# Shellbee vs PiParent

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shellbee at none against PiParent's 3. Shellbee also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 days). PiParent's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.5). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PiParent sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Shellbee asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Shellbee against 5.0 for PiParent. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

Shellbee ships an update every 2 days, PiParent every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shellbee | PiParent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellbee/id6763139074/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piparent/id6768095482/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 70 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kenneth Berg](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895180037) | [Ankur Gupta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896538584) |

## What reviewers say

### Shellbee

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellbee/id6763139074)

Control and configure your Zigbee devices directly from your mobile device. Monitor network health, manage device settings, and update firmware with a native, cloud-free experience. Requires a running Zigbee2MQTT server.

**Highlights:** Real-time network map, Device control and configuration, Firmware updates with Live Activities, Multi-bridge support, Customizable Home screen, Offline device documentation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### PiParent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piparent/id6768095482)

Manage your Pi-hole server for enhanced network oversight and parental controls. Organize devices into family groups, schedule internet access, and block specific content categories. Offers advanced features and insights with an optional premium upgrade.

**Highlights:** Network oversight, Parental controls, Family group organization, Scheduled internet access, Content category blocking, Pi-hole admin tools, Family insights

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PiParent+ Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| PiParent+ Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| PiParent+ Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shellbee free?

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

### Is PiParent free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shellbee or PiParent?

Shellbee and PiParent are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do Shellbee or PiParent have ads?

Neither Shellbee nor PiParent shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shellbee or PiParent?

Shellbee ships an update every 2 days, and PiParent every 9 days. Most recently, Shellbee was updated on October 12, 2026 and PiParent on October 7, 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.*