Comparison

Spool vs iGuard Home

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

Head to head
About

Spool

This app helps knitters manage their projects with interactive patterns, row counters, and stash organization. It supports custom charts, size recommendations, and time tracking to streamline the creative process from start to finish.

Highlights
  • Interactive step-by-step patterns
  • Built-in row counters
  • Colorwork and cable chart support
  • Knitworthy size recommendations
  • Yarn and materials stash organizer
  • Time tracking for projects
  • Widgets and Live Activities
Read full description

Made to support the creative process from cast on to cast off. Spool was built by a knitter who was tired of scribbling row counts on PDFs, circling sizes in every step, and constantly losing track of progress within patterns. Upload your knitting pattern, create a project, and work through it step-by-step, section-by-section — just hit 'Next Row' and keep knitting. Anywhere there's a repeat, there's a built-in row counter integrated with the full project. Size-specific instructions, stitch counts, and repeat tracking are all handled. See all your WIPs in one place, track your knitting hours, and finally put that yarn stash to work. FEATURES Step-by-step interactive patterns — work through your project row by row, with built-in row counters & repeat tracking and your size pulled through to every step Colorwork & cable charts — your pattern charts directly in the app. Customize colorwork with your actual yarn colors, and track your place with automatic highlighting on your current row Knitworthy: add your measurements (and those of the people you knit for), all that data in one place — plus we'll recommend a size based on the project's recommended ease Standalone row counter — for quick projects and one-off needs Materials: Needles and Yarn Stash — catalog your yarn and materials so you can finally utilize that stash Yarn substitutions: want to use a different yarn than the recommended? We'll give you a starting point for your needle size, based on Ravelry data Time tracking — find out exactly how long your sweater actually took Ruler — measure your ribbing without hunting for a tape measure Widgets and Live Activities: work your project from your home screen or lock screen Glossary — definitions and tutorials linked directly to terms in your pattern SUBSCRIPTION: Free: one pattern upload per month, full interactive project experience, Knitworthy fit profiles, yarn stash tracker, knitting stats Maker: 3 pattern imports per month, Ravelry integration, Widgets & lock screen counter, yarn substitutions, plus everything in Free Founding Member (limited time, $8.99): 10 pattern imports that never expire, 60 days of full Maker access, founding member badge, then free tier — or subscribe to keep Maker at $3.99/month. Spool was created by a serial knitter and a software developer with 8 years of experience. We hope you love it! Download the app today and spool around with us. Terms of Use: https://spoolhq.co/terms

About

iGuard Home

Features
Read full description

The iGuard is the best Predict and Prevent smart device for #1 cause of residential fires – forgotten cooking events. iGuard™ monitors kitchen activity during cooking events and automatically shuts off the cooking appliance when someone leaves it unattended for extended periods of time. Key Features • 5 Minute Auto Shut Off – Adjustable between 1 and 5 minutes • Auto Resume – When the user returns to the kitchen the cooking will resume without having to press any buttons • Extended Cooking Timer – Selectable from 15 minutes to 10 hours of cooking without needing to remain in the kitchen • Master Lock – User can remotely allow for cooking via the app • Master Lock Schedule - Locks the stove from use during specified hours like later night. • Child Safe – Requires a button on the iGuard to be pressed to activate stove • Connect to the internet via Wi-Fi optional – Internet connection not required for basic protection. • Data Collection of stove usage • Detailed reporting of daily events to evaluate cooking appliance usage and key kitchen activity events • Adjustable audible reminders • Alerts via SMS Text and/or email available • Activity Monitors can optionally alert the first time someone enters the kitchen or send alert if no one has entered the kitchen by a prescribed time. • Loss of Communication Alert

Screenshots

Spool3 screens
iGuard Home3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iGuard Home at none against Spool's 3. iGuard Home also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.2). Spool's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads and device support 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. Spool sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. iGuard Home asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spool ships an update every 2 days, iGuard Home every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Spool versus iGuard Home: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpooliGuard Home
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.215.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSpool App LLCiGuard Home Inc.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Spool

Subscriptions2
  • Spool Maker14 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Spool Maker14 Days trial$35.991 Year
One-time1
  • Founding Member$8.99
None

iGuard Home

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spool free?
Spool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iGuard Home free?
iGuard Home is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Spool or iGuard Home have ads?
Neither Spool nor iGuard Home shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spool or iGuard Home?
Spool ships an update every 2 days, and iGuard Home every 10 days. Most recently, Spool was updated on October 31, 2026 and iGuard Home on November 5, 2026.

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