# Yale Access vs JOYONWAY

The clearest difference is rating: Yale Access at 4.9 against JOYONWAY's 1.0. Yale Access also leads on review sentiment (41% vs 0%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). JOYONWAY's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Yale Access holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Yale Access has 77K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Yale Access's written reviews are positive against 0% of JOYONWAY's.

Yale Access ships an update fortnightly, JOYONWAY every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Yale Access | JOYONWAY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (77K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yale-access/id1450980221/reviews)** | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joyonway-spa-control/id1563320061/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **77K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **40.9% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 308 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6.1 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [August Home, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/648730595) | [Sun Hydraulics (China) Co., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676392448) |

## What reviewers say

### Yale Access

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yale-access/id1450980221)

Control and secure your home with smart lock technology. Manage access for family and guests, receive activity alerts, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your property is protected. This app is compatible with specific Yale and August smart lock models in the US and Canada.

**Highlights:** Smart lock control, Home security management, Access for family and guests, Activity alerts, Peace of mind, Compatible with Yale and August locks

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient keyless entry
- 🔒 Secure lock with fingerprint scanner
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 👍 Great for short-term rentals
- 👍 Responsive and reliable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and bugs
- 🔋 No battery level indicator
- 🔒 Cannot remove self as guest on others' locks
- 👎 Unreliable auto-lock/unlock feature
- 👎 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App shows incorrect lock status
- Issues with adding/deleting users
- Connectivity problems between lock and app
- Firmware updates causing functionality issues
- Incompatibility with certain devices/networks

**Requested features**

- Add battery level indicator
- Allow users to remove themselves as guests
- Improve auto-lock/unlock functionality
- Provide better integration with smart home platforms
- Enhance app UI and UX


### JOYONWAY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joyonway-spa-control/id1563320061)

Control your spa remotely from anywhere in the world using your cell phone. Manage equipment like pumps and lights, monitor energy usage, and set custom modes. The app also provides filter life reminders and remote assistance.

**Highlights:** Remote spa equipment control, Energy consumption monitoring, Filter life reminders, Customizable usage modes, Device sharing, Remote technical assistance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Yale Access free?

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

### Is JOYONWAY free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Yale Access or JOYONWAY?

Yale Access is rated higher. Yale Access averages 4.9 out of 5 from 77K ratings, while JOYONWAY averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Yale Access or JOYONWAY have ads?

Yale Access shows ads; JOYONWAY does not.

### Which is updated more often, Yale Access or JOYONWAY?

Yale Access ships an update fortnightly, and JOYONWAY every 3 months. Most recently, Yale Access was updated on October 27, 2026 and JOYONWAY on October 24, 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.*