# The MeatStick vs Masterbuilt

The clearest difference is rating: Masterbuilt at 4.6 against The MeatStick's 4.3. Masterbuilt also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 1.2K). The MeatStick's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (26% vs 13%). 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.

Masterbuilt holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Masterbuilt has 12K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of The MeatStick's written reviews are positive against 13% of Masterbuilt's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

The MeatStick ships an update every 3 weeks, Masterbuilt every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The MeatStick | Masterbuilt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-meatstick/id1353339890/reviews) | **[4.6 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterbuilt/id1587962574/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | **26.3% of reviews** | 13.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 357 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Soma Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353339889) | [PREMIER SPECIALTY BRANDS, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281287625) |

## What reviewers say

### The MeatStick

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-meatstick/id1353339890)

This app helps you achieve perfect meat cooking results every time. Monitor and control your meal remotely, ensuring your meat is never overcooked or undercooked.

**Highlights:** Monitor and control cooking remotely, Achieve meat perfection, Prevent overcooking/undercooking, Easy to use interface, Cook juicy and tender meats

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great performance and reliable
- 👍 Perfect meat all the time
- 👍 Game changer!
- 👍 Quality product
- 👍 Straightforward and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant connection issues and slow to get temp
- 🐛 Verbindung bricht ab
- 🐛 Loses connection frequently
- 🐛 Doesn't work, support is terrible
- 🐛 Doesn't work when you need it

**Reported bugs**

- Firmware update issues
- Connectivity problems
- Thermometer inaccuracies
- App crashes
- Stick failures after limited use

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to rename sticks
- Ability to edit past sessions without stick
- Simpler one-press operation to start and stop


### Masterbuilt

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterbuilt/id1587962574)

Control your smart grill or smoker remotely. Adjust temperature, monitor cooking progress with real-time graphs, and receive alerts. Explore a vast recipe library to elevate your outdoor cooking experience.

**Highlights:** Remote grill and smoker control, Set and adjust temperature and time, Monitor meat probes and view graphs, Receive cooking notifications and alerts, Access a recipe library, View cooking history

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great smoker and grill
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔥 Excellent flavor from charcoal and wood
- 🍽️ Versatile (smoking, grilling, baking)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues with app
- 🔌 App frequently disconnects from smoker
- 🔍 App lacks important features (e.g. temperature history, notifications)
- 🔢 Inconsistent temperature readings
- 🤖 App is buggy and unreliable

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently loses connection to smoker
- Temperature settings not always reflected in smoker
- Probe temperature selection options are limited
- App crashes when trying to access certain features

**Requested features**

- Add ability to set custom probe temperatures
- Improve app connectivity and reliability
- Add more detailed cooking data and history
- Provide better notifications and alerts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The MeatStick free?

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

### Is Masterbuilt free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The MeatStick or Masterbuilt?

Masterbuilt is rated higher. The MeatStick averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Masterbuilt averages 4.6 from 12K ratings.

### Do The MeatStick or Masterbuilt have ads?

Neither The MeatStick nor Masterbuilt shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The MeatStick or Masterbuilt?

The MeatStick ships an update every 3 weeks, and Masterbuilt every 3 months. Most recently, The MeatStick was updated on September 24, 2026 and Masterbuilt on September 23, 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.*