# HeatNext vs Xiao

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Xiao at none against HeatNext's 4. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HeatNext sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Xiao asks for nothing beyond the download.

HeatNext ships an update every 2 months, Xiao every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and August 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HeatNext | Xiao |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[2.1 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xiao-e/id1542174595/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **136** |
| Positive reviews | — | 22.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 32 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Nomnio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1440372439) | [文平 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1521439717) |

## What reviewers say

### HeatNext

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heatnext/id1440372440)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Package | $1.99 | per month |
| Advanced Package | $3.99 | per month |
| Plus Package | $18.99 | per year |
| Advanced Package | $37.99 | per year |


### Xiao

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xiao-e/id1542174595)

This utility app connects to ear-picking equipment via Wi-Fi to display a real-time view of the ear canal on your mobile device. It allows users to easily examine ear conditions, capture photos, and record videos for later comparison.

**Highlights:** Real-time ear canal imaging, Wi-Fi connectivity, Photo and video capture, Ear condition comparison, Ear canal examination tool

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HeatNext free?

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

### Is Xiao free?

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

### Do HeatNext or Xiao have ads?

Neither HeatNext nor Xiao shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HeatNext or Xiao?

HeatNext ships an update every 2 months, and Xiao every 5 weeks. Most recently, HeatNext was updated on September 15, 2026 and Xiao on August 7, 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.*