# Fi vs 5Strands

Fi and 5Strands both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 81% of 5Strands's written reviews are positive against 38% of Fi's. 5Strands also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Fi's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (42K vs 190). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 5Strands sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Fi asks for nothing beyond the download.

Fi holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fi has 42K ratings behind it against 190, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Fi's written reviews are positive against 81% of 5Strands's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fi | 5Strands |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (42K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fi-gps-dog-tracker/id1438036784/reviews)** | [4.5 (190 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5strands/id1453319405/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **42K** | 190 |
| Positive reviews | 37.9% of reviews | **81.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 199 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Barking Labs Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1002251935) | [Affordable Allergy Test, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453319404) |

## What reviewers say

### Fi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fi-gps-dog-tracker/id1438036784)

This app pairs with a smart collar to provide real-time GPS tracking for your dog. Monitor their activity, health patterns, and receive alerts if they leave designated safe zones. It offers peace of mind for pet owners by keeping them connected to their canine companions.

**Highlights:** Real-time GPS tracking, Geofencing and escape alerts, Activity and health monitoring, AI behavior insights, Lost Dog Mode, Long battery life, Apple Watch integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate GPS tracking
- 🔒 Provides peace of mind
- 👍 Helpful customer service
- 🚀 Long battery life
- 👍 Waterproof collar

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate GPS location
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🐛 Unreliable connectivity
- 👎 Intrusive notifications
- 👎 Difficult to cancel subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Collar stops working unexpectedly
- App glitches and crashes
- GPS tracking lags or shows incorrect locations

**Requested features**

- Customizable notification settings
- Offline step/distance tracking
- Ability to edit/delete activity data
- More accurate geofencing options
- Integration with other apps (e.g. Wag)


### 5Strands

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5strands/id1453319405)

Manage your health test results with this app. Analyze reports, track progress, and gain self-awareness for personal growth. It also supports pet health, focusing on their well-being to strengthen the human-animal bond.

**Highlights:** Manage health test results, Analyze detailed reports, Monitor progress, Self-awareness tools, Pet health management, Enhance human-animal bond

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5Strands VIP | $4.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Easy navigation
- 👍 Convenient for grocery shopping
- 👍 Helpful for understanding results
- 👍 Great customer service (Destiny mentioned frequently)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Test results accuracy questioned
- 😞 Additional costs for more info
- 😞 App crashes during journal entry
- 😞 App not working after update
- 😞 Cannot sign in after update

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when making journal entry
- App not working after update
- Cannot sign in after update
- Login screen issue (not going past email screen)

**Requested features**

- Ability to scan barcodes of foods
- More detailed view of all tested items, not just categories


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fi free?

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

### Is 5Strands free?

5Strands is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Fi or 5Strands?

Fi is rated higher. Fi averages 4.6 out of 5 from 42K ratings, while 5Strands averages 4.5 from 190 ratings.

### Do Fi or 5Strands have ads?

Neither Fi nor 5Strands shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fi or 5Strands?

Fi ships an update weekly, and 5Strands weekly. Most recently, Fi was updated on October 27, 2026 and 5Strands on October 26, 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.*