# Narwhal for Reddit vs SmartApfel

The clearest difference is monetization model: SmartApfel at free with in-app purchases against Narwhal for Reddit's subscription. Narwhal for Reddit's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (17K vs 7). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Narwhal for Reddit sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and SmartApfel sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Narwhal for Reddit holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Narwhal for Reddit has 17K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Narwhal for Reddit's written reviews are positive against 65% of SmartApfel's.

Narwhal for Reddit ships an update weekly, SmartApfel fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Narwhal for Reddit | SmartApfel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/narwhal-for-reddit/id845422455/reviews)** | [4.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartapfel/id1056322079/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **17K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **70.0% of reviews** | 64.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#32** | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [robot swingset, llc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1088692323) | [acasa Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/974663980) |

## What reviewers say

### Narwhal for Reddit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/narwhal-for-reddit/id845422455)

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Grossing · News, #55 Top Free · News (US App Store)

This app offers a highly customizable and efficient way to browse Reddit. Enjoy a seamless experience with features like simultaneous link and comment viewing, swipe-based voting, and personalized themes. It's designed for fast and efficient Reddit usage.

**Highlights:** View any subreddit, Simultaneous link and comment view, Swipe-based voting, Customizable themes, Save and hide links, Favorite subreddits, View orangereds

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Narwhal Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro - Extra Support | $5.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro - Extra Support | $6.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro - Extra Support | $9.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Tip Jar $5 | $5.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar $10 | $10.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar $25 | $25.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive navigation
- 👍 Highly customizable UI
- 🔒 No ads or distractions
- 🤖 Excellent developer support and responsiveness
- 💡 Useful features like multi-account support and gestures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashes
- 🔋 Overheating and high battery drain issues
- 🤔 Inconsistent video playback and loading
- 🤷‍♀️ Confusing or unintuitive UI elements for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Swipe gestures not working consistently
- Video player controls freezing or malfunctioning
- Keyboard issues causing input lag or freezes

**Requested features**

- Add ability to create and manage subreddit shortcuts
- Improve search functionality to find specific subreddits
- Implement a 'mark all as read' option for posts
- Add support for saving posts to custom folders or categories


### SmartApfel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartapfel/id1056322079)

Stay updated on Apple HomeKit and Matter smart home technology. Get the latest news, device information, automation ideas, and warnings about problematic firmware updates. Perfect for both beginners and experienced users.

**Highlights:** Latest news on HomeKit & Matter, Device overview, Automation examples, Firmware update warnings, Beginner-friendly information

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small coffee (monthly) | $1.49 | per month |
| Large coffee (monthly) | $3.49 | per month |
| Espresso | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cup of coffee | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pot of coffee | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Narwhal for Reddit free?

Narwhal for Reddit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SmartApfel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Narwhal for Reddit or SmartApfel?

Narwhal for Reddit is rated higher. Narwhal for Reddit averages 4.5 out of 5 from 17K ratings, while SmartApfel averages 4.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do Narwhal for Reddit or SmartApfel have ads?

Neither Narwhal for Reddit nor SmartApfel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Narwhal for Reddit or SmartApfel?

Narwhal for Reddit ships an update weekly, and SmartApfel fortnightly. Most recently, Narwhal for Reddit was updated on October 31, 2026 and SmartApfel on October 27, 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.*