Comparison

Reefability vs Shimpaku

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Reefability

This app provides AI-driven management for reef aquariums, integrating chemistry, livestock, lighting, and flow data. It offers guided setup, detailed tank mapping, and personalized care suggestions to help maintain a thriving aquatic environment.

Highlights
  • AI-driven reef tank analysis
  • 3D reef map with PAR and flow estimation
  • Chemistry and nutrient logging with ICP/DOC report integration
  • Dosing suggestions and supplement tracking
  • Livestock and coral care sheets with bioload warnings
  • Pest identification and microbiome scoring
  • Sitter and expert modes for tank sharing
Features
Read full description

The reef app that sees your whole tank. Reefability connects your chemistry, livestock, light, flow, microbiome and dosing, so every answer takes your entire reef into account. Built for reef tanks only, by reefers who did the research first. Reefability was the first AI-powered reef aquarium app, and it has now been rebuilt from the ground up as Reefability Symbiosis. YOUR TANK, BUILT RIGHT Guided tank setup, drawn live as you go, with the true water volume after sand and rock Cycling mode and Quarantine mode, each with the tools that stage needs Farm and grow-out tanks, plus connected systems that share one body of water REEF MAP Turn one front photo into a 3D model of your real rockwork Place your lights and pumps, then tap any spot for estimated PAR and flow Every coral is graded against the light and flow where it actually sits CHEMISTRY AND NUTRIENTS Log readings by voice, by photo of your test kit, or from your controller Upload ICP and DOC lab reports and see risks and trends on the same charts Ideal ranges that follow your tank, so a soft coral reef isn't held to SPS numbers See whether your filtration keeps up with your bioload, and which method does the work DOSING 400+ supplements from 27 brands, with strengths taken from each maker's label Dose suggestions based on your latest test and your water volume Connected dosers, bottle tracking and reminders Captiv8, Triton, Red Sea and Modern Reef dosing methods LIVESTOCK AND CORALS Add animals by name, by photo, or by scanning your store receipt Care sheets for 500+ species, with bioload and tankmate warnings before you buy Coral Growth: a photo every two weeks tracks size, pace and color over time Compatibility reports that show what to expect before you add an animal PESTS AND MICROBIOME Identify pests from photos, pin them on your 3D tank, and follow them until they're gone A microbiome care score, with guided recovery after medication or a deep clean SAFETY PLANS Weather and air quality alerts for your area, turned into prep lists sized for your tank Smoke warnings if your skimmer pulls in outdoor air Know how many hours your pumps will run on backup power PEOPLE AROUND YOUR REEF Sitter mode: give a sitter a simple code, daily tasks and a help button Experts: book a video call with a reef expert who sees your tank data ahead of time Reefers: share your tank, ask the community and join testing challenges FOR STORES, FARMS AND MAINTENANCE COMPANIES Team mode: manage staff with their own access codes, assign tasks per tank, and keep client tank details and routes in one place REEFER AI An assistant that reads your entire tank, not just one number Charts on demand when numbers need a picture Talk out loud when your hands are wet, and leave voice notes CONNECTED Works with reef controllers and test devices, including Neptune Apex, GHL, Red Sea, CoralVue Hydros, Aquarino, Jabao, Focustronic, Aquawiz and Xepta. Available in multiple languages.

About

Shimpaku

Features
Read full description

Shimpaku is a focus timer with a garden that grows. Set a length, press Start, and put the phone down. When the session ends, a watering can tends your bonsai. Finish enough sessions and the tree moves to its next stage. HOW IT WORKS • Choose a session length from 5 to 60 minutes. • Start. The garden stays on screen while you work: a tree, a stone lantern, raked sand. • When time is up you get a quiet notification, even with the phone locked. • Take a short break, or extend by ten minutes if you are in the middle of something. A GARDEN THAT KEEPS YOUR PROGRESS • Three bonsai to grow: Shimpaku (juniper), Momiji (Japanese maple) and Kuromatsu (black pine). • Each tree grows through six hand-illustrated stages, and each keeps its own progress. • A calendar stamps every day you completed a session. • Simple stats for the week, the month and all time. MADE TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY • No account and no sign-in. • No ads, no subscriptions, no in-app purchases. • Works fully offline. Everything is stored on your device. • Optional sound and vibration, a reduced-motion mode, and support for larger text. Shimpaku does not collect any data. You can erase everything at any time from Settings. Shimpaku is a timer. It is not a medical or health product. Privacy Policy: https://shimpaku.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula User Agreement: https://shimpaku.app/terms

Screenshots

Reefability4 screens
Shimpaku4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Reefability at daily against Shimpaku's every 6 days. Reefability also leads on device support (5 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Reefability sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Shimpaku sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reefability ships an update daily, Shimpaku every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Reefability versus Shimpaku: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReefabilityShimpaku
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (41 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews43.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings41 — better—
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 6 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReefabilityFiniks Labs

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Reefability

Subscriptions4
  • 1-Month2 Months trial$9.991 Month
  • Controller plan (monthly)$11.991 Month
  • 12-Month$34.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Controller plan (annual)$49.991 Year
One-time5
  • Day pass$1.99
  • 5 tank rebuilds$2.99
  • Week pass$4.99
Show 2 more
  • 15 tank rebuilds$6.99
  • Month pass$12.99
1 purchases

Shimpaku

Subscriptions1
  • Shimpaku Pro Annual$14.991 Year

Questions

Is Reefability free?
Reefability is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shimpaku free?
Shimpaku is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Reefability or Shimpaku have ads?
Neither Reefability nor Shimpaku shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reefability or Shimpaku?
Reefability ships an update daily, and Shimpaku every 6 days. Most recently, Reefability was updated on November 8, 2026 and Shimpaku on November 6, 2026.

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