# Hubitat vs ReefBeat

The clearest difference is update cadence: ReefBeat at fortnightly against Hubitat's every 2 months. ReefBeat also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 163). Hubitat's advantage is review sentiment (28% vs 17%) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 16.6). On price, rating, 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.

Hubitat holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ReefBeat has 1.8K ratings behind it against 163, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of Hubitat's written reviews are positive against 17% of ReefBeat's.

Hubitat ships an update every 2 months, ReefBeat fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 5, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hubitat | ReefBeat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.8 (163 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hubitat/id1367244704/reviews)** | [2.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reefbeat/id1407856474/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 163 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **28.0% of reviews** | 17.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 29 MB | 337 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hubitat, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1367244703) | [RedSea](https://appshunter.io/developer/1407856473) |

## What reviewers say

### Hubitat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hubitat/id1367244704)

Control and monitor your smart home devices remotely. Set up location-based automation and receive important alerts directly to your phone. This app enhances your existing home automation system.

**Highlights:** Access Dashboards, Monitor and control devices, Arm/disarm Safety Monitor, Change Modes, Define Geofence for Presence, Receive Push Notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast local control and response times
- 🔒 Local-first architecture with optional cloud access
- 💡 Highly customizable and flexible platform
- 📱 Geofencing and presence detection capabilities
- 🎯 Excellent device compatibility and integrations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🎨 Outdated, clunky UI design (Windows 98 style)
- 📍 Geofencing unreliable and inconsistent
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain from location tracking
- ☁️ Cloud/remote access requires paid subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup consistently
- Geofence detection fails to send events to hub
- Geofence shows incorrect location (off by km)
- Login screen keyboard covers continue button
- App hangs at 'Loading User Data' screen

**Requested features**

- Native iOS app with proper UI/UX design
- Dark mode option
- Widget support for quick device access
- Ability to add/discover devices from mobile app
- Automation and scene creation from app


### ReefBeat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reefbeat/id1407856474)

Control all your smart aquarium devices from a single, intuitive interface. Manage lighting, water pumps, and supplement dosing for a thriving aquatic environment.

**Highlights:** Unified device control, ReefLED lighting management, ReefWave pump control, ReefDose dosing system management, User-friendly interface

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to set up and use
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🔋 Reliable device connectivity
- 💡 Useful monitoring and control features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🐛 App crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Unreliable device pairing
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 👎 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App forgets aquarium settings
- Devices randomly disconnect from WiFi
- Firmware updates fail to install properly

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and reliability
- More customization options for lighting and dosing
- Integration with other smart home platforms
- Better notification and alert system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hubitat free?

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

### Is ReefBeat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hubitat or ReefBeat?

Hubitat is rated higher. Hubitat averages 2.8 out of 5 from 163 ratings, while ReefBeat averages 2.6 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Hubitat or ReefBeat have ads?

Neither Hubitat nor ReefBeat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hubitat or ReefBeat?

Hubitat ships an update every 2 months, and ReefBeat fortnightly. Most recently, Hubitat was updated on August 5, 2026 and ReefBeat 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.*