BroadLink vs Barm
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BroadLink
Manage all your smart home devices from one place, anywhere in the world. Control lighting, appliances, security, and more with intelligent automation and one-button scene control. Features zero-configuration setup for compatible devices.
- Remote device management
- Intelligent power control
- Lighting control
- IR and RF remote control
- Security and sensor integration
- Scene creation
- Zero configuration device setup
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The new BroadLink super app lets you manage all BroadLink and compatible products in your home from anywhere in the world at any time, enjoying smart life style with intelligent power control, lighting control, IR and RF remote control, security protection, sensors, home appliances, etc. With BroadLink app, you can easily set triggers for interaction or scenes for one-button control of multiple devices. Also new FastCon technology is adopted in BroadLink app which enables you to add FastCon compatible devices without configuration process (Zero Configuration). If you have any questions, please click the "Feedback" Button in the "Help and Feedback" of the App.
Barm
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Barm is a fast, fully offline log for your sourdough starter — built for bakers who want data, not a diary. Track every feeding with one tap, watch your rise trend as a live chart, and time the float test right from your pocket, all without opening a spreadsheet or writing a paragraph. Most sourdough trackers turn feeding your starter into a journaling chore — photos, mood notes, endless taps. Barm skips the fuss: pick a hydration ratio, log the grams, done. A built-in ratio calculator works out flour and water for you, and the float test timer tells you exactly how long your starter took to peak. Everything lives on your device. No account, no cloud sync, no ads — your starter's feeding history and rise data never leave your phone. Included forever for a single starter: unlimited feed logging, the rise chart, and the float test timer. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited starters, CSV export, custom feeding reminders, and rise-time stats — a one-time purchase, no subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://obelisk.club/sourdoughstarterlog/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BroadLink at none against Barm's 1. BroadLink also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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. Barm sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BroadLink asks for nothing beyond the download.
BroadLink ships an update monthly, Barm every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BroadLink | Barm |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (2.6K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2.6K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 167 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Broadlink Co.,Ltd | 永 张 |
Bugs and requests
BroadLink
Reported bugs
4 issues- Scenes not working as expected
- Frequent app crashes
- Devices going offline randomly
- Alexa integration issues
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to customize button layouts
- Integration with more smart home platforms
- Improved scheduling and automation features
- Temperature display in Fahrenheit
- Backup and restore functionality
Barm
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BroadLink
No in-app purchases
Barm
- Barm Pro$4.99









