# eSmartLock vs Chickadee Bandit

The clearest difference is rating: Chickadee Bandit at 5.0 against eSmartLock's 2.3. Chickadee Bandit also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). eSmartLock's advantage is ratings volume (160 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. eSmartLock sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Chickadee Bandit sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $7.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chickadee Bandit holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: eSmartLock has 160 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

eSmartLock ships an update monthly, Chickadee Bandit weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | eSmartLock | Chickadee Bandit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esmartlock/id1453141716/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chickadee-bandit/id6776813707/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **160** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 31.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 67 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shenzhen Elink Smart Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257307745) | [Firebird Systems LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896525758) |

## What reviewers say

### eSmartLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esmartlock/id1453141716)

Control your smart lock from your phone, eliminating the need for traditional keys. Enjoy secure access and convenient management of your home security. Avoid the hassle of lost keys with this mobile client software.

**Highlights:** Keyless entry, Secure access control, Remote lock management, Fingerprint unlock, Apple Watch integration, Quick setup

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cloud Storage 30-day (7) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Cloud Storage 180-day (7) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Cloud Storage 360-day (7) | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fingerprint unlock works reliably
- 🔒 Secure access control
- ⚡ Quick setup once working
- 📱 Apple Watch integration available
- 🔋 Long battery life

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Registration process extremely problematic
- 🐛 Bluetooth connectivity issues and frequent disconnections
- 📵 App crashes and won't load
- 🔐 Mandatory account registration required
- ❌ Poor user experience and confusing navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot complete registration - password validation fails
- App won't accept valid passwords meeting stated requirements
- Bluetooth disconnects within seconds of connection
- Lock icon displays incorrect state (always shows unlocked)
- Fingerprint reader fails to save or update fingerprints

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch standalone app without phone requirement
- Widget integration for quick access
- Apple Home integration
- Single-button unlock without opening app
- Account password reset functionality


### Chickadee Bandit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chickadee-bandit/id6776813707)

A private, ad-free app designed to help families and organizations stay organized. It offers customizable features like shared calendars, location sharing, messaging, meal planning, and chore management, all within a secure, user-controlled environment.

**Highlights:** Shared calendar with flyer scanning, Private location sharing with safe zones, Group messaging, Meal planning and grocery lists, Chore assignment and rewards, Customizable feature library, Shared spaces for groups and teams

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Family | $7.00 | per month |
| Group | $12.00 | per month |
| Organization | $35.00 | per month |
| Famly Annual | $70.00 | per year |
| Group Annual | $119.99 | per year |
| Organization Yearly | $350.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is eSmartLock free?

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

### Is Chickadee Bandit free?

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

### Which has better reviews, eSmartLock or Chickadee Bandit?

Chickadee Bandit is rated higher. eSmartLock averages 2.3 out of 5 from 160 ratings, while Chickadee Bandit averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do eSmartLock or Chickadee Bandit have ads?

Neither eSmartLock nor Chickadee Bandit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, eSmartLock or Chickadee Bandit?

eSmartLock ships an update monthly, and Chickadee Bandit weekly. Most recently, eSmartLock was updated on November 10, 2026 and Chickadee Bandit on November 5, 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.*