# Airthings vs IDEA

The clearest difference is rating: IDEA at 5.0 against Airthings's 4.4. IDEA also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (50% vs 33%). Airthings's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (3K vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

IDEA holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Airthings has 3K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Airthings's written reviews are positive against 50% of IDEA's.

Airthings ships an update fortnightly, IDEA every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Airthings | IDEA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airthings/id1560329275/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-ble/id6667117980/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 102 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Airthings ASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1101077902) | [和平 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743103495) |

## What reviewers say

### Airthings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airthings/id1560329275)

Monitor and improve your indoor air quality with smart devices. Get real-time insights, track trends, and receive actionable advice to enhance focus, reduce allergies, and sleep better. Control your air purifier and stay informed about pollen forecasts.

**Highlights:** Quick device setup, At-a-glance air quality indicators, Detailed trend tracking, Air purifier remote control, 5-day pollen forecast, Air quality notifications, Personalized air reports

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple to understand and setup
- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use app
- 🚀 Efficient and fast
- 🚀 Provides great information on air quality
- 🚀 Accurate and reliable sensor readings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App has connectivity issues, often fails to sync
- 🐛 App is buggy and has many errors
- 🐛 Inaccurate or inconsistent sensor readings
- 🐛 Difficult to set up and connect devices
- 🐛 Lack of customization options for thresholds and notifications

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Unable to add new devices or accounts
- Incorrect color coding and data display
- Delayed or missing sensor data updates
- Bluetooth connectivity issues

**Requested features**

- Add HomeKit integration
- Allow custom thresholds and notifications
- Improve data visualization and historical trending
- Add more detailed information on air quality issues and remedies
- Provide an iPad-optimized version of the app


### IDEA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-ble/id6667117980)

This intelligent operation app allows users to customize product usage and expand functionality. It provides a convenient way to interact with specific company products and gain a deeper understanding of their features.

**Highlights:** Intelligent operation, Product customization, Expandable functions, Enhanced product understanding, Convenient user interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Airthings free?

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

### Is IDEA free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Airthings or IDEA?

IDEA is rated higher. Airthings averages 4.4 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while IDEA averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Airthings or IDEA have ads?

Neither Airthings nor IDEA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Airthings or IDEA?

Airthings ships an update fortnightly, and IDEA every 6 months. Most recently, Airthings was updated on September 25, 2026 and IDEA on September 2, 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.*