# SmartThermo vs Anova Culinary

The clearest difference is rating: Anova Culinary at 4.4 against SmartThermo's 1.8. Anova Culinary also leads on ratings volume (26K vs 41) and review sentiment (32% vs 16%). SmartThermo's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Anova Culinary sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. SmartThermo asks for nothing beyond the download.

Anova Culinary holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Anova Culinary has 26K 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 32% of Anova Culinary's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartThermo | Anova Culinary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthermo/id935208547/reviews) | **[4.4 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anova-culinary/id959638683/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **26K** |
| Positive reviews | 16.4% of reviews | **31.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#36** |
| Size | 15 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Fuzhou Emax Electronic Co.,Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1128654625) | [Anova Culinary](https://appshunter.io/developer/959638682) |

## 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


### Anova Culinary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anova-culinary/id959638683)

**Currently charting:** #36 Top Grossing · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Discover and create sous vide recipes with a vast collection from professional chefs and home cooks. Control your precision cooker remotely, monitor cooking progress, and share your culinary creations. Offers guided cooking, time and temperature guides, and personal recipe saving.

**Highlights:** Largest sous vide recipe collection, Remote cooker control, Guided cooking instructions, Recipe creation and sharing, Time and temperature guides, Personalized cooking profiles

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Sous Vide Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Consistent cooking results
- 🚀 Versatile for various foods
- 🚀 Game-changing cooking method
- 🚀 Convenient remote control

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues with app
- 🐛 Unreliable timer functionality
- 🐛 Glitchy app interface
- 🐛 Difficult WiFi setup
- 🐛 Lack of manual controls

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to maintain connection to device
- Timer resets unexpectedly during cooking
- Recipes not saving properly in the app
- Compatibility issues with certain WiFi networks
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Improved recipe management
- Better app integration with smart home devices
- More customization options for cooking
- Clearer instructions and troubleshooting guides
- Ability to save personal recipes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartThermo free?

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

### Is Anova Culinary free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartThermo or Anova Culinary?

Anova Culinary is rated higher. SmartThermo averages 1.8 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Anova Culinary averages 4.4 from 26K ratings.

### Do SmartThermo or Anova Culinary have ads?

Neither SmartThermo nor Anova Culinary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartThermo or Anova Culinary?

SmartThermo ships an update monthly, and Anova Culinary monthly. Most recently, SmartThermo was updated on October 6, 2026 and Anova Culinary on October 13, 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.*