# Carson Living vs Thrive Barber

The clearest difference is rating: Thrive Barber at 5.0 against Carson Living's 3.2. Carson Living's advantage is ratings volume (28 vs 6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Thrive Barber holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 6 respectively.

Carson Living ships an update monthly, Thrive Barber every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Carson Living | Thrive Barber |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carson-living/id1273755261/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thrive-barber/id6472668738/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 19.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 143 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Carson Living Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1273755260) | [Thrive Barber Lounge LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1717446776) |

## What reviewers say

### Carson Living

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carson-living/id1273755261)

This app enables remote access for residents, staff, and visitors in multi-family apartment buildings and HOA communities. It facilitates instant communication between property managers and residents for important building updates and notifications.

**Highlights:** Remote access for staff, residents, and visitors, Instant communication between staff and residents, Property hardware and software integration, Building update notifications, Visitor and courier access management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Seamless integration with building access
- 📦 Convenient package delivery notifications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable digital keys and access
- 🔒 Security concerns with lack of physical keys
- ⏱️ Slow and laggy performance
- 🤯 Frustrating user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Digital keys randomly stop working
- Inconsistent Bluetooth connectivity
- Delivery notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch app support
- Customizable widget options
- Improved guest access management
- Lower resolution video feed option


### Thrive Barber

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thrive-barber/id6472668738)

Easily book and manage your barber appointments with a few taps. View services, check availability, and pay securely. Receive reminders and get directions to your next grooming session.

**Highlights:** View service menu and prices, Check availability and book appointments, Secure in-app payments and tipping, Receive appointment reminders, Manage appointments (reschedule, cancel), Get directions to the salon

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Carson Living free?

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

### Is Thrive Barber free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Carson Living or Thrive Barber?

Thrive Barber is rated higher. Carson Living averages 3.2 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Thrive Barber averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Carson Living or Thrive Barber have ads?

Neither Carson Living nor Thrive Barber shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Carson Living or Thrive Barber?

Carson Living ships an update monthly, and Thrive Barber every 2 months. Most recently, Carson Living was updated on October 21, 2026 and Thrive Barber on October 24, 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.*