# HomeWAV vs Pay Tel

The clearest difference is rating: HomeWAV at 3.8 against Pay Tel's 1.8. HomeWAV also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 147). Pay Tel's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HomeWAV has 11K ratings behind it against 147, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of HomeWAV's written reviews are positive against 6% of Pay Tel's.

HomeWAV ships an update every 5 weeks, Pay Tel every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HomeWAV | Pay Tel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/homewav/id594277905/reviews)** | [1.8 (147 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay-tel/id1593243820/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 147 |
| Positive reviews | **8.3% of reviews** | 6.3% 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 | **#149** | #198 |
| Size | 94 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HomeWAV](https://appshunter.io/developer/594277908) | [Pay Tel Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/1593243822) |

## What reviewers say

### HomeWAV

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

**Currently charting:** #149 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


### Pay Tel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay-tel/id1593243820)

**Currently charting:** #198 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Stay connected with loved ones. Receive instant alerts for messages and notifications. Easily view your balance and add funds, or send photos to inmates in eligible correctional facilities.

**Highlights:** Instant message alerts, Unread message count, Current balance visibility, Add funds link, Send photos to inmates

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Enables communication with incarcerated loved ones
- 📹 Video calling functionality available
- 💬 Messaging feature when working properly
- ✅ App works smoothly after recent updates (per some users)
- 🎯 Easy to add funds/make payments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Messages fail to send or display
- 🔌 Constant login errors and authentication failures
- ⏱️ Extremely slow loading times
- 🔄 App randomly logs users out mid-session

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during use
- Login authentication errors persist across sessions
- Messages fail to send despite payment being deducted
- Messages don't appear in inbox despite being sent
- App logs out randomly while actively in use

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and performance optimization
- Better customer service responsiveness (live chat, phone support)
- Reduced pricing for calls and messages
- Same-day video visit scheduling
- Better message persistence (don't delete on app exit)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HomeWAV free?

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

### Is Pay Tel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HomeWAV or Pay Tel?

HomeWAV is rated higher. HomeWAV averages 3.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Pay Tel averages 1.8 from 147 ratings.

### Do HomeWAV or Pay Tel have ads?

Neither HomeWAV nor Pay Tel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HomeWAV or Pay Tel?

HomeWAV ships an update every 5 weeks, and Pay Tel every 2 months. Most recently, HomeWAV was updated on November 6, 2026 and Pay Tel on November 3, 2026.

### Which is more popular, HomeWAV or Pay Tel?

HomeWAV currently peaks at #149 in the App Store charts, and Pay Tel at #198. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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