# HomeWAV vs VisiTel

The clearest difference is rating: HomeWAV at 3.8 against VisiTel's 2.9. HomeWAV also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 30) and chart position (#142 vs unranked). VisiTel's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (33% vs 8%). 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 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HomeWAV has 11K ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 8% of HomeWAV's written reviews are positive against 33% of VisiTel'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, VisiTel every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HomeWAV | VisiTel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/homewav/id594277905/reviews)** | [2.9 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visitel/id960090707/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | 8.4% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#142** | — |
| Size | 94 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HomeWAV](https://appshunter.io/developer/594277908) | [Manit Chanthavong](https://appshunter.io/developer/960090706) |

## What reviewers say

### HomeWAV

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

**Currently charting:** #142 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


### VisiTel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visitel/id960090707)

Connect with incarcerated loved ones through convenient video calls from home. Schedule and receive virtual visits after obtaining approval from the detention center. Not all facilities offer this service, so check local policies.

**Highlights:** Place video calls to detainees, Receive video calls from home, Requires detention center approval, Account creation via website, Customer support available

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HomeWAV free?

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

### Is VisiTel free?

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

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

HomeWAV is rated higher. HomeWAV averages 3.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while VisiTel averages 2.9 from 30 ratings.

### Do HomeWAV or VisiTel have ads?

Neither HomeWAV nor VisiTel shows ads.

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

HomeWAV ships an update every 5 weeks, and VisiTel every 3 weeks. Most recently, HomeWAV was updated on October 25, 2026 and VisiTel on October 24, 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.*