Comparison

BudLabs vs Vivanco Smart

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

Head to head
About

BudLabs

This hydroponics grow guide helps growers of all levels organize their cultivation process. It provides tailored feeding schedules with precise nutrient proportions and allows users to manage multiple virtual crops, track progress, and access product information.

Highlights
  • Tailored feeding schedules
  • Nutrient calculator
  • Manage multiple virtual crops
  • Track crop growth phases
  • Task management and notes
  • Advanced Nutrients product info
  • Retailer locator
Features
Read full description

BudLabs is Advanced Nutrients’ mobile hydroponics grow guide that every grower, from beginner to expert, has been waiting for. It helps you organize each step of the grow process and gives you the feeding schedule, with the exact proportions of Advanced Nutrients products distributed each week. With BudLabs you will achieve reliable and consistent results in your grow room. Here are the features that will help you do that: Nutrient Calculator: - Choose the phase of your crop’s growth — grow or bloom. - Select your nutrient base of choice. - Select your level of grow experience. - Insert your precise reservoir size — BudLabs supports both gallons and liter calculations. - Based on your input, BudLabs will give you a tailored feeding schedule, complete with all Advanced Nutrients products, distributed within the correct weeks. Labs: - Create and manage multiple virtual crops simultaneously. - Each virtual crop you create in Labs boasts its own nutrient base and feeding schedule. - Visualize the growth phases of your crop throughout the grow process. You can even upload images to see your plant’s progress from seed to harvest. - Set the first day of your crop in the calendar and mark the beginning of the growth of your crops. - Manage your daily activities, write down all your tasks, and never forget a thing from your grow-room to-do list. Take advantage of our notes feature to jot down the details you don’t want to miss. - Edit tasks - No more missing crucial steps or misplacing priorities! Our tasks tool makes it easy to stay on top of your daily to-do’s. - Access and monitor your virtual crops — with logged start, end and cycle-switch dates, you never have to worry about skipping a step. - Managing more than one crop at a time? You can duplicate a crop to track your progress across multiple grows at once. - Follow your weekly nutrient calculation for a perfectly balanced grow room. - Get reminders for each activity within your virtual crop. - Take pride in your latest grow, while taking stock of what worked best. You can view your completed crops and tasks while strategizing the best steps for an optimal return to the garden. - Share your cannabis crop data - notes, tasks, images, and more - at growjournals.budlabsapp.com, and show off your grows on social media. Engage with others commenting on your progress and elevate your home-growing experience. Products: - BudLabs includes information for every Advanced Nutrients product, including its exact purpose and how it affects the plant. News: - Select your preferred location and get access to the latest Advanced Nutrients news and promotions. - BudLabs will send you push notifications for the latest “News”. Where to buy: - Always up-to-date map of all Advanced Nutrients’ retailers around the world. - Locate all the nearby stores where you can stock up on Advanced Nutrients products. - Contact selected stores by way of a simple tap, or just allow BudLabs to guide you to their location. Grower Support: - Connect with the world-famous Advanced Nutrients Grower Support team in one tap. - Have our experts answer all the grow-related questions you may have. ------------ * Terms of use: https://budlabsapp.com/terms-of-use * Privacy policy: https://budlabsapp.com/privacy-policy

About

Vivanco Smart

Features
Read full description

Vivanco Smart is the all-in-one app designed to help you monitor, manage and control your connected Vivanco devices from anywhere. Whether you want to keep an eye on your home, receive important alerts, manage cameras, organize smart devices or create custom automations, Vivanco Smart brings everything together in one intuitive and reliable platform. Designed for modern lifestyles, the app allows you to stay connected to your property at any time. Whether you are at home, at work or travelling, you can access your compatible devices directly from your smartphone and enjoy a smarter, more convenient way to manage your connected home. Live Camera Monitoring Access live video streams from compatible Vivanco cameras and check what is happening in real time. Monitor key areas of your home, office or property directly from the app, whenever you need. Stay connected and informed with convenient remote access designed to keep important places within reach. Smart Camera Controls Get more from your camera experience with built-in control functions. Depending on the device, you can capture images, record videos, communicate through two-way audio and remotely adjust the camera's viewing direction. These features help you stay connected and respond quickly when needed. Instant Notifications Receive real-time alerts directly on your smartphone. Vivanco Smart helps you stay aware of activity detected by connected cameras and compatible smart devices. Notifications ensure you are informed about important events as they happen, even when you are away from home. Create Smart Automations Customize how your devices work together by creating intelligent scenarios. Automations help simplify everyday routines and allow connected devices to react automatically based on your preferred settings. Build a smart home experience that adapts to your needs and lifestyle. Organize Your Smart Home Manage different homes and organize devices by room for a clearer overview of your connected environment. Whether you have a single apartment, a family home or multiple properties, Vivanco Smart makes it easy to keep devices organized and accessible. Message Center View all notifications and alerts from your connected devices in one centralized, chronological timeline. Stay informed and quickly review recent activity. Cloud Services Protect important recordings with cloud-based backup options. Securely store valuable footage and access additional services designed to enhance your monitoring experience and provide greater convenience. Manage Multiple Devices Connect and manage multiple compatible Vivanco smart products through one single account. Cameras, detectors and other supported devices can all be controlled through the same application, providing a simple and unified user experience. Simple Setup Getting started is easy. Add compatible devices, follow the pairing process and begin monitoring your connected home in just a few steps. The intuitive interface makes navigation simple for both new and experienced users. Key Features • Live camera monitoring • Remote access anytime and anywhere • Real-time notifications and alerts • Camera image capture and video recording • Two-way audio communication on supported devices • Remote camera direction control on supported products • Smart scenarios and automation creation • Home and room management • Multi-device support • Cloud backup services • Centralized message center • Easy device pairing and management • Intuitive and user-friendly interface Vivanco Smart is ideal for homeowners, families, apartment residents, caregivers or pet owners looking for a simple way to monitor and manage connected devices from a single application. Download Vivanco Smart and discover the Vivanco Home ecosystem. Monitor, manage and control your connected devices wherever you are, with everything you need available in one powerful and easy-to-use app.

Screenshots

BudLabs4 screens
Vivanco Smart4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BudLabs at none against Vivanco Smart's 5. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Vivanco Smart sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. BudLabs asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BudLabs ships an update every 2 months, Vivanco Smart every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
BudLabs versus Vivanco Smart: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBudLabsVivanco Smart
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (77 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews36.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings77 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB191 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAdvanced NutrientsSBSmobile

Bugs and requests

BudLabs

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • App crashes
  • App freezes
  • App does not work
  • App not opening
  • App under maintenance message
Show 8 more
  • Cannot check or uncheck tasks
  • Cannot start new crops or duplicate
  • App stopped working after update
  • Pro access not working
  • Subscription not recognized
  • App crashes non stop
  • App closes right away
  • Bug: App does not open

Requested features

31 requests
  • Ability to input pH and PPM
  • Grower suggestions for adjustments
  • All grow info in one place
  • Edit or delete entries on to-do list
  • Support for autoflower community
Show 26 more
  • Add in-app notes section
  • Add other nutrients to calculator
  • Option to go off pot size, not just reservoir
  • Ability to add more info like pH and PPM
  • User wiki for nutrient info
  • Interaction with IFTTT or Alexa
  • Consider lighting and humidity based on location
  • Ability to increase/decrease nutrients by 1 gallon/L
  • Measurement conversion options (fl oz, ml, gallons)
  • Ability to move crops in Labs
  • New crops added to top of list
  • Ability to edit crop names
  • Work with completed crops (view, copy, repeat)
  • Ability to edit 'To-do tasks'
  • Priority Grower Support for subscribers
  • Calibrate for iPhone Max screen
  • Add a calendar for feeding days
  • Save calculations for larger grows
  • Higher max for gallons in calculator
  • Set up several 'grows' with selected products
  • More personalized features for saving individual crop calculations
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard
  • Ability to track multiple plants for free
  • More user-friendly interface
  • More information or ability to access it

Vivanco Smart

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BudLabs

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Vivanco Smart

Subscriptions5
  • 14-days storage 1 camera$4.991 Month
  • 30-days storage 1 camera$6.991 Month
  • 14-days storage 1 camera + AI$8.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Annual 14-days storage 1 camera$49.991 Year
  • Annual 30-days storage 1 camera$69.991 Year

Questions

Is BudLabs free?
BudLabs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Vivanco Smart free?
Vivanco Smart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BudLabs or Vivanco Smart have ads?
Neither BudLabs nor Vivanco Smart shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BudLabs or Vivanco Smart?
BudLabs ships an update every 2 months, and Vivanco Smart every 5 weeks. Most recently, BudLabs was updated on November 2, 2026 and Vivanco Smart on October 25, 2026.

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