# Balo vs Thomson Smart Frame

The clearest difference is update cadence: Thomson Smart Frame at every 2 months against Balo's every 35 months. Thomson Smart Frame also leads on iOS requirement (12.3 vs 18.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Balo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Thomson Smart Frame sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Balo ships an update every 35 months, Thomson Smart Frame every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Balo | Thomson Smart Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thomson-smart-frame/id6529525495/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **71** |
| Positive reviews | — | 99.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **12.3** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Mikhail Vyrtsev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1550996634) | [Changsha Qiuguo Technology Co., LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1661908260) |

## What reviewers say

### Balo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balo/id6445960440)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove watermark | $4.99 | one-time |


### Thomson Smart Frame

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thomson-smart-frame/id6529525495)

Easily connect your digital photo frame to share photos and videos. Simply grab a code from your frame, enter it into the app, and start uploading your favorite memories to display.

**Highlights:** Connect digital photo frames, Upload photos, Upload videos, Share moments, Simple interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP membership for one year | $2.99 | one-time |
| Cloud traffic -5GB | $2.99 | one-time |
| Cloud traffic -10GB | $3.99 | one-time |
| VIP membership for two year | $4.99 | one-time |
| Cloud traffic -20GB | $6.99 | one-time |
| VIP membership for five year | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 💡 Unique features
- 🎨 Attractive interface
- 🔒 Secure and safe

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🔌 Connectivity issues
- 🕰️ Slow updates

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Expanded content library
- Customization options
- Improved remote access


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Balo free?

Balo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Thomson Smart Frame free?

Thomson Smart Frame is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Balo or Thomson Smart Frame have ads?

Neither Balo nor Thomson Smart Frame shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Balo or Thomson Smart Frame?

Balo ships an update every 35 months, and Thomson Smart Frame every 2 months. Most recently, Balo was updated on September 8, 2026 and Thomson Smart Frame on September 23, 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.*