# SmartThings vs Azure

The clearest difference is update cadence: SmartThings at monthly against Azure's every 11 months. SmartThings also leads on chart position (#6 vs unranked). Azure's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, 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.

SmartThings ships an update monthly, Azure every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartThings | Azure |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (849K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthings/id1222822904/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **849K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 30.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | — |
| Size | 887 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/359580642) | [Global NoticeBoard](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163498664) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartThings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthings/id1222822904)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Free · Lifestyle, #185 Top Free (US App Store)

Unify and manage all your smart home devices from a single application. Connect hundreds of brands, create custom scenes and routines, and control your home remotely. Monitor energy usage and even get meal planning assistance.

**Highlights:** Connect and control devices from multiple brands, Create custom scenes and routines, Remote home monitoring and control, Automated notifications and status updates, Voice control with Google Assistant, Energy tracking and saving features, Smart cooking and meal planning assistance

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Remote control functionality
- 📚 Laundry cycle recommendations
- 🤖 Automation and scheduling capabilities
- 🔧 Customizable settings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and crashes
- ⏱️ Slow and laggy performance
- 🔍 Difficulty connecting and configuring devices
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive user interface
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to add or remove devices
- Inconsistent device status updates
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to control TV without remote
- Improved photo/artwork management for Frame TV
- More advanced automation and scheduling options
- Better integration with other smart home platforms


### Azure

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/azure/id1541117863)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartThings free?

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

### Is Azure free?

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

### Do SmartThings or Azure have ads?

Neither SmartThings nor Azure shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartThings or Azure?

SmartThings ships an update monthly, and Azure every 11 months. Most recently, SmartThings was updated on October 23, 2026 and Azure on October 17, 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.*