# RUN vs Marlin Connect

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Marlin Connect at none against RUN's 2. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RUN sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Marlin Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

RUN ships an update every 3 weeks, Marlin Connect every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RUN | Marlin Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (968 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-chicken/id6468944470/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **968** | — |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 116 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RUN-TIGER](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711002359) | [OceanAid](https://appshunter.io/developer/6802466939) |

## What reviewers say

### RUN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-chicken/id6468944470)

Control and optimize your automated chicken coop door. Set custom timers or sync with sunrise for automatic opening and closing. Monitor door status for flock safety and convenience.

**Highlights:** Configure door opening/closing, Set custom timers, Sync with sunrise, Built-in GPS feature, Overview of door statuses, User-friendly interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium - Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy installation and setup (for some)
- 👍 Reliable operation (for some)
- 👍 Keeps chickens safe at night
- 👍 Convenient automatic open/close
- 👍 Works with older models (with workaround)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App connectivity issues
- 🐛 Bluetooth connection problems
- 🐛 App updates breaking functionality
- 🐛 Incompatibility with older/non-Bluetooth models
- 🐛 Loss of manual control/buttons

**Reported bugs**

- Bluetooth not connecting
- App not detecting doors after update
- Door resets and stays open after update
- Non-Bluetooth doors incompatible with new app
- App locks up and doesn't respond

**Requested features**

- Bring back physical buttons
- Allow programming without internet
- Add remote open/close functionality
- Show door status (open/closed/stuck)
- Improve app stability


### Marlin Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marlin-connect/id6802466937)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RUN free?

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

### Is Marlin Connect free?

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

### Do RUN or Marlin Connect have ads?

Neither RUN nor Marlin Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RUN or Marlin Connect?

RUN ships an update every 3 weeks, and Marlin Connect every 2 weeks. Most recently, RUN was updated on October 21, 2026 and Marlin Connect on October 10, 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.*