# Tri vs Polar

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tri at none against Polar's 1. Tri also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 17.4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Polar sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $25.00 per year. Tri asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tri ships an update every 2 months, Polar every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tri | Polar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 9.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 21 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [interpet.co.uk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226255981) | [GivEnergy Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711761312) |

## What reviewers say

### Tri

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tri-spec-2/id1459336568)

Control your aquarium lighting with customizable settings. Schedule sunrise and sunset effects, adjust colors, and access support resources. Requires a specific controller for advanced features.

**Highlights:** Instant controls, 24-hour timer, Customizable colors, Sunrise & sunset simulation, Biotope pre-sets (with controller), Storm function (with controller)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Polar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polar-ess/id6478309215)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Subscription | $25.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tri free?

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

### Is Polar free?

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

### Do Tri or Polar have ads?

Neither Tri nor Polar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tri or Polar?

Tri ships an update every 2 months, and Polar every 5 weeks. Most recently, Tri was updated on October 17, 2026 and Polar on September 20, 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.*