# Hive vs DofE

The clearest difference is rating: Hive at 4.2 against DofE's 3.0. Hive also leads on ratings volume (791 vs 8) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hive holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hive has 791 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 18% of Hive's written reviews are positive against 21% of DofE's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hive ships an update every 2 weeks, DofE every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hive | DofE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (791 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive/id712829172/reviews)** | [3.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dofe/id1476364195/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **791** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 18.4% of reviews | **20.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 197 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Centrica Hive Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1171162560) | [The Duke of Edinburgh's Award](https://appshunter.io/developer/521678878) |

## What reviewers say

### Hive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive/id712829172)

Control your home's energy usage, from heating and EV charging to lighting and solar power, all from your smartphone. Save money and reduce your carbon footprint with smart scheduling, real-time tracking, and personalized insights.

**Highlights:** Smart heating control, EV charging management, Smart lighting and plugs, Solar energy generation and storage, Energy usage tracking and budgeting, Personalized dashboard, Smart actions and scheduling

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure system
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Integrates well with Alexa and Google

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable app performance
- 🐛 Scheduling problems
- 🔋 High battery drain on devices
- 👎 Paywall for basic features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Devices randomly going offline
- Heating/cooling schedules not working as expected
- Camera live view and recordings not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More granular scheduling controls
- Better integration with smart home platforms
- Improved camera functionality and recording


### DofE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dofe/id1476364195)

This app helps young people in the UK manage their Duke of Edinburgh's Award journey. Plan activities, record evidence, communicate with leaders, and submit your program for completion, all in one place. It also allows you to add your DofE Card to your digital wallet for exclusive discounts.

**Highlights:** Activity planning, Evidence recording, Leader communication, Program submission, Digital DofE Card, Gold Award application

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hive free?

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

### Is DofE free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hive or DofE?

Hive is rated higher. Hive averages 4.2 out of 5 from 791 ratings, while DofE averages 3.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do Hive or DofE have ads?

Neither Hive nor DofE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hive or DofE?

Hive ships an update every 2 weeks, and DofE every 3 weeks. Most recently, Hive was updated on September 25, 2026 and DofE on September 22, 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.*