Sutro vs Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sutro
Effortlessly manage your pool or spa water quality. This app works with a smart monitor to automatically track pH, free chlorine, alkalinity, and temperature, providing insights that make sense for optimal water conditions.
- Automatic water quality monitoring
- pH tracking
- Free chlorine measurement
- Alkalinity tracking
- Temperature monitoring
- Seamless app integration
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Sutro is the simple, safe, and seamless way to manage your Pool (or Spa) water with measurements that make sense and monitoring that is automatic. The Sutro app works with the Sutro Smart Monitor to measure your pool or spa’s pH, free chlorine (ppm), alkalinity, and temperature without you having to do anything.
Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)
Control your hot tub remotely. Adjust water temperature, activate massage bubbles, and manage the filtration system. Schedule heating and filtration cycles for optimal comfort and maintenance.
- Adjust water temperature
- Control massage bubbles
- Manage filtration system
- Set heating timer
- Set filtration timer
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For any questions, please visit www.bestwaycorp.com for assistance. Welcome to Bestway Connect, previously SmartSpa. Don't download this app if there is no QR code on the operation panel of your pump. Please download the Bestway Smart Hub app. "Bestway Connect" Puts control into the palm of your hand. The app allows you to adjust the temperature and massage bubbles, run the filtration system, and set a heating or filtration timer from where ever you are.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) at 4.6 against Sutro's 3.9. Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 175). Sutro's advantage is review sentiment (73% vs 47%) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) has 1.1K ratings behind it against 175, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of Sutro's written reviews are positive against 47% of Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Sutro ships an update every 2 months, Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sutro | Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (175 ratings) | 4.6 (1.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.9% of reviews — better | 46.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 175 | 1.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 85 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sutro Connect Inc | Bestway Global Holding Inc. |
Customer experience
Sutro
Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)
Bugs and requests
Sutro
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes and freezes
- Disconnection issues with hub
- Calibration failures
- Inaccurate water chemistry readings
Requested features
4 requests- Measure total hardness and CYA
- Customizable notification settings
- Ability to cancel subscription easily
- Improved app stability and user experience
Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Sutro
No in-app purchases
Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sutro free?
Is Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) free?
Which has better reviews, Sutro or Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)?
Do Sutro or Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sutro or Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)?
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