# SmartThermo vs CHEF iQ

The clearest difference is rating: CHEF iQ at 4.7 against SmartThermo's 1.8. CHEF iQ also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 16%) and ratings volume (34K vs 41). SmartThermo's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 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 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CHEF iQ has 34K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of SmartThermo's written reviews are positive against 43% of CHEF iQ's.

SmartThermo ships an update monthly, CHEF iQ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartThermo | CHEF iQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthermo/id935208547/reviews) | **[4.7 (34K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chef-iq/id1496378504/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **34K** |
| Positive reviews | 16.4% of reviews | **42.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fuzhou Emax Electronic Co.,Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1128654625) | [RJ Brands, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1278407317) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartThermo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthermo/id935208547)

Easily monitor your meat's temperature while grilling or smoking. Insert the probe, select your food and desired doneness, and receive alerts when it's perfectly cooked. Features include Bluetooth connectivity, a long-lasting battery, and multiple cooking modes.

**Highlights:** Wireless meat temperature monitoring, Bluetooth connectivity, Preset temperatures for 8 meats, Custom doneness programming, Alerts for perfect temperature, Multiple cooking modes (Meat Profiles, Timer, Target Temp)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate temperature readings
- 👍 Works well when connected
- 👍 Alarm notifies desired temp
- 👍 Can see temperature remotely
- 👍 Foolproof meals when working

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Does not work at all
- 🐛 Connection issues
- 🐛 Unintuitive interface
- 🐛 Does not charge
- 🐛 App gives no info on errors

**Reported bugs**

- App not connecting to phone
- Thermometer not charging
- App buttons hidden by notch
- App reverts to Celsius
- Bluetooth connection drops frequently

**Requested features**

- Update UI for newer iPhones
- Allow multiple device support
- Color coding for probes
- Add Apple Watch app
- Add graph of temperature


### 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 SmartThermo free?

SmartThermo 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, SmartThermo or CHEF iQ?

CHEF iQ is rated higher. SmartThermo averages 1.8 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while CHEF iQ averages 4.7 from 34K ratings.

### Do SmartThermo or CHEF iQ have ads?

Neither SmartThermo nor CHEF iQ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartThermo or CHEF iQ?

SmartThermo ships an update monthly, and CHEF iQ every 3 weeks. Most recently, SmartThermo was updated on October 14, 2026 and CHEF iQ on October 17, 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.*