# Nest vs Powerpal

Nest and Powerpal both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 70% of Powerpal's written reviews are positive against 24% of Nest's. Powerpal also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Nest's advantage is ratings volume (2.6M vs 24) and chart position (#98 vs unranked). 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Nest against 4.6 for Powerpal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nest has 2.6M ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 24% of Nest's written reviews are positive against 70% of Powerpal's.

Nest ships an update every 2 months, Powerpal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nest | Powerpal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nest/id464988855/reviews)** | [4.6 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/powerpal/id1373552942/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.6M** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 24.4% of reviews | **70.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#98** | — |
| Size | 240 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nest Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/464988858) | [Amber Electric Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1295285141) |

## What reviewers say

### Nest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nest/id464988855)

**Currently charting:** #98 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Control your smart home devices, including thermostats, security systems, cameras, and smoke detectors, all from a single app. Receive alerts, manage schedules, and automate actions based on your presence.

**Highlights:** Remote thermostat control, Arm/disarm security system, Live camera feeds, Smoke/CO alerts, Automated actions, Visitor notifications

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Reliable security features
- 📽️ Good video quality
- 🔔 Useful alerts and notifications
- 🌐 Convenient remote access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- ⏱️ Slow app performance
- 🔒 Overly complex setup and login process
- 💰 Expensive subscription required for full functionality
- 🔋 Battery life issues with cameras

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent home/away detection
- Thermostat schedule resets unexpectedly
- Smoke detector false alarms
- Camera feed freezes or fails to load

**Requested features**

- Improved scheduling and automation options
- Better integration with other smart home devices
- More customization options for alerts and notifications
- Offline viewing and recording capabilities


### Powerpal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/powerpal/id1373552942)

Monitor your home's real-time energy consumption and track historical usage. Set monthly spending targets, receive alerts, and get tips to optimize energy use and save money. Integrates with time-of-use tariffs for further savings.

**Highlights:** Real-time power usage display, Historical energy consumption tracking, Monthly spend target setting, On-target and off-track alerts, Energy-saving tips, Time-of-use tariff integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📊 Real-time power consumption monitoring
- 💰 Helps users reduce electricity bills
- 🎨 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 📈 Multiple graph and visualization formats
- 🔧 Simple installation process

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Pairing failures with error 403
- 📱 Portrait mode only - no landscape support
- 🔋 Battery dies after 2-3 years without replacement option
- 📡 Limited Bluetooth range and connectivity issues
- ⚙️ Rigid tariff configuration options

**Reported bugs**

- Error 403 pairing failures on iOS and Android
- App crashes when entering pairing code
- Forced update screen with no skip/cancel option
- Update failures preventing app launch
- Bluetooth disconnections even when device is nearby

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support for tablets/iPads
- Custom tariff time configuration
- WiFi connectivity for remote monitoring
- Support for multiple tariff rates (EV plans, super off-peak)
- Solar export/feed-in tracking and monitoring


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nest free?

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

### Is Powerpal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nest or Powerpal?

Nest is rated higher. Nest averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.6M ratings, while Powerpal averages 4.6 from 24 ratings.

### Do Nest or Powerpal have ads?

Neither Nest nor Powerpal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nest or Powerpal?

Nest ships an update every 2 months, and Powerpal every 3 weeks. Most recently, Nest was updated on October 24, 2026 and Powerpal on October 23, 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.*