# SmartTub® vs Sutro

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sutro at 73% against SmartTub®'s 24%. Sutro also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (3.9 vs 3.6). SmartTub®'s advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

Sutro holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 320 and 175 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of SmartTub®'s written reviews are positive against 73% of Sutro's.

SmartTub® ships an update fortnightly, Sutro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartTub® | Sutro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (320 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarttub/id1318260634/reviews) | **[3.9 (175 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sutro/id1439627399/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **320** | 175 |
| Positive reviews | 23.6% of reviews | **72.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 97 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jacuzzi Brands Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/967204652) | [Sutro Connect Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439627398) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartTub®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarttub/id1318260634)

This app acts as a personal hot tub assistant, providing tailored tips, how-to videos, and information based on your usage. It allows remote control of settings, energy usage estimates, and notifications for maintenance or power outages, ensuring you're always informed about your hot tub's status.

**Highlights:** Personalized hot tub tips and how-to videos, Remote adjustment of temperature and energy efficiency, Energy usage estimates, Power outage notifications, Dealer alerts for maintenance, Remote connection to dealer service

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 🔒 Alerts for power outages
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Useful monitoring features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🐛 Temperature settings not reliable
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 💰 Expensive annual subscription
- 🤔 Lack of WiFi option

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently logs out users
- Inability to register warranty
- Inconsistent temperature readings
- Unreliable connection to spa

**Requested features**

- Ability to remotely turn off spa
- Customizable heating and filtering schedules
- Chemical tracking and maintenance reminders
- Improved Apple Watch integration
- Better temperature and setting controls


### Sutro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sutro/id1439627399)

Effortlessly manage your pool or spa water quality. This app works with a smart monitor to automatically track pH, free chlorine, alkalinity, and temperature, providing insights that make sense for optimal water conditions.

**Highlights:** Automatic water quality monitoring, pH tracking, Free chlorine measurement, Alkalinity tracking, Temperature monitoring, Seamless app integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Accurate water testing
- 💡 Helpful notifications and recommendations
- 🔒 Reliable customer support
- 🚀 Convenient pool monitoring

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Inaccurate readings
- 🐛 Buggy app performance
- 🔋 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Setup difficulties

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Disconnection issues with hub
- Calibration failures
- Inaccurate water chemistry readings

**Requested features**

- Measure total hardness and CYA
- Customizable notification settings
- Ability to cancel subscription easily
- Improved app stability and user experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartTub® free?

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

### Is Sutro free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartTub® or Sutro?

Sutro is rated higher. SmartTub® averages 3.6 out of 5 from 320 ratings, while Sutro averages 3.9 from 175 ratings.

### Do SmartTub® or Sutro have ads?

Neither SmartTub® nor Sutro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartTub® or Sutro?

SmartTub® ships an update fortnightly, and Sutro every 2 months. Most recently, SmartTub® was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sutro 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.*