Reef Buddy vs Reef.Tools
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Reef Buddy
Easily log, monitor, and analyze your saltwater aquarium's critical parameters. Get smart insights and personalized advice to maintain a healthy reef tank. Syncs across devices and offers guidance for manual test results.
- Log critical aquarium parameters
- Monitor KH, salinity, pH, Ca, Mg, and more
- Analyze data with automated insights
- Sync data across iPhone and iPad
- Guidance for manual test kit results
- Personalized advice with premium subscription
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Reef Buddy – Track Your Reef Tank With Confidence Reef Buddy is the reef tracker and water test log built for saltwater tank and saltwater aquarium keepers. Log water tests, monitor parameter trends, and understand what is changing in your reef before small swings become real problems. Track Every Essential Reef Parameter Record KH, salinity, pH, Ca, Mg, NO₂, NO₃, PO₄, SiO₂, temperature, and more. Keep a clear aquarium log with visual trends for the values reef keepers watch most. Smart Insights for Saltwater Aquariums Get automated insights from your measurements so you can react earlier, keep your reef tank stable, and make better maintenance decisions. Sync Across Devices All your data is safely stored and automatically synced across your iPhone and iPad. Manual Test Help Enter results from your favorite test kits faster with guided steps designed for reef routines, regular water tests, and day-to-day reef journaling. Unlock Premium with Shrimpy Shrimpy, your reef assistant, unlocks powerful features: • Expert analysis of your tank data • Personalized advice • Photo analysis of your aquarium • Ability to ask questions and get reefing tips Why Reef Keepers Choose Reef Buddy • Built for reef tanks and saltwater aquariums • Clean tracking without unnecessary clutter • Compatible with major test kits, including Red Sea, Salifert, Hanna, and more Subscription Info Shrimpy Premium is available as a monthly or yearly subscription. Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage your subscription anytime in your Apple account settings. Terms & Privacy Policy: https://reef-buddy.app
Reef.Tools
This app simplifies reef tank maintenance with science-backed tools. It offers a precision dosing calculator for over 30 elements, customizable schedules, and insights into water chemistry. Compare your tank's parameters to natural ocean values.
- Precision dosing calculator for 30+ elements
- Customizable dosing schedules
- Reef chemistry insights
- Support for multiple brands and custom targets
- Comparison to natural ocean parameters
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Reef.Tools: Simplify reef-keeping, whether you're a novice or a seasoned aquarist. Maintain a thriving reef tank with ease using science-backed tools and insights. Key Features: Precision Dosing Calculator: Accurately dose 30+ elements with support for multiple brands and safe reference levels. Comprehensive Schedules: View day-to-day dosing plans and customize as needed. Chemistry Insights: Discover the importance, risks, and roles of each element in your reef. Customizable Preferences: Use your preferred products, set custom targets, or exclude elements you don’t dose. Ocean References: Compare your tank’s parameters to natural seawater values from locations like the Red Sea and Fiji. Built by reefers, for reefers, Reef.Tools removes the guesswork, letting you focus on what matters most: a thriving, vibrant reef. Your reef. Your rules. Simplified.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reef Buddy at 60% against Reef.Tools's 0%. Reef Buddy also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (19 vs 2). Reef.Tools's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Reef Buddy sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Reef.Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.
Reef Buddy holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reef Buddy has 19 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Reef Buddy's written reviews are positive against 0% of Reef.Tools's.
Reef Buddy ships an update every 2 weeks, Reef.Tools daily. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Reef Buddy | Reef.Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (19 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 19 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | maxime marinel | Ivena LLC |
Customer experience
Reef Buddy
Reef.Tools
In-app purchases
Reef Buddy
- Reef Buddy Pro Weekly$0.997 Days
- Reef Buddy Pro3 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Reef buddy pro month$3.991 Month
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- Reef buddy pro annual3 Days trial$44.991 Year
Reef.Tools
No in-app purchases









