# INKBIRD vs PoolChem Tracker

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | INKBIRD | PoolChem Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkbird/id1589369968/reviews) | **[4.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poolchem-tracker/id6762652630/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 22.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 398 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shenzhen Inkbird Technology Co. Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163595178) | [Jeffrey Thompson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894944456) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### PoolChem Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poolchem-tracker/id6762652630)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PoolChem Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*