# AeroGarden vs SmartBQ

The clearest difference is rating: SmartBQ at 5.0 against AeroGarden's 4.1. SmartBQ also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). AeroGarden's advantage is ratings volume (657 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SmartBQ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AeroGarden has 657 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

AeroGarden ships an update every 6 weeks, SmartBQ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AeroGarden | SmartBQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (657 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aerogarden/id6476990489/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartbq/id6748202821/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **657** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 13.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 150 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scotts Miracle-Gro](https://appshunter.io/developer/372269882) | [BESTQI INTERNATIONAL LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1783444657) |

## What reviewers say

### AeroGarden

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aerogarden/id6476990489)

Monitor and control your Wi-Fi enabled indoor garden from your phone. Receive alerts for water and nutrient needs, access gardening tips, and connect with a community of growers. Enjoy bigger, healthier harvests with smart convenience.

**Highlights:** Plant alerts for water and nutrients, Remote monitoring and control, Indoor gardening tips and FAQs, Connect with growing communities, Monitor multiple gardens

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Elegant and easy to use
- 🚀 Huge improvement over previous version
- 📱 Supports portrait mode
- 🌱 Helpful for indoor planting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues with server
- 🔒 Requires login for basic functionality
- 🔍 Unable to add existing gardens
- 🔧 Bugs after app update
- 🚫 Missing key features from old app

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to connect to gardens
- Light controls not working as expected
- App crashing or freezing
- Login/account issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to control light intensity and duration
- Push notifications for garden maintenance
- Retain login session for longer periods
- Support for older devices and tablets


### SmartBQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartbq/id6748202821)

Control your smart appliances remotely for a more effortless life. Manage devices like ice makers, activate self-cleaning, and schedule operations from anywhere via your smartphone.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Instant ice making, Self-cleaning activation, Scheduled operations, Easy support access

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AeroGarden free?

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

### Is SmartBQ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AeroGarden or SmartBQ?

SmartBQ is rated higher. AeroGarden averages 4.1 out of 5 from 657 ratings, while SmartBQ averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do AeroGarden or SmartBQ have ads?

Neither AeroGarden nor SmartBQ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AeroGarden or SmartBQ?

AeroGarden ships an update every 6 weeks, and SmartBQ every 3 weeks. Most recently, AeroGarden was updated on October 15, 2026 and SmartBQ on October 4, 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.*