# The Hideout vs MRCOOL SmartHVAC

The clearest difference is rating: MRCOOL SmartHVAC at 4.7 against The Hideout's 4.0. MRCOOL SmartHVAC also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (12K vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

MRCOOL SmartHVAC holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MRCOOL SmartHVAC has 12K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The Hideout ships an update every 6 months, MRCOOL SmartHVAC every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Hideout | MRCOOL SmartHVAC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-hideout/id1244240762/reviews) | **[4.7 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mrcool-smarthvac/id1439162688/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 49.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 6 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ASSOCIATION OF PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE HIDEOUT, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1321956525) | [Cielo WiGle Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030282554) |

## What reviewers say

### The Hideout

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-hideout/id1244240762)

Connect to your club's mobile platform to view statements and register for events. Communicate with other members and get notified about upcoming club activities directly on your device.

**Highlights:** View member statements, Register for club events, Connect with other members, Receive event notifications, Mobile device access

**In-app purchases:** none


### MRCOOL SmartHVAC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mrcool-smarthvac/id1439162688)

Transform your existing MRCOOL air conditioners and heat pumps into smart devices. Control your home's climate remotely via smartphone or voice commands, automate settings based on your location, and set personalized schedules for comfort and energy savings.

**Highlights:** Remote AC and heat pump control, Voice command integration (Alexa, Google Home), Location-based automation, Weekly scheduling, Usage history monitoring, Air filter status alerts, Intelligent temperature triggers ('Comfy' feature)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy installation
- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Effective heating and cooling
- 🚀 Quiet operation
- 🚀 Helpful customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent temperature readings
- 🐛 Unreliable scheduling and automation
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Lack of metric unit support
- 🐛 Confusing interface and controls

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently loses connection to unit
- Schedules not working as expected
- Temperature calibration issues
- Inconsistent behavior between app, remote, and unit

**Requested features**

- Add Celsius temperature option
- Improve scheduling functionality (set on and off times)
- Integrate remote temperature sensor
- Provide energy usage monitoring
- Allow multiple user accounts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Hideout free?

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

### Is MRCOOL SmartHVAC free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Hideout or MRCOOL SmartHVAC?

MRCOOL SmartHVAC is rated higher. The Hideout averages 4.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while MRCOOL SmartHVAC averages 4.7 from 12K ratings.

### Do The Hideout or MRCOOL SmartHVAC have ads?

Neither The Hideout nor MRCOOL SmartHVAC shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Hideout or MRCOOL SmartHVAC?

The Hideout ships an update every 6 months, and MRCOOL SmartHVAC every 4 weeks. Most recently, The Hideout was updated on October 5, 2026 and MRCOOL SmartHVAC on October 26, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*