# ADT Pulse ® vs 5 Star Cuts

The clearest difference is monetization model: 5 Star Cuts at free against ADT Pulse ®'s subscription. 5 Star Cuts also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). ADT Pulse ®'s advantage is ratings volume (850K vs 7) and device support (5 vs 2). On price, rating, 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.

5 Star Cuts holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ADT Pulse ® has 850K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ADT Pulse ® ships an update every 3 months, 5 Star Cuts every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ADT Pulse ® | 5 Star Cuts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (850K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adt-pulse/id355736423/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-star-cuts-va/id6736953986/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **850K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 28.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 99 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ADT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/355736426) | [5 Star Cuts LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774035740) |

## What reviewers say

### ADT Pulse ®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adt-pulse/id355736423)

Control your home or business security and automation system remotely. Manage cameras, lights, locks, and thermostats, and receive alerts for peace of mind. Arm or disarm your system, adjust settings, and set custom automations from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Remote system arming/disarming, Control lights, locks, and thermostats, View live surveillance camera feeds, Receive security and arrival alerts, Set custom automations and schedules, Remote door lock/unlock

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable system
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🔒 Provides peace of mind
- 🚀 Convenient remote access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connection issues with app
- 🐛 Slow camera feed loading
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 💰 Expensive service

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to connect to security system
- Camera feeds frequently going offline
- Arm/disarm functions not working reliably
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to view full video history
- Geofencing for automatic arming/disarming
- Tighter integration with smart home devices
- Faster app response times


### 5 Star Cuts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-star-cuts-va/id6736953986)

Easily book and pay for services with a few taps. View the full service menu, check availability, and manage your appointments. Securely pay and tip without needing cash, and receive timely reminders.

**Highlights:** View service menu and prices, Check availability and book appointments, Secure in-app payment and tipping, Receive appointment reminders, Manage appointments (reschedule, cancel, directions)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ADT Pulse ® free?

ADT Pulse ® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is 5 Star Cuts free?

5 Star Cuts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ADT Pulse ® or 5 Star Cuts?

5 Star Cuts is rated higher. ADT Pulse ® averages 4.8 out of 5 from 850K ratings, while 5 Star Cuts averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do ADT Pulse ® or 5 Star Cuts have ads?

Neither ADT Pulse ® nor 5 Star Cuts shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ADT Pulse ® or 5 Star Cuts?

ADT Pulse ® ships an update every 3 months, and 5 Star Cuts every 2 weeks. Most recently, ADT Pulse ® was updated on November 11, 2026 and 5 Star Cuts on November 4, 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.*