# YoLink vs CHARSHINE

The clearest difference is update cadence: YoLink at every 3 weeks against CHARSHINE's every 2 months. CHARSHINE's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, 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.

YoLink ships an update every 3 weeks, CHARSHINE every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | YoLink | CHARSHINE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yolink/id1457639983/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **55** | — |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 110 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [YoSmart](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457639982) | [ShenZhen Yongchuangcheng Technology Co.,Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699704378) |

## What reviewers say

### YoLink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yolink/id1457639983)

Control a wide range of smart home devices, including lights, switches, thermostats, and cameras, through a central hub. This application enables comprehensive home automation and management.

**Highlights:** Control smart lights, Manage smart switches and sockets, Automate watering systems, Monitor IP cameras, Integrate with YoLink hub, Home automation management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great hardware and app
- 👍 Easy setup and functionality
- 🔒 Reliable system
- 💡 Customizable home security
- 🚀 Fantastic connectivity and quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with connection issues
- 🔍 Confusing and cluttered user interface
- 🔊 Loud and annoying alarm sounds
- 🌙 Lack of dark mode
- 🎨 Poor color contrast and visibility

**Reported bugs**

- App not working with iOS 15
- Frequent disconnections of hub and sensors
- Inability to save temperature alert ranges
- Alerts not working as expected
- Offline sensor issues

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve temperature/alarm setting controls
- Implement Apple Shortcuts support
- Add iPad app version
- Allow custom notification sounds


### CHARSHINE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charshine/id6744131829)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YoLink free?

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

### Is CHARSHINE free?

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

### Do YoLink or CHARSHINE have ads?

Neither YoLink nor CHARSHINE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, YoLink or CHARSHINE?

YoLink ships an update every 3 weeks, and CHARSHINE every 2 months. Most recently, YoLink was updated on November 2, 2026 and CHARSHINE on October 30, 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.*