# ReefMate vs ReefCtrl

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ReefCtrl at none against ReefMate's 2. ReefCtrl also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ReefMate sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ReefCtrl asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReefMate ships an update every 4 weeks, ReefCtrl every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReefMate | ReefCtrl |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 127 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mustafa Kulac](https://appshunter.io/developer/1782678392) | [Jayanth Vignesh Ramachandran](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896691974) |

## What reviewers say

### ReefMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reefmate-aquarium-tracker-and-log/id6754282635)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual | $34.99 | per year |


### ReefCtrl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reefctrl/id6769832090)

Manage your reef aquarium with this intelligent platform. Monitor equipment, track water chemistry, and receive smart alerts. It integrates with Neptune Apex controllers and offers AI-powered assistance for hobbyists.

**Highlights:** Neptune Apex integration, Smart alerts and notifications, Water chemistry tracking, Dosing management, AI reef assistant, Equipment and livestock management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReefMate free?

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

### Is ReefCtrl free?

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

### Do ReefMate or ReefCtrl have ads?

Neither ReefMate nor ReefCtrl shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ReefMate or ReefCtrl?

ReefMate ships an update every 4 weeks, and ReefCtrl every 9 days. Most recently, ReefMate was updated on September 6, 2026 and ReefCtrl on September 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.*