# RefreshMe vs Essential

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Essential at 100% against RefreshMe's 38%. Essential also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). RefreshMe's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). 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.

RefreshMe ships an update monthly, Essential every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RefreshMe | Essential |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refreshme/id1437735533/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| Positive reviews | 37.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 54 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mobile Digital Indaba](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436499349) | [Chang Hyun Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1661519895) |

## What reviewers say

### RefreshMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refreshme/id1437735533)

Earn rewards by sharing your opinions and what beverages you consume. Convert points into cash for your feedback.

**Highlights:** Earn rewards for sharing opinions, Track beverage consumption, Convert points to cash, Share feedback on products, Rewards for sharing opinions

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-calendar/id6791962762)

This productivity app focuses on the core essence of a calendar, inspired by Dieter Rams' philosophy of "less, but better." It provides daily weather, exchange rates, and historical events, aiming for a clean and focused user experience without unnecessary clutter.

**Highlights:** Minimalist design, Daily weather updates, Exchange rate information, Historical daily events, Focused calendar experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RefreshMe free?

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

### Is Essential free?

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

### Do RefreshMe or Essential have ads?

Neither RefreshMe nor Essential shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RefreshMe or Essential?

RefreshMe ships an update monthly, and Essential every 4 days. Most recently, RefreshMe was updated on November 2, 2026 and Essential on November 5, 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.*