# Balmar SmartLink vs SureShade Control

The clearest difference is rating: SureShade Control at 4.0 against Balmar SmartLink's 2.7. Balmar SmartLink's advantage is ratings volume (13 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

SureShade Control holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Balmar SmartLink has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Balmar SmartLink ships an update every 2 months, SureShade Control every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Balmar SmartLink | SureShade Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balmar-smartlink/id1456407105/reviews) | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sureshade-control/id1523836946/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 21 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CDI ELECTRONICS, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456407104) | [Lippert Components, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/867023615) |

## What reviewers say

### Balmar SmartLink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balmar-smartlink/id1456407105)

This application allows users to connect to and manage Balmar SmartLink devices. It requires a specific Bluetooth gateway to function. Users can view information and configure settings for their connected devices.

**Highlights:** Connect to Balmar SmartLink devices, Configure device settings, View device information, Requires BlueLink Bluetooth Gateway, Network monitoring

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SureShade Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sureshade-control/id1523836946)

Control your boat's telescoping shade system remotely via Bluetooth. Manage shade extension, retraction, and access diagnostics, usage history, and reset functions from your smart device. Supports multiple devices for an enhanced boating experience.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth Wireless Connection, Shade Extension & Retraction, Diagnostics, Usage Tracking, Reset Calibration, Multiple Device Support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Balmar SmartLink free?

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

### Is SureShade Control free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Balmar SmartLink or SureShade Control?

SureShade Control is rated higher. Balmar SmartLink averages 2.7 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while SureShade Control averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Balmar SmartLink or SureShade Control have ads?

Neither Balmar SmartLink nor SureShade Control shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Balmar SmartLink or SureShade Control?

Balmar SmartLink ships an update every 2 months, and SureShade Control every 3 months. Most recently, Balmar SmartLink was updated on October 2, 2026 and SureShade Control on October 13, 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.*