# BN vs Optimal°

BN and Optimal° both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 60% of Optimal°'s written reviews are positive against 19% of BN's. BN's advantage is ratings volume (1.9K vs 7) and iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for BN against 4.9 for Optimal°. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BN has 1.9K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 19% of BN's written reviews are positive against 60% of Optimal°'s.

BN ships an update every 3 months, Optimal° every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BN | Optimal° |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bn-link-smart/id1543390446/reviews) | **[4.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimal/id6473653236/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 18.8% of reviews | **60.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 164 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [CENTURY PRODUCTS INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1543190289) | [Its Optimal LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1719356914) |

## 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


### Optimal°

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimal/id6473653236)

This app provides remote control and monitoring for a specific brand of tankless water heaters. Users can adjust temperature, track performance metrics, and receive diagnostic information for efficient hot water management.

**Highlights:** Set water heater output temperature, Monitor unit activity state, Track flow rate and energy consumption, View inlet and outlet water temperatures, Access diagnostics and error codes, Enable Vacation Mode

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BN free?

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

### Is Optimal° free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BN or Optimal°?

Optimal° is rated higher. BN averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Optimal° averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do BN or Optimal° have ads?

Neither BN nor Optimal° shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BN or Optimal°?

BN ships an update every 3 months, and Optimal° every 5 months. Most recently, BN was updated on October 9, 2026 and Optimal° on September 29, 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.*