SMTOWN | OFFICIAL vs Higher 하이어
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SMTOWN | OFFICIAL
This official fan app provides comprehensive access to SM Entertainment artists' schedules, concert features like light device syncing and digital stamp collection, and exclusive AR content. It also includes a video player for merchandise content and an integrated shop for official merchandise.
- Artist schedules and notifications
- Light device syncing for concerts
- Digital stamp collection (Passport)
- Augmented reality (AR) content viewer
- Video player for merchandise
- Exclusive content via tagging
- Official merchandise shop
Read full descriptionHide full description
All the functions a fan needs, all in the SMTOWN APP SM ENTERTAINMENT official application Find out about the new SMTOWN OFFICIAL APP right now! ● SCHEDULE From SM artist anniversaries to music shows, schedule notifications that you wanted! ● LIGHT DEVICE Name my LIGHT DEVICE, and sync concert seat ● PASSPORT More fun in enjoying concerts and anniversaries Collect digital stamps ● AR VIEWER A special way to enjoy SMTOWN AR contents ● PLAYER Watch MD with a video player ● TAG Tag PINKDISC or MD to enjoy exclusive content ● SHOP Find out about HOT & NEW official MD before anyone else SMTOWN A to Z, Find out about the new SMTOWN OFFICIAL APP right now! Terms and Conditions: https://www.smtown.com/policy/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.smtown.com/policy/privacy
Higher 하이어
This platform allows global K-POP fans to vote for their favorite artists, collect digital photocards, share videos, and directly participate in artist growth and content creation. It aims to foster a new fan culture with diverse features for a comprehensive K-POP experience.
- Fandom popularity voting
- Participate in SBS INKIGAYO voting
- Collect artist TIMEPIECEs (photocards)
- Share and watch artist videos
- Birthday voting and events
- Apply for artist-related events and rewards
Read full descriptionHide full description
HIGHER is a global fandom social platform where any global K-POP fan can participate in voting for their ultimate bias, enjoy 'Timepieces' that capture an artist's special moments, and share videos with friends. We provide a variety of services and content so you can directly participate in your artist's journey of growth. Experience everything about K-POP and create a new fandom culture together with HIGHER! [Key Features] 1. Participate in SBS Inkigayo Voting • Real-time Voting: Conducted every week during the live broadcast, your voting results are directly reflected in determining the 1st place winner on SBS Inkigayo. • Hot Stage Voting (Weekly/Monthly/Yearly): Vote for the 'Weekly' best stage right after the live broadcast, choose your absolute favorite among the weekly 1st and 2nd place winners for the 'Monthly Hot Stage,' and participate in the 'Yearly' vote to promote stage videos globally. (Certification photos are revealed on the app and SNS). • Ending Fairy Voting (Weekly/Monthly): The finale of the stage is now completed at the fingertips of fans! Gift your artist an exclusive ending stage. 2. Birthday Voting and Various Theme Votes • Celebrate your artist's once-a-year birthday by creating and gifting a custom birthday ad together with other fans. • In addition to birthday votes, participate in weekly polls with various themes such as 'Artist of the Week' and 'High Pick.' 3. HIGHER Exclusive! Special Moments as a 'Timepiece' • Keep your artist's special moments—such as their debut, comeback, 1st place on music shows, ending fairy, and pre-recording moments—as a digital collectible 'Timepiece.' • Updated weekly with new content, you can acquire Timepieces through various events and promotions. 4. Enter Exciting Events • Challenge yourself in abundant events to win exciting prizes such as audience tickets to MBC Show! Music Core and SBS Inkigayo, signed Polaroids, and signed CDs. 5. Enjoy and Share High-Quality Videos • Be the first to watch high-definition SBS Inkigayo stages of numerous artists including &TEAM, aespa, AHOF, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, AND2BLE, ATEEZ, BABYMONSTER, BLACKPINK, BOYNEXTDOOR, BTS, CORTIS, DAY6, ENHYPEN, Hearts2Hearts, IVE, ITZY, KISS OF LIFE, MONSTA X, NCT, n.SSign, NMIXX, PLAVE, RESCENE, RIIZE, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, TREASURE, TWS, TWICE, TXT, VIVIZ, ZEROBASEONE, and leave a heart on your favorite videos. • Enjoy content with your friends using the 'Share' feature. The videos you watch are automatically reflected on the 'Circle Chart,' directly contributing to your artist's ranking! [App Access Permissions Information] HIGHER selectively requests the following access permissions. You can use the service without restriction even if you do not agree to the optional permissions. • Photos and Media (Optional): Used to set a profile picture and download voting certificates. • Camera (Optional): Used to take a profile picture. • Notifications (Optional): Used to receive in-app content announcements such as votes, Timepieces, and events. • Location (Optional): Used to participate in Higher Pop (location-based Timepiece events). • Ad Tracking (Optional): Used to verify viewing completion and ensure accurate reward delivery when participating in reward ad (offerwall) missions. * You can change your access permission settings at any time in your device's settings menu. Terms of Use (EULA): https://higher.fan/en/terms-of-service
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SMTOWN | OFFICIAL at 3.6 against Higher 하이어's 1.7. SMTOWN | OFFICIAL also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 18) and ads (none vs shown). Higher 하이어's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Higher 하이어 sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year. SMTOWN | OFFICIAL asks for nothing beyond the download.
SMTOWN | OFFICIAL holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 80 and 124 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 31% of SMTOWN | OFFICIAL's written reviews are positive against 32% of Higher 하이어's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SMTOWN | OFFICIAL ships an update monthly, Higher 하이어 weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SMTOWN | OFFICIAL | Higher 하이어 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (80 ratings) — better | 1.7 (124 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 30.5% of reviews | 32.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 80 | 124 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 422 MB | 198 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | SM ENTERTAINMENT Co., Ltd. | Vision Bridge Partners Corp. |
Customer experience
SMTOWN | OFFICIAL
Higher 하이어
Bugs and requests
SMTOWN | OFFICIAL
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Higher 하이어
Reported bugs
16 issues- App crashes during live voting events
- Cannot create account - SMS verification fails
- Login fails or users get logged out unexpectedly
- Ads don't load or fail to play completely
- Rubies don't accumulate after watching ads
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- Purchased diamonds/rubies disappear from account
- Duplicate charges for purchases
- App becomes unresponsive after updates
- Pages fail to load
- Gem charging system broken
- Photo cards not issued after voting
- Language switching issues
- Black screen after reinstalling
- Password entry not working during signup
- Phone number validation errors during registration
- Verification codes not sent for account creation
Requested features
12 requests- Increase ruby rewards per ad (3-5 instead of 1)
- Add daily check-in bonuses
- Reduce diamond prices
- Implement SMS text voting alternative
- Add timer for ad availability
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Improve server capacity for live voting
- Support for more than 5 favorite artists
- Better customer support response
- Japanese language support
- Reduce frequency of updates
- Add VPN/proxy support for international access
- Implement parental controls for ad filtering
In-app purchases
SMTOWN | OFFICIAL
No in-app purchases
Higher 하이어
- Unlimited Slot Pass$7.991 Year
- 1 UL Vote Ticket$0.49
- 20 Diamonds$0.99
- 30 Diamonds$2.59
Show 14 moreShow fewer
- 39 Diamond$2.99
- 8 Real-Time Voting Tickets$2.99
- 40 Diamonds$2.99
- 62 Diamond$4.99
- 10 UL Vote Tickets$4.99
- 65 Diamonds$5.39
- 120 Diamond$8.99
- 120 Diamonds$9.79
- 375 Diamond$26.99
- 450 Diamonds$30.49
- 650 Diamond$44.99
- 800 Diamonds$50.99
- 1200 Diamond$79.99
- 1500 Diamonds$79.99
Questions
Is SMTOWN | OFFICIAL free?
Is Higher 하이어 free?
Which has better reviews, SMTOWN | OFFICIAL or Higher 하이어?
Do SMTOWN | OFFICIAL or Higher 하이어 have ads?
Which is updated more often, SMTOWN | OFFICIAL or Higher 하이어?
Other comparisons















