# Char vs Masterbuilt

The clearest difference is rating: Masterbuilt at 4.7 against Char's 1.0. Masterbuilt also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 1) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Char's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 13%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Masterbuilt has 12K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Char'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.

Char ships an update every 5 months, Masterbuilt every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on July 18, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Char | Masterbuilt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/char-grill/id1435536827/reviews) | **[4.7 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterbuilt/id1587962574/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 13.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 115 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ABDUL BASITH KHAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1589252202) | [PREMIER SPECIALTY BRANDS, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281287625) |

## What reviewers say

### Char

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/char-grill/id1435536827)

Order food from a curated menu with detailed dish descriptions and images. Track your order live, choose from multiple payment options, and access exclusive app discounts for a convenient dining experience.

**Highlights:** Curated menus with images, Detailed dish descriptions, Live order tracking, Multiple payment options, Exclusive app discounts, Streamlined ordering process

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 Char free?

Char 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, Char or Masterbuilt?

Masterbuilt is rated higher. Char averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Masterbuilt averages 4.7 from 12K ratings.

### Do Char or Masterbuilt have ads?

Neither Char nor Masterbuilt shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Char or Masterbuilt?

Char ships an update every 5 months, and Masterbuilt every 3 months. Most recently, Char was updated on July 18, 2026 and Masterbuilt on September 30, 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.*