# HiGrade vs Strain Guide

The clearest difference is ads: HiGrade at none against Strain Guide's shown. HiGrade also leads on chart position (#200 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.0). Strain Guide's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HiGrade sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Strain Guide sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Strain Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 920 and 917 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of HiGrade's written reviews are positive against 83% of Strain Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HiGrade | Strain Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (920 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/higrade-cannabis-testing/id1228209196/reviews) | **[4.8 (917 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strain-guide/id1596314933/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **920** | 917 |
| Positive reviews | **84.5% of reviews** | 82.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#200** | — |
| Size | 25 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MyCrops Technologies Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1228209195) | [phannafest llc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209901791) |

## What reviewers say

### HiGrade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/higrade-cannabis-testing/id1228209196)

**Currently charting:** #200 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

Instantly test cannabis flower quality and %THC using just your phone camera. Get insights into plant health, detect pests and mold, and receive personalized growing advice. Ideal for consumers and professional growers alike.

**Highlights:** Instant %THC testing, Cannabis quality analysis, Pest and mold detection, Personalized growing advice, Nutrient balancing, Optimal harvest timing

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HiGrade monthly subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| HiGrade - monthly subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| HiGrade \| monthly subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| HiGrade 3 month subscription | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| HiGrade 3 month subscription | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| HiGrade annual subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| HiGrade annual subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| HiGrade annual subscription | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Accurate readings
- 💡 Helpful for growing and testing
- 🔍 Provides potency information
- ⭐ Great app and device

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent readings
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔌 Compatibility issues with newer phones
- 🤷‍♀️ Doubts about accuracy
- 🚫 Lack of support/unresponsive

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes
- Login/subscription issues
- Inability to delete photos

**Requested features**

- Ability to identify strain
- More comprehensive analysis (CBD, etc.)
- Journal/notes feature for grow data
- Better photo/camera integration


### Strain Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strain-guide/id1596314933)

Explore thousands of cannabis strains with detailed information on effects, flavors, and growing tips. Features an AI assistant for personalized recommendations and advanced search filters. Track your favorites and add personal notes for easy reference.

**Highlights:** AI strain assistant, Advanced search and filtering, Personalized notes and favorites, Growing and harvesting information, Strain suggestions, Community ratings and comments

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Strain guide, pro, monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Strain Guide Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Strain Guide Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Strain guide, pro, yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful and knowledgeable
- 🔍 Useful database and reference guide
- 📚 Extensive strain information
- 🗒️ Ability to save notes on favorite strains
- 🤝 Good for both new and experienced users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙄 Obnoxious commercials/ads
- ⏱️ Frequent ads interrupting usage
- 🔍 Limited strain selection
- 🤖 Temperamental app performance

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes on startup
- Search function not working properly

**Requested features**

- Photo identification feature to identify strains
- Ability to filter strains by terpene profile
- Option to remove ads through a paid subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HiGrade free?

HiGrade is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Strain Guide free?

Strain Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HiGrade or Strain Guide?

Strain Guide is rated higher. HiGrade averages 4.6 out of 5 from 920 ratings, while Strain Guide averages 4.8 from 917 ratings.

### Do HiGrade or Strain Guide have ads?

Strain Guide shows ads; HiGrade does not.

### Which is updated more often, HiGrade or Strain Guide?

HiGrade ships an update every 3 weeks, and Strain Guide every 3 weeks. Most recently, HiGrade was updated on October 8, 2026 and Strain Guide on October 15, 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.*