# BN vs INKBIRD

The clearest difference is rating: BN at 4.7 against INKBIRD's 3.7. INKBIRD's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

BN holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.9K and 6.8K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 19% of BN's written reviews are positive against 23% of INKBIRD's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

BN ships an update every 3 months, INKBIRD fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BN | INKBIRD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bn-link-smart/id1543390446/reviews)** | [3.7 (6.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkbird/id1589369968/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.9K | **6.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 18.8% of reviews | **22.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 164 MB | 398 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CENTURY PRODUCTS INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1543190289) | [Shenzhen Inkbird Technology Co. Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163595178) |

## What reviewers say

### BN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bn-link-smart/id1543390446)

Control your home appliances remotely from anywhere using your smartphone. Manage multiple devices simultaneously, set timers for automated functions, and easily share access with family members for convenient smart home management.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Simultaneous multi-device control, Customizable timers, Family device sharing, Quick device connection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to set up
- 🚀 Reliable performance
- 💡 Customizable schedules

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔒 Privacy concerns
- 🔍 Confusing app interface
- 💸 Ads and notifications

**Reported bugs**

- Devices randomly disconnecting
- Schedules not working as expected
- App crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved scheduling features
- Better integration with smart home platforms


### INKBIRD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkbird/id1589369968)

Transform your home into a smart environment with intuitive controls for appliances and automated adjustments of temperature and humidity. Remotely monitor food temperatures and set custom alarms for optimal cooking, creating a more connected and enjoyable life.

**Highlights:** Smart home appliance control, Automated temperature and humidity adjustment, Remote food temperature monitoring, Customizable temperature alarms, Family network setup

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to set up and use
- 🔒 Reliable connection
- 👍 Useful features
- 🚀 Accurate temperature monitoring
- 👍 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and connectivity issues
- 👎 Unintuitive app interface
- 🔋 Battery life concerns
- 👎 Difficult to configure
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with mandatory account

**Reported bugs**

- Custom menu names reset after exiting app
- Widgets not working as expected
- Frequent app crashes and disconnections
- Sensor temperature readings inconsistent
- Unable to remove/delete connected devices

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve temperature graph functionality
- Allow custom alarm sounds
- Implement low temperature alerts
- Add support for more devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BN free?

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

### Is INKBIRD free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BN or INKBIRD?

BN is rated higher. BN averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while INKBIRD averages 3.7 from 6.8K ratings.

### Do BN or INKBIRD have ads?

Neither BN nor INKBIRD shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BN or INKBIRD?

BN ships an update every 3 months, and INKBIRD fortnightly. Most recently, BN was updated on October 9, 2026 and INKBIRD on October 16, 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.*