# AUTOMATE SHADES vs SBM Visualizer

The clearest difference is rating: AUTOMATE SHADES at 3.1 against SBM Visualizer's 2.0. AUTOMATE SHADES also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 19 months). SBM Visualizer's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

AUTOMATE SHADES holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AUTOMATE SHADES has 93 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of AUTOMATE SHADES's written reviews are positive against 0% of SBM Visualizer's.

AUTOMATE SHADES ships an update every 6 weeks, SBM Visualizer every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AUTOMATE SHADES | SBM Visualizer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.1 (93 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/automate-shades/id1460852253/reviews)** | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sbm-visualizer/id1550977175/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **93** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **32.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 19 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 151 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ROLLEASE ACMEDA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1134859288) | [Matiss Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1550977567) |

## What reviewers say

### AUTOMATE SHADES

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/automate-shades/id1460852253)

Effortlessly control and automate motorized window shades. Organize shades by room, group them into scenes, and set timers for daily routines. Monitor battery levels and signal strength for all shades remotely.

**Highlights:** Room-based organization, Scene creation and activation, Automated timers, Remote control, Battery and signal monitoring, Sunrise/sunset automation

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great customer service
- 🚀 Fantastic support
- 🚀 Works as described
- 🚀 Excellent functionality and flexibility
- 🚀 Timer function is exceptional

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and sync issues
- 🐛 Difficult to set up and configure
- 🐛 Poor HomeKit and smart home integration
- 🐛 Unresponsive devices

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Shades disappearing from the app
- Timers and schedules not working as expected
- Connectivity issues between hub and shades
- Inconsistent performance after updates

**Requested features**

- Improved user interface and navigation
- Better sync and reliability across devices
- Enhanced smart home integrations
- Customizable shade positioning and automation
- Battery level notifications


### SBM Visualizer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sbm-visualizer/id1550977175)

Visualize window coverings in your home using augmented reality. Explore fabrics, customize shades and curtains, and save your designs. Order samples and get quotes directly through the app.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality window covering visualization, Customizable fabric and hardware options, Save designs as images and videos, Fabric browser for collections, Order samples and get quotes, Recent selections for quick access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AUTOMATE SHADES free?

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

### Is SBM Visualizer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AUTOMATE SHADES or SBM Visualizer?

AUTOMATE SHADES is rated higher. AUTOMATE SHADES averages 3.1 out of 5 from 93 ratings, while SBM Visualizer averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do AUTOMATE SHADES or SBM Visualizer have ads?

Neither AUTOMATE SHADES nor SBM Visualizer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AUTOMATE SHADES or SBM Visualizer?

AUTOMATE SHADES ships an update every 6 weeks, and SBM Visualizer every 19 months. Most recently, AUTOMATE SHADES was updated on October 21, 2026 and SBM Visualizer on September 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.*
