# Ember vs Grate Cheese

The clearest difference is rating: Grate Cheese at 4.3 against Ember's 3.3. Grate Cheese also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 18%). Ember's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (7.5K vs 11). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Grate Cheese holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ember has 7.5K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Ember's written reviews are positive against 33% of Grate Cheese's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ember | Grate Cheese |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-temperature-control/id1147470931/reviews) | **[4.3 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grate-cheese/id6738261695/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.5K** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 17.7% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 63 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ember Technologies Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1063861447) | [Grate Cheese](https://appshunter.io/developer/1779862627) |

## What reviewers say

### Ember

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-temperature-control/id1147470931)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ 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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Grate Cheese

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grate-cheese/id6738261695)

Explore the world of cheese with this comprehensive companion app. Catalog your tasting experiences, discover new varieties, and learn about their origins and makers. Track your progress and earn badges as you become a cheese connoisseur.

**Highlights:** Extensive cheese database, Personalized tasting journal, Search by name, style, country, maker, Information on cheese origins and makers, Badge system for tracking exploration, Photo documentation of cheeses

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ember free?

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

### Is Grate Cheese free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ember or Grate Cheese?

Grate Cheese is rated higher. Ember averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7.5K ratings, while Grate Cheese averages 4.3 from 11 ratings.

### Do Ember or Grate Cheese have ads?

Grate Cheese shows ads; Ember does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ember or Grate Cheese?

Ember ships an update every 2 months, and Grate Cheese every 2 months. Most recently, Ember was updated on October 18, 2026 and Grate Cheese on October 5, 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.*