# Reliant vs Merkel Connect

The clearest difference is update cadence: Reliant at every 4 weeks against Merkel Connect's every 2 months. Merkel Connect's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Reliant ships an update every 4 weeks, Merkel Connect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reliant | Merkel Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reliant/id666921945/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 233 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Reliant Energy Retail Holdings, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/446381523) | [GOGov, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/351223719) |

## What reviewers say

### Reliant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reliant/id666921945)

Manage your electricity account with detailed usage tracking, bill payment, and smart home device integration. Monitor electricity, solar, and EV usage, receive alerts, and adjust your thermostat remotely. Access account essentials and get 24/7 customer support.

**Highlights:** Track electricity, solar, and EV usage, Remote Nest thermostat control, Bill payment and management, Account alerts and notifications, Prepaid fund management, Account plan management, 24/7 customer support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💳 Easy payment process
- 🔍 Detailed usage information
- 📱 Convenient mobile app
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🤝 Reliable service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow app performance
- 💰 Increasing electricity costs
- 🔒 Login and security issues
- 📉 Inaccurate usage data

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Inability to make payments through the app
- Incompatibility with certain mobile devices
- Inconsistent app behavior across platforms
- Syncing issues with Nest thermostats

**Requested features**

- Ability to save payment information
- Improved app stability and reliability
- Expanded usage tracking and analytics
- Seamless integration with smart home devices
- Better communication on service changes


### Merkel Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merkel-connect/id6736720055)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reliant free?

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

### Is Merkel Connect free?

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

### Do Reliant or Merkel Connect have ads?

Neither Reliant nor Merkel Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reliant or Merkel Connect?

Reliant ships an update every 4 weeks, and Merkel Connect every 2 months. Most recently, Reliant was updated on October 23, 2026 and Merkel Connect on October 3, 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.*