# ReefBeat vs Aquarist's Notes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ReefBeat at none against Aquarist's Notes's 2. Aquarist's Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Aquarist's Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. ReefBeat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReefBeat ships an update fortnightly, Aquarist's Notes every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReefBeat | Aquarist's Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reefbeat/id1407856474/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 17.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 337 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RedSea](https://appshunter.io/developer/1407856473) | [Ludek Slouf](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664390856) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Aquarist's Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aquarists-notes/id6451252680)

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReefBeat free?

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

### Is Aquarist's Notes free?

Aquarist's Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do ReefBeat or Aquarist's Notes have ads?

Neither ReefBeat nor Aquarist's Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ReefBeat or Aquarist's Notes?

ReefBeat ships an update fortnightly, and Aquarist's Notes every 6 days. Most recently, ReefBeat was updated on September 23, 2026 and Aquarist's Notes on September 11, 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.*