Comparison

Kidde vs Sub

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Kidde

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
Read full description

Step into the future with Kidde Smart Home Safety – where the intelligence of modern homes meets cutting-edge protection. The Kidde app seamlessly integrates with your smart home safety devices, delivering real-time alerts, Smart Hush® functionality, and more, all at your fingertips. Explore the Tech-Savvy Features: - Receive instant alarm notifications for smoke, carbon monoxide, indoor air quality issues, or water leaks. - Effortlessly set up alarms by scanning the QR code on the product, connected to your home Wi-Fi 2.4GHz network. - Easily test your alarm's functionality when you are at home. - Stay informed with notifications for device replacements. - Notify friends and family if hazards are detected when you're away. Unlock Advanced Home Health - Elevate Your IAQ Experience: Introducing Advanced Home Health, an exclusive indoor air quality subscription that seamlessly integrates premium features into your IAQ devices. Immerse yourself in the futuristic experience of our revamped IAQ dashboard, featuring a sleek design and a cutting-edge interface designed for tech-savvy subscribers. Subscription perks include: - Advanced Mold Risk Analysis - Thermal Comfort readings - Weekly air quality reports covering temperature, humidity, TVOC, Mold Risk, and Thermal Comfort. - Enjoy a 10% discount on ShopKidde.com. Discover Smart Devices: - Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm with smart features – Double the detection for enhanced safety. - Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Indoor Air Quality Monitor – An industry first, combining smoke and CO detection with IAQ monitoring. - Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Indoor Air Quality Monitor – Easy plug-in operation for reliable detection. - Water Leak + Freeze Detector – Early detection to prevent damage. - RemoteLync Camera (Sunsetting on January 7, 2024) – A cordless, Wi-Fi-enabled security camera capturing clips and providing alerts. Embrace the future of home safety with Kidde Smart Home Protection – where technology meets peace of mind. Terms of Use: https://help.kidde.com/hc/en/6-kidde/faq/589-terms-of-service/?l=en

About

Sub

This app enhances your kitchen experience by guiding you through recipes from websites and a curated collection. It allows remote control and monitoring of Sub-Zero refrigeration, Cove dishwashing, and Wolf appliances, ensuring optimal performance and convenience.

Highlights
  • Guided cooking from online recipes
  • Chef-tested recipes optimized for Wolf appliances
  • Remote dishwasher control and monitoring
  • Refrigerator settings and alerts
  • Filter recipes by cooking mode
  • Bookmark and share recipes
Features
Read full description

Elevate your kitchen experience with the Sub-Zero Group Owner’s App. Connect your Wi-Fi-enabled appliances and enjoy greater control, personalized cooking, and now, integrated wine inventory management. • Build and manage your wine collection • Scan bottles to quickly add wines to your inventory • Track where each bottle is stored across locations • Organize your collection with filters, groups, and tags • View inventory history as wines are enjoyed over time • Enjoy a guided cooking experience with recipes tailored to your appliances • Set timers and view oven status directly from recipe steps • Monitor and control your appliances from anywhere • Receive notifications for appliance status, maintenance, and more The app also gives you powerful control over your Sub-Zero refrigeration and Cove dishwashing appliances. Start your dishwasher remotely, monitor cycles, and manage supplies Wine Inventory transforms a traditionally manual task into a simple, intuitive experience. Manage your collection, understand where your wines are stored, and stay connected to your kitchen in one place. Download now and get more from every Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliance.

Screenshots

Kidde4 screens
Sub4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sub at none against Kidde's 2. Kidde's advantage is review sentiment (44% vs 15%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Kidde holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kidde has 6.7K ratings behind it against 778, 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 15% of Sub's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, Sub every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Kidde versus Sub: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKiddeSub
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (6.7K ratings) — better4.4 (778 ratings)
Positive reviews44.5% of reviews — better15.1% of reviews
Number of ratings6.7K — better778
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.5
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWalter Kidde Portable EquipmentSub-Zero and Wolf

Customer experience

Kidde

All ratings6,671 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews218 reviews
Positive44.5%
Neutral8.7%
Negative46.8%

Sub

All ratings778 ratings
Positive85.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews172 reviews
Positive15.1%
Neutral8.7%
Negative76.2%

User reviews

Kidde

From 6.7K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Sub

From 778 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Responsive and intuitive app
  • 👍 Helpful notifications and alerts
  • 🔒 Secure connection to appliances

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connection issues and disconnects
  • 🔍 Lack of actual temperature monitoring
  • 🤔 Confusing setup and pairing process
  • 🔍 Missing key features like remote start

Bugs and requests

Kidde

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

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

Sub

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes after recent updates
  • Unable to log in or register account
  • Appliances disappear from the app
  • Firmware update failures brick appliances

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add support for Celsius temperature units
  • Provide real-time temperature and energy consumption data
  • Integrate with smart home platforms like Apple HomeKit

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Kidde

Subscriptions2
  • Advanced Home Health - Monthly1 Month trial$1.991 Month
  • Advanced Home Health - Annual1 Month trial$19.991 Year
None

Sub

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kidde free?
Kidde is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sub free?
Sub is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Kidde or Sub?
Kidde is rated higher. Kidde averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while Sub averages 4.4 from 778 ratings.
Do Kidde or Sub have ads?
Neither Kidde nor Sub shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kidde or Sub?
Kidde ships an update every 2 months, and Sub every 5 weeks. Most recently, Kidde was updated on October 15, 2026 and Sub on October 15, 2026.

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