# GLOWRIUM vs Bonsai Care App

The clearest difference is rating: Bonsai Care App at 4.5 against GLOWRIUM's 2.4. Bonsai Care App also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 48%). GLOWRIUM's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bonsai Care App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. GLOWRIUM asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bonsai Care App holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 35 and 70 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of GLOWRIUM's written reviews are positive against 81% of Bonsai Care App's.

GLOWRIUM ships an update every 2 months, Bonsai Care App every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GLOWRIUM | Bonsai Care App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glowrium/id6445907786/reviews) | **[4.5 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonsai-care-app/id6463043424/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 35 | **70** |
| Positive reviews | 47.8% of reviews | **81.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 91 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Xingyang Hicent Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1696882724) | [Bonsai Empire](https://appshunter.io/developer/1719776599) |

## What reviewers say

### GLOWRIUM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glowrium/id6445907786)

Control smart lighting devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Customize colors, set scenes, and simulate natural light changes throughout the day. Requires iOS 13.0+ and specific Bluetooth/Wi-Fi versions.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth and Wi-Fi control, Intelligent multi-area control, Spectrum setting and automatic operation, Independent color channel customization, Multi-scene preset lighting, Phased ecological simulation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bonsai Care App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonsai-care-app/id6463043424)

Monitor and enhance your bonsai's growth. This app provides timely reminders for seasonal photos and intelligent notifications tailored to your tree's species and the current time of year. Connect with a community of enthusiasts and access a free library of care resources.

**Highlights:** Track bonsai tree progress, Seasonal photo reminders, Smart species-specific notifications, Social feed for sharing, Library of care articles and videos

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Month | $2.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Year | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for daily reminders
- 👍 Helpful for ADHD
- 👍 Good information and resources
- 👍 Excellent for new hobbyists
- 👍 Simple and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Limited to 5 trees and 5 photos (free version)
- 👎 Missing many tree species
- 👎 Notifications only visible on the due date
- 👎 No way to sort, order, or group trees
- 👎 Cannot add individual notes as data entries on timeline

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications only visible on the due date
- Scrolling to find a specific tree or item is tedious and frustrating
- App bugged and not opening on iPhone 13 Pro
- Clicking reminder check mark resets screen and scrolls to top
- Login required frequently

**Requested features**

- Allow more than 5 trees and photos in free version
- Add more tree species to the database
- Allow users to suggest absent trees for addition
- Divide species into more specific types (e.g., white, black, red spruce)
- Create a community feature for sharing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GLOWRIUM free?

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

### Is Bonsai Care App free?

Bonsai Care App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, GLOWRIUM or Bonsai Care App?

Bonsai Care App is rated higher. GLOWRIUM averages 2.4 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while Bonsai Care App averages 4.5 from 70 ratings.

### Do GLOWRIUM or Bonsai Care App have ads?

Neither GLOWRIUM nor Bonsai Care App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GLOWRIUM or Bonsai Care App?

GLOWRIUM ships an update every 2 months, and Bonsai Care App every 5 weeks. Most recently, GLOWRIUM was updated on October 23, 2026 and Bonsai Care App on October 30, 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.*