# HomeWAV vs HootBoard

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HootBoard at 50% against HomeWAV's 8%. HootBoard also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). HomeWAV's advantage is ratings volume (11K vs 4) and rating (3.8 vs 3.5). 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.

HomeWAV holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HomeWAV has 11K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 8% of HomeWAV's written reviews are positive against 50% of HootBoard's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HomeWAV ships an update every 5 weeks, HootBoard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HomeWAV | HootBoard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/homewav/id594277905/reviews)** | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hootboard/id1141706263/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 8.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#167** | — |
| Size | 94 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HomeWAV](https://appshunter.io/developer/594277908) | [HOOTBOARD LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141706262) |

## What reviewers say

### HomeWAV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/homewav/id594277905)

**Currently charting:** #167 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with incarcerated loved ones through phone calls, video calls, and messaging. Manage funds, schedule visits, and receive notifications when they are available. This app facilitates communication and connection with inmates.

**Highlights:** Create free account, Add and manage inmate contacts, Manage funds and payment information, Initiate phone and video calls, Send messages to inmates, Schedule onsite and remote visits, Receive inmate login notifications

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Able to communicate with loved ones
- 👍 Appreciate having the app to use instead of in-person visits
- 🤗 Great customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant login issues and app crashes
- 💰 Expensive and overpriced for the service provided
- 🔥 Unreliable video/audio quality and frequent disconnections
- 🤯 Frustrating and disappointing experience overall

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently logs users out unexpectedly
- Video calls often freeze or disconnect
- Inability to receive notifications of incoming calls

**Requested features**

- Keep users logged in to avoid constant re-logins
- Improve video/audio quality and reliability
- Provide more affordable pricing options


### HootBoard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hootboard/id1141706263)

Stay updated and contribute to your organization's digital bulletin board. Post announcements, events, and jobs on the go, and receive real-time notifications. Engage in discussions and manage content easily.

**Highlights:** Post updates on the go, Receive push notifications, View and add events to calendar, Engage with comments and questions, Filter content with collections, Admin content review and management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HomeWAV free?

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

### Is HootBoard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HomeWAV or HootBoard?

HomeWAV is rated higher. HomeWAV averages 3.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while HootBoard averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do HomeWAV or HootBoard have ads?

Neither HomeWAV nor HootBoard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HomeWAV or HootBoard?

HomeWAV ships an update every 5 weeks, and HootBoard every 2 months. Most recently, HomeWAV was updated on November 9, 2026 and HootBoard on November 2, 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.*