# TP vs TheBarberKit

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TheBarberKit at none against TP's 15. TheBarberKit also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). TP's advantage is chart position (#10 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TP sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. TheBarberKit asks for nothing beyond the download.

TP ships an update every 2 weeks, TheBarberKit daily. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TP | TheBarberKit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-tapo/id1472718009/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 73.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | — |
| Size | 822 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TP-Link Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1713842892) | [Kernforge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892141664) |

## What reviewers say

### TP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-tapo/id1472718009)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Grossing · Lifestyle, #35 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Manage and control your smart home devices, including cameras, plugs, and lighting, from a single app. Monitor your home in real-time, automate routines with Smart Actions, and enjoy hands-free voice control. Enhance your home's security and convenience with intelligent features.

**Highlights:** Remote device control, Real-time status monitoring, Instant notifications, Smart Actions automation, Voice control integration, Device sharing

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tapo Care Basic 1 Cam/monthly | $2.49 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium 1 Cam/month | $3.49 | per month |
| Tapo Care Cloud – 1 Camera | $3.49 | per month |
| Tapo Care Cloud – 2 Cameras | $6.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium 2 Cam/month | $6.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Basic 5 Cam/month | $8.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium 3 Cam/month | $10.49 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium (Monthly) | $11.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Cloud Advanced | $11.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Cloud Advanced AI | $19.99 | per month |
| Tapo Care Premium 1 Cam/year | $34.99 | per year |
| Tapo Care Premium 2 Cam/year | $69.99 | per year |
| Tapo Care Premium 3 Cam/year | $104.99 | per year |
| Tapo Care Premium (Yearly) | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy setup and use
- 👍 Clear and responsive app
- 🔒 Reliable security features
- 💡 Customizable settings and modes
- 🔍 Excellent video and audio quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔒 Limited user sharing/access controls
- 🔋 Frequent notifications/timeout prompts
- 💻 Compatibility issues on some devices
- 💰 Subscription required for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent camera positioning/control
- Date/time stamp errors on recordings
- Unreliable motion detection triggering
- Frequent app crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete recorded footage
- Landscape mode support on tablets
- Customizable motion detection zones
- Improved Alexa/Google Home integration
- Battery-powered camera option


### TheBarberKit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thebarberkit/id6761935056)

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TP free?

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

### Is TheBarberKit free?

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

### Do TP or TheBarberKit have ads?

Neither TP nor TheBarberKit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TP or TheBarberKit?

TP ships an update every 2 weeks, and TheBarberKit daily. Most recently, TP was updated on October 29, 2026 and TheBarberKit on October 25, 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.*