# Masterbuilt Classic vs CHEF iQ

The clearest difference is rating: CHEF iQ at 4.7 against Masterbuilt Classic's 2.0. CHEF iQ also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 16%) and ratings volume (34K vs 218). Masterbuilt Classic's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CHEF iQ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CHEF iQ has 34K ratings behind it against 218, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of Masterbuilt Classic's written reviews are positive against 43% of CHEF iQ's.

Masterbuilt Classic ships an update monthly, CHEF iQ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 25, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Masterbuilt Classic | CHEF iQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (218 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterbuilt-classic/id895935056/reviews) | **[4.7 (34K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chef-iq/id1496378504/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 218 | **34K** |
| Positive reviews | 16.0% of reviews | **43.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 232 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PREMIER SPECIALTY BRANDS, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281287625) | [RJ Brands, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1278407317) |

## What reviewers say

### Masterbuilt Classic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterbuilt-classic/id895935056)

Easily control your Masterbuilt digital electric smoker from your phone. Access a collection of recipes and create integrated shopping lists for your culinary creations.

**Highlights:** Control multiple smokers, Share smoker control, Recipe collection, Integrated shopping list

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 🚀 Clean app
- 🚀 Great addition to the smoker

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable temperature readings
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🐛 Safe mode issues
- 🐛 Difficult to use

**Reported bugs**

- Bluetooth connection constantly drops
- App fails to recognize smoker model
- Temperature and timer settings not working
- Recipe menu crashes app
- Login issues between app and website

**Requested features**

- Ability to set meat probe temperature alarms
- Ability to save/favorite recipes
- Ability to name probes
- Startup mode to burn off before cooking
- Ability to view cooking process history/stats


### CHEF iQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chef-iq/id1496378504)

This app acts as a culinary companion for smart cooking appliances, offering guided recipes, remote control, and ingredient shopping. It connects users with a community of home cooks and provides over-the-air updates for enhanced features.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Thousands of pre-programmed settings, Guided cooking recipes with videos, Instacart integration for ingredient delivery, Save favorite recipes and configurations, Appliance sharing with friends and family, Community forum for cooks

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate temperature readings
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Guided cooking makes cooking easy
- 🚀 Helpful for new cooks
- 👍 Versatile for different meats

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues with WiFi and Bluetooth
- 🔒 Requires account verification to use
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data access
- 🐛 Inconsistent notifications
- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and freezes

**Reported bugs**

- Firmware update failures
- Inability to connect to WiFi
- Incorrect temperature conversions
- Cooking time and liquid amount miscalculations

**Requested features**

- Live Activity support for cooking status
- Ability to adjust temperature and time during cooking
- Cooking history and data tracking
- Landscape mode support for iPad
- More generic cooking options beyond recipes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Masterbuilt Classic free?

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

### Is CHEF iQ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Masterbuilt Classic or CHEF iQ?

CHEF iQ is rated higher. Masterbuilt Classic averages 2.0 out of 5 from 218 ratings, while CHEF iQ averages 4.7 from 34K ratings.

### Do Masterbuilt Classic or CHEF iQ have ads?

Neither Masterbuilt Classic nor CHEF iQ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Masterbuilt Classic or CHEF iQ?

Masterbuilt Classic ships an update monthly, and CHEF iQ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Masterbuilt Classic was updated on August 25, 2026 and CHEF iQ on September 25, 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.*