Comparison

INKBIRD vs PoolChem Tracker

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

INKBIRD

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
Read full description

INKBIRD helps you create a smart home, smart life. We make hard things simple by convenient and fast operation, clear and intuitive interface, considerate and practical functions. Here, you can smartly make home appliances intelligent and automated adjustment of temperature and humidity so as create an optimal environment for your family. Here, you can remotely monitor the food temperature and customize temperature alarms to always cook delicious meals for your family. Here, you can set up a family network of things of your own and experience a more wonderful, more enjoyable life.

About

PoolChem Tracker

This app provides precise pool chemical dosing recommendations based on your test results and pool size. It calculates a health score for your water and offers a prioritized action list to maintain balance. Works offline with no account required.

Highlights
  • Precise dosing recommendations
  • Pool Health Score (0-100)
  • Prioritized action list
  • CYA-adjusted chlorine targets
  • LSI calculator
  • Chemical inventory tracking
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Stop guessing. Start knowing. Enter your water test results and get exact dosing recommendations for your pool size: what to add, how much, and in what order. A simple Pool Health Score (0-100) shows you where your water stands at a glance. No account. No ads. No internet required. Your data stays on your device. Works with chlorine pools, saltwater (SWG) pools, and all pool types. Imperial and Metric units supported. Free: includes 5 complete water test logs • Precise chemical doses calculated for your pool size • Pool Health Score with prioritized treatment steps to avoid overcorrecting • CYA-adjusted chlorine targets • Log FC, TC, pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, CYA, Salt, Iron, Copper, and Phosphates • Full LSI (Langelier Saturation Index) calculator • Smart validation to catch typos before saving • Equipment maintenance tracker with reminders for skimmer, pump basket, filter, and SWG cell • Chemical inventory tracking • Built-in reference guide with recommended ranges • Automatic light and dark mode Pro: one-time purchase, no subscription • Unlimited water test history • Charts and long-term trend tracking • Detailed Health Score breakdown with per-parameter analysis • Trend detection with actionable insights • Six climate zone presets for more accurate water balance targets • Borate tracking (30-50 ppm target range) • Maintenance history and custom maintenance schedules • Advanced reminders with custom intervals • Liquid chlorine and muriatic acid concentration settings • Advanced LSI factor breakdown with a "What If?" simulator • CSV export and import Built by a pool owner who wanted accurate, straightforward chemistry guidance without the guesswork or the subscription fee.

Screenshots

INKBIRD4 screens
PoolChem Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PoolChem Tracker at 100% against INKBIRD's 23%. PoolChem Tracker also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). INKBIRD's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (7K vs 8). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PoolChem Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. INKBIRD asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PoolChem Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: INKBIRD has 7K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of INKBIRD's written reviews are positive against 100% of PoolChem Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

INKBIRD ships an update fortnightly, PoolChem Tracker every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
INKBIRD versus PoolChem Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterINKBIRDPoolChem Tracker
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (7K ratings)4.6 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7K — better8
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size398 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShenzhen Inkbird Technology Co. LtdJeffrey Thompson

Customer experience

INKBIRD

All ratings6,819 ratings
Positive66.3%
Neutral4.1%
Negative29.6%
Written reviews824 reviews
Positive22.8%
Neutral9.7%
Negative67.5%

PoolChem Tracker

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

INKBIRD

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

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

PoolChem Tracker

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

INKBIRD

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PoolChem Tracker

One-time1
  • PoolChem Pro$4.99

Questions

Is INKBIRD free?
INKBIRD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PoolChem Tracker free?
PoolChem Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, INKBIRD or PoolChem Tracker?
PoolChem Tracker is rated higher. INKBIRD averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7K ratings, while PoolChem Tracker averages 4.6 from 8 ratings.
Do INKBIRD or PoolChem Tracker have ads?
Neither INKBIRD nor PoolChem Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, INKBIRD or PoolChem Tracker?
INKBIRD ships an update fortnightly, and PoolChem Tracker every 5 days. Most recently, INKBIRD was updated on November 3, 2026 and PoolChem Tracker on October 24, 2026.

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