# OptimalHR vs HOU Express

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: HOU Express at 12.0 against OptimalHR's 15.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OptimalHR | HOU Express |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Size | 43 MB | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DIGITAL CONTENTS CREATOR CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524412827) | [Vectorasoft Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639347147) |

## What reviewers say

### OptimalHR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimalhr/id1658929462)

**In-app purchases:** none


### HOU Express

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hou-express/id6446265717)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OptimalHR free?

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

### Is HOU Express free?

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

### Do OptimalHR or HOU Express have ads?

Neither OptimalHR nor HOU Express shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OptimalHR or HOU Express?

OptimalHR ships an update every 3 weeks, and HOU Express every 3 weeks. Most recently, OptimalHR was updated on October 15, 2026 and HOU Express on October 1, 2026.

---

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