# BBQ Captain vs GrillMaster

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: BBQ Captain at 17.0 against GrillMaster's 26.5. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BBQ Captain sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and GrillMaster sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

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

BBQ Captain ships an update every 2 weeks, GrillMaster every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and August 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BBQ Captain | GrillMaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbq-captain-smoker-timer/id6781492781/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grillmaster-bbq-grill-timer/id6791812404/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 8 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.5 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brett Stalcup](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896199957) | [STEPHEN MARK SCHLESINGER](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791812406) |

## What reviewers say

### BBQ Captain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbq-captain-smoker-timer/id6781492781)

This app helps home smokers plan and execute perfect cooks by calculating start times backward from your desired dinner time. It adaptively adjusts projected finish times based on real-time temperature readings, detects the stall phase, and provides timely reminders for wrapping, pulling, and resting meat.

**Highlights:** Backward planning from dinner time, Adaptive cook time projection, Stall detection and wrap alerts, Customizable reminders for key steps, Cook history log with notes and photos (Pro), Privacy-first, no account or ads

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MeatGenius Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


### GrillMaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grillmaster-bbq-grill-timer/id6791812404)

This app creates a perfectly synchronized cooking schedule for all your grilled foods, ensuring everything is ready at the same time. It provides clear cues for when to add, flip, and remove items, making your cookouts stress-free and delicious.

**Highlights:** Synchronized timers for all foods, On-screen cooking cues, Haptic and Apple Watch alerts, Doneness pickers, Weather-smart timing adjustments, Custom preheat temperature

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GrillMaster Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BBQ Captain free?

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

### Is GrillMaster free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BBQ Captain or GrillMaster?

BBQ Captain and GrillMaster are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do BBQ Captain or GrillMaster have ads?

Neither BBQ Captain nor GrillMaster shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BBQ Captain or GrillMaster?

BBQ Captain ships an update every 2 weeks, and GrillMaster every 11 days. Most recently, BBQ Captain was updated on September 18, 2026 and GrillMaster on August 23, 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.*