# Heltec Hotspot vs SmartKey

The clearest difference is device support: Heltec Hotspot at 3 against SmartKey's 1. Heltec Hotspot also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). 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.

Heltec Hotspot ships an update monthly, SmartKey every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and May 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Heltec Hotspot | SmartKey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 35 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chengdu Huilite Automation Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1654426350) | [Geo Taxi LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1479129662) |

## What reviewers say

### Heltec Hotspot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heltec-hotspot/id6444391876)

Manage your Helium Hotspots, track token earnings, and send Helium tokens securely. Onboard new devices to the Helium blockchain and assert their locations for accurate status and earning reports.

**Highlights:** Onboard Helium Hotspots, View token earnings, Send Helium tokens, Manage multiple Hotspots, Assert Hotspot location

**In-app purchases:** none


### SmartKey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartkey-access-control/id6469455536)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Heltec Hotspot free?

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

### Is SmartKey free?

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

### Do Heltec Hotspot or SmartKey have ads?

Neither Heltec Hotspot nor SmartKey shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Heltec Hotspot or SmartKey?

Heltec Hotspot ships an update monthly, and SmartKey every 2 months. Most recently, Heltec Hotspot was updated on September 16, 2026 and SmartKey on May 16, 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.*