Comparison

Pairbox vs Guardian

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

Head to head
About

Pairbox

Features
Read full description

Every smart home device has a pairing code. It is printed on a sticker, the sticker is on the box, and the box went out with the recycling. The day your hub dies, your Wi-Fi changes, or you switch ecosystems, that code is the only way back in. Pairbox makes sure you still have it. Point the camera at any Matter or HomeKit sticker. Pairbox saves the code, a photo of the sticker, and the device details in seconds. Import your accessories from HomeKit, and the Missing Codes checklist shows exactly which devices still need their sticker scanned, room by room, until your whole home is backed up. When it is time to re-pair, one tap opens Pairing Mode: your screen becomes the sticker, at full brightness, with a maximum-size QR code any controller can scan. It works in airplane mode, because pairing usually happens when the network is down. WHAT'S IN THE BOX • Scan Matter and HomeKit stickers with the camera, or import a photo • Import your devices and rooms from HomeKit in one tap • Missing Codes checklist: see what is saved and what is not, room by room • Pairing Mode: a full-brightness, scannable code card that works offline • Sticker photos, serial numbers, and firmware notes on every device page • Search by name, brand, or room • App Lock with Face ID or Touch ID, free for everyone • Your vault on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, synced through your own iCloud PAIRBOX PRO, ONE PURCHASE Your first five devices are free, forever. One small one-time purchase unlocks everything else. No subscription, ever. • Unlimited devices and multiple homes • Recovery Sheet: print every code as a scannable card and keep paper as your last line of defense • Export your vault as JSON or CSV • Write a code to an NFC tag and stick it on the device itself • Alternate app icons Family Sharing is included, so one purchase covers your household. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Pairbox has no servers, no accounts, and no analytics. Your codes live on your devices and sync through your personal iCloud, which we cannot read. The App Store privacy label says Data Not Collected, because there is nothing to collect. AT HOME ON EVERY SCREEN On iPad and Mac, Pairbox becomes a full three-column vault. Drag a sticker photo onto the Mac window to import it. Show a pairing code in its own window while you re-pair from the couch. Questions or ideas? Write to hello@getpairbox.com. Pairbox is made by one person in the Netherlands, and I answer my email.

About

Guardian

Features
Read full description

Guardian helps parents answer one question fast: is a website safe? Paste any website link and Guardian gives you a clear verdict — Safe, Caution, or Not Safe — along with a suggested minimum age and the specific reasons behind the call. No jargon, no dashboards to configure, no account to create. HOW IT WORKS Paste a link. Tap Check. Get an answer in seconds. WHAT YOU GET • A clear Safe / Caution / Not Safe verdict • A suggested minimum age for the content • Plain-English reasons, so you can decide for yourself • History of everything you've checked, kept on your device • A home-screen widget for checking a link fast • A Safari content blocker to keep flagged sites out of Safari BUILT FOR PARENTS Guardian is a tool for parents and caregivers — not an app for children. There's no account, no sign-up, and your check history never leaves your phone. PRIVACY Links you check are analyzed and the result is returned to you. We do not store the links you check on our servers. Your history stays on your device and you can clear it at any time from Settings. GUARDIAN PREMIUM Unlimited link checks via an auto-renewing subscription. Monthly or yearly. Cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://many-apps-30-day-challenge.fly.dev/api/kid-safe/legal/terms Privacy Policy: https://many-apps-30-day-challenge.fly.dev/api/kid-safe/legal/privacy

Screenshots

Pairbox4 screens
Guardian4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Guardian at 16.4 against Pairbox's 26.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Pairbox sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Guardian sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
Pairbox versus Guardian: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPairboxGuardian
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Every 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYoga Sai Krishna Koneruzohar bouchris

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pairbox

One-time1
  • Pairbox Pro$9.99
2 purchases

Guardian

Subscriptions2
  • Guardian Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Guardian Premium Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Pairbox free?
Pairbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Guardian free?
Guardian is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pairbox or Guardian have ads?
Neither Pairbox nor Guardian shows ads.

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