — better
Positive reviews17.7% of reviews29.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7.5K24K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB149 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEmber Technologies Inc.Pentair, Inc.

Customer experience

Ember

All ratings7,459 ratings
Positive54.5%
Neutral4.8%
Negative40.7%
Written reviews1,314 reviews
Positive17.7%
Neutral8.4%
Negative73.8%

Pentair Pool

All ratings24,096 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral2.4%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews431 reviews
Positive29.7%
Neutral10.2%
Negative60.1%

User reviews

Ember

From 7.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • ⭐ Keeps drink at perfect temperature
  • 🍵 Great for tea and coffee drinkers
  • 🎨 Customizable LED light colors
  • 🔋 Decent battery life when used properly
  • 🤖 Apple Watch app integration

Room to improve

  • 🔌 Requires frequent charging and docking
  • 🔒 Forced account creation and login
  • 🔄 Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity
  • 🐛 Buggy app with frequent issues
  • 🤔 Confusing app UI and controls

Pentair Pool

From 24K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 📊 Good data and monitoring features
  • 💡 Helpful customer support

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🔌 Connectivity issues
  • 🔒 Limited user permissions and control
  • 🤯 Frustrating setup and migration process

Bugs and requests

Ember

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App frequently logs users out
  • Mug disconnects from app randomly
  • Firmware update process often fails
  • App doesn't always detect liquid in mug
  • Presets and settings get lost after updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Battery level indicator on main screen
  • Improved Apple Watch app functionality
  • Wireless charging option
  • Ability to lock temperature settings
  • Automatic temperature adjustment based on volume

Pentair Pool

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Inaccurate sensor readings
  • Scheduling and automation issues
  • Inability to delete or modify existing configurations

Requested features

4 requests
  • More scheduling and automation options
  • Improved integration with other smart home devices
  • Better data visualization and reporting
  • Ability to create user profiles and access controls

In-app purchases

None

Ember

No in-app purchases

None

Pentair Pool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ember free?
Ember is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pentair Pool free?
Pentair Pool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ember or Pentair Pool?
Pentair Pool is rated higher. Ember averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7.5K ratings, while Pentair Pool averages 4.7 from 24K ratings.
Do Ember or Pentair Pool have ads?
Neither Ember nor Pentair Pool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ember or Pentair Pool?
Ember ships an update every 2 months, and Pentair Pool monthly. Most recently, Ember was updated on October 18, 2026 and Pentair Pool on October 20, 2026.

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