# Reefability vs Shimpaku

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Reefability | Shimpaku |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reefability/id6636472070/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **41** | — |
| Positive reviews | 43.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 123 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Reefability](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762764786) | [Finiks Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/6805940696) |

## What reviewers say

### Reefability

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reefability/id6636472070)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Controller plan (monthly) | $11.99 | per month |
| 12-Month | $34.99 | per year |
| Controller plan (annual) | $49.99 | per year |
| Day pass | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5 tank rebuilds | $2.99 | one-time |
| Week pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| 15 tank rebuilds | $6.99 | one-time |
| Month pass | $12.99 | one-time |


### Shimpaku

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shimpaku/id6813877974)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shimpaku Pro Annual | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*