# Kindred Home Swapping vs Carmel Guide

The clearest difference is rating: Kindred Home Swapping at 4.9 against Carmel Guide's 3.7. Kindred Home Swapping also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 3). Carmel Guide's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Carmel Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Kindred Home Swapping asks for nothing beyond the download.

Kindred Home Swapping holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kindred Home Swapping has 1.8K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kindred Home Swapping | Carmel Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kindred-home-swapping/id1603228195/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carmel-guide/id6762157620/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 60.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 146 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kindred Concepts Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1603228197) | [Splitsnap](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885260747) |

## What reviewers say

### Kindred Home Swapping

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kindred-home-swapping/id1603228195)

This members-only platform facilitates home exchanges, allowing renters and owners to travel by swapping homes with a trusted community. Earn credits by hosting and use them to book stays, with concierge services handling logistics like cleaning and supplies.

**Highlights:** Members-only home exchange, Travel with trusted community, Earn credits by hosting, Concierge services for logistics, Access homes in North America and Europe

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fantastic hosts and great communication
- 🏠 Cozy and comfortable homes
- 💰 Affordable alternative to hotels
- 🌇 Great locations and views
- 🧹 Professionally cleaned homes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Confusing app navigation and functionality
- 🕰️ Slow response times from hosts
- 🚫 Difficulty booking desired dates
- 💰 Expensive service and cleaning fees
- 🤨 Lack of transparency around host ratings

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account verification problems
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate availability and booking information

**Requested features**

- Improved search and filtering options
- More transparent host rating system
- Flexible date changes and cancellations
- Better in-app messaging and communication
- Streamlined onboarding and profile management


### Carmel Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carmel-guide/id6762157620)

Discover local businesses, dog-friendly spots, and outdoor dining in Carmel and Monterey County. Includes helpful tools like a parking meter timer, tip calculator, and menu translator for visitors.

**Highlights:** Curated local business listings, Dog-friendly venue finder, Outdoor dining recommendations, Parking meter timer with alerts, Tip calculator and currency converter, Menu translator, Real-time weather updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Access | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kindred Home Swapping free?

Kindred Home Swapping is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Carmel Guide free?

Carmel Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Kindred Home Swapping or Carmel Guide?

Kindred Home Swapping is rated higher. Kindred Home Swapping averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Carmel Guide averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Kindred Home Swapping or Carmel Guide have ads?

Neither Kindred Home Swapping nor Carmel Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kindred Home Swapping or Carmel Guide?

Kindred Home Swapping ships an update weekly, and Carmel Guide weekly. Most recently, Kindred Home Swapping was updated on November 3, 2026 and Carmel Guide on October 31, 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.*