SYNA vs SunnyReef
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SYNA
Control Maxspect WIFI series equipment wirelessly. Manage multiple devices, including Maxspect Jump Series Lights, through a cloud-based platform. Enjoy seamless integration and enhanced functionality for your aquarium setup.
- Wireless control for Maxspect WIFI series
- Manage multiple devices
- Supports Maxspect Jump Series Lights
- Cloud Platform Technology integration
- Remote equipment management
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This App is based on Clouds Platform Technology, designed to control Maxspect WIFI series equipments. It can provide wireless control to one or multiple Maxspect WIFI series equipments,including Maxspect Jump Series Lights.
SunnyReef
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SunnyReef is a marine aquarium journal for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Log water tests, watch trends on charts, import ICP lab reports, plan your dosing and ask an AI assistant about your reef — all in one place, synced through iCloud. TESTS & PARAMETERS • 12 parameters: KH, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nitrate (NO₃), phosphate (PO₄), pH, salinity, temperature, plus trace elements: potassium (K), strontium (Sr), iodine and iron (Fe) • A clear status for every parameter against its target range — with custom ranges for your own tank • Historical charts and statistics: parameter trends over time ICP REPORTS • Import lab results from: Aquaforest Lab, ATI ICP, Triton, Fauna Marin, Oceamo • Values are read from the report automatically by an AI agent and compared with your previous tests (requires an AI key — see below) BRING YOUR HISTORY • CSV import from Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets — carry your existing measurement history with you DOSING • A new Dosing tab: set each supplement schedule once — a periodic table of elements shows every item at a glance • Bottle supply warnings 7 and 3 days ahead • Estimated level on the Dashboard, History chart and Dosing table — measured values and their statuses never change • A dose advisor computes real consumption from your tests and ICP and suggests a safe dose — always a suggestion, never auto-dosing • Label converter (ml/drops, L/gal, mg/µg per litre, dKH) and a salt batch profile LIVESTOCK & FEEDING • Track your fish, corals and invertebrates — species, purchase batches with prices and dates • Loss history with cause and note — undo an accidental loss and the animal returns to your living stock • Group feeding: one food, frequency and notes for a whole category; any species can have its own plan • The AI assistant knows your livestock — ask about stocking compatibility or have it set the feeding plan GALLERY, CALENDAR, REMINDERS • Reef photos with water parameters from the nearest test saved in the background • Calendar with daily notes • Reminders with notifications — water changes, tests, top-offs MULTIPLE AQUARIUMS • Separate tank profiles, including saved lighting settings SYNC & BACKUPS • iCloud sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac • Automatic backup to a folder of your choice (e.g. iCloud Drive), plus manual export and restore of a .sunnyreef file AI ASSISTANT — WITH YOUR OWN KEY SunnyReef connects to AI models using your own API key: • Claude (Anthropic) — paid key, highest quality analysis, understands photos • Gemini (Google) — free key, fully functional agent with photo analysis The assistant knows your results, answers questions about your parameters, analyzes coral photos and saves notes on your request. AI answers are informational and do not replace the knowledge and judgment of an experienced reef keeper. SUNNYREEF PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION SunnyReef requires an active SunnyReef Premium subscription — one plan unlocks the full app: tests, charts, ICP imports, CSV import, dosing, livestock and feeding, gallery, calendar, reminders, multiple aquariums, iCloud sync, backups and the AI assistant interface. • 14-day free trial, then $3.99 per month or $24.99 per year (prices may vary by region) • The subscription renews automatically; billed through your Apple ID account; cancel anytime in your subscription settings • You can export a backup of your data at any time — even without an active subscription • AI API keys are independent from the subscription — you pay your AI provider for your own usage (Gemini offers a free tier) • Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ PRIVACY • Your data stays with you — on your device and in your private iCloud • The developer collects no data (App Privacy: "Data Not Collected") • API keys are stored securely in the system keychain • AI requests go directly to the provider you choose (Anthropic or Google) — details in the privacy policy Available in English, French, German, Japanese and Polish.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SYNA at none against SunnyReef's 2. SYNA also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.5). SunnyReef's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. SunnyReef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. SYNA asks for nothing beyond the download.
SYNA ships an update every 10 days, SunnyReef every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SYNA | SunnyReef |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (369 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 3.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 369 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 26.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 179 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Maxspect | Lukasz Litwin |
Bugs and requests
SYNA
Reported bugs
15 issues- App fails to connect to devices on first attempt
- WiFi connection drops and requires hard reset
- App crashes when adjusting settings or flow percentages
- Form validation errors preventing access
- Devices disappear from account after updates
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- Scheduled settings reset or fail to save
- App closes when selecting device
- Buffer wheel spinning indefinitely
- SDK initialization errors after updates
- Device mode switches unexpectedly to default
- Time on device goes out of sync daily
- AP mode no longer works after iOS updates
- Blank screens and unresponsive UI
- Login credentials not remembered
- Connection timeout errors during login
Requested features
12 requests- AM/PM time format for scheduling
- Granular daily scheduling with time-based profiles
- Group control for multiple devices
- Preset profiles and modes matching device capabilities
- Temperature control for heaters
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- Advanced flow modes available on device
- 5G WiFi support
- Automatic app updates
- Better error messages and troubleshooting guidance
- Offline mode with local control
- Integration with Apex controller systems
- Step-by-step setup instructions in app
SunnyReef
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SYNA
No in-app purchases
SunnyReef
- SunnyReef Premium Monthly14 Days trial$3.991 Month
- SunnyReef Premium Annual14 Days trial$24.991 Year









