# SML+ vs Lake Buddy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SML+ at 100% against Lake Buddy's 57%. SML+ also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

SML+ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of SML+'s written reviews are positive against 57% of Lake Buddy's.

SML+ ships an update every 2 months, Lake Buddy every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on August 22, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SML+ | Lake Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sml-plus/id1519595178/reviews)** | [3.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lake-buddy/id6447542707/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **47** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 57.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 4 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Timothy Barr](https://appshunter.io/developer/1519595180) | [Fork Lemons LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1681700879) |

## What reviewers say

### SML+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sml-plus/id1519595178)

Stay informed about Smith Mountain Lake with real-time water levels, temperature, wind forecasts, and marine gas prices. Get alerts, track the ice cream boat, and view historical data for a better lake experience.

**Highlights:** Real-time water level updates, Hourly water temperature readings, Interactive temperature sensor map, Historical water level and temperature charts, Marine gas prices and locations, 5-day wind forecast, Water level and safety alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lake Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lake-buddy/id6447542707)

Track your favorite lakes with real-time levels, weather forecasts, and historical data. Easily manage lists of lakes by state or view them on a map. Prepare for your water activities with up-to-date conditions.

**Highlights:** Track favorite lakes, View lake levels and conditions, 7-day weather forecast, Historical data (week, month, year), Lakes listed by state, Map view of lakes, Customizable favorite list order

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SML+ free?

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

### Is Lake Buddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SML+ or Lake Buddy?

SML+ is rated higher. SML+ averages 5.0 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while Lake Buddy averages 3.7 from 10 ratings.

### Do SML+ or Lake Buddy have ads?

Lake Buddy shows ads; SML+ does not.

### Which is updated more often, SML+ or Lake Buddy?

SML+ ships an update every 2 months, and Lake Buddy every 5 months. Most recently, SML+ was updated on August 22, 2026 and Lake Buddy on June 10, 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.*