# Mars Hydro vs GrowDat

The clearest difference is rating: GrowDat at 5.0 against Mars Hydro's 2.6. Mars Hydro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (27 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GrowDat sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Mars Hydro asks for nothing beyond the download.

GrowDat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mars Hydro has 27 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Mars Hydro ships an update monthly, GrowDat every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 11, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mars Hydro | GrowDat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-hydro/id6479227564/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/growdat-grow-tracker/id6751731720/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **27** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 23.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 45 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MARS TRADING RCC, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1726858942) | [GrowDat UG (haftungsbeschrankt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836486383) |

## What reviewers say

### Mars Hydro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-hydro/id6479227564)

Control your smart grow system with this app. Manage LED lights, ventilation, and monitor environmental data like CO2, temperature, and humidity for optimal plant growth. Automate your entire grow kit to mimic natural conditions.

**Highlights:** LED light control with timers and simulation, Ventilation system management, Complete grow kit automation via iHub, Environmental data monitoring (CO2, temp, humidity, PPFD), Sunrise and sunset simulation

**In-app purchases:** none


### GrowDat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/growdat-grow-tracker/id6751731720)

This app helps users meticulously track and analyze their cannabis cultivation process. It functions as a digital journal, offering insights into plant health and growth stages, and connects users with a global community of growers for shared learning and inspiration.

**Highlights:** Digital grow journal, Data dashboard and analysis, Growth stage tracking, Community forum, VPD calculator, Smart reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Support GrowDat | $1.99 | one-time |
| Support GrowDat Plus | $4.99 | one-time |
| Support GrowDat Max | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mars Hydro free?

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

### Is GrowDat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mars Hydro or GrowDat?

GrowDat is rated higher. Mars Hydro averages 2.6 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while GrowDat averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Mars Hydro or GrowDat have ads?

Neither Mars Hydro nor GrowDat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mars Hydro or GrowDat?

Mars Hydro ships an update monthly, and GrowDat every 2 months. Most recently, Mars Hydro was updated on August 11, 2026 and GrowDat on September 8, 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.*