# Kidde vs Onelink Home by First Alert

The clearest difference is rating: Kidde at 4.7 against Onelink Home by First Alert's 1.5. Kidde also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 9%) and ratings volume (7K vs 306). Onelink Home by First Alert's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kidde sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Onelink Home by First Alert asks for nothing beyond the download.

Kidde holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kidde has 7K ratings behind it against 306, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Kidde's written reviews are positive against 9% of Onelink Home by First Alert's.

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, Onelink Home by First Alert every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kidde | Onelink Home by First Alert |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidde/id942334464/reviews)** | [1.5 (306 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onelink-home-by-first-alert/id1034376317/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7K** | 306 |
| Positive reviews | **44.5% of reviews** | 9.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 88 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Walter Kidde Portable Equipment](https://appshunter.io/developer/942334463) | [First Alert / BRK Brands](https://appshunter.io/developer/574690878) |

## What reviewers say

### Kidde

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidde/id942334464)

This app connects to smart home safety devices, providing real-time alerts for smoke, CO, air quality, and water leaks. It offers features like Smart Hush, remote notifications to loved ones, and advanced indoor air quality monitoring through a subscription service.

**Highlights:** Real-time alarm notifications, Smart Hush functionality, QR code setup for Wi-Fi connection, Device replacement notifications, Remote notifications to friends/family, Advanced Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) monitoring, Mold Risk Analysis

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Advanced Home Health - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Advanced Home Health - Annual | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy setup
- 👍 Helpful app features
- 🔒 Provides peace of mind
- 💡 Useful air quality monitoring
- 👍 Good customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent false alarms
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Buggy app and firmware
- 👎 Paywalled features
- 👎 Poor user experience

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to connect to devices
- Firmware updates failing
- Devices going offline randomly
- Notifications not working as expected
- Inconsistent device naming in app

**Requested features**

- Add HomeKit support
- Improve historical data tracking
- Provide more detailed temperature/air quality data
- Allow remote alarm silencing
- Enhance app stability and usability


### Onelink Home by First Alert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onelink-home-by-first-alert/id1034376317)

Manage and monitor your connected home devices, including smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Receive emergency notifications and enjoy premium audio and voice commands with integrated smart assistants.

**Highlights:** Device installation and pairing, Real-time monitoring, Smoke and CO emergency notifications, Integrated Amazon Alexa, Premium audio speaker, Hands-free voice commands

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy setup
- 🚀 Smooth installation process
- 🔒 Seamless HomeKit integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🤖 Poor Alexa/Google Home integration
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with WiFi and Bluetooth
- 🔇 Unreliable notifications and alarm silencing
- 🕰️ Slow response times during emergencies

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to recognize existing accounts
- Devices disappear from app and HomeKit
- Alarms going off for no reason
- Inability to silence alarms remotely

**Requested features**

- Ability to disable Alexa/Google Home integration
- Improved firmware update process
- More customization options for nightlight and alarm settings
- Better app performance and stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kidde free?

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

### Is Onelink Home by First Alert free?

Onelink Home by First Alert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Kidde or Onelink Home by First Alert?

Kidde is rated higher. Kidde averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7K ratings, while Onelink Home by First Alert averages 1.5 from 306 ratings.

### Do Kidde or Onelink Home by First Alert have ads?

Neither Kidde nor Onelink Home by First Alert shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kidde or Onelink Home by First Alert?

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, and Onelink Home by First Alert every 3 months. Most recently, Kidde was updated on October 26, 2026 and Onelink Home by First Alert on October 23, 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.*