# Kidde vs MRCOOL Universal

The clearest difference is rating: Kidde at 4.7 against MRCOOL Universal's 1.4. Kidde also leads on review sentiment (45% vs 17%) and ratings volume (6.7K vs 14). MRCOOL Universal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, 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. MRCOOL Universal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Kidde holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kidde has 6.7K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Kidde's written reviews are positive against 17% of MRCOOL Universal's.

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, MRCOOL Universal every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kidde | MRCOOL Universal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidde/id942334464/reviews)** | [1.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mrcool-universal/id1506149089/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **44.9% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 88 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Walter Kidde Portable Equipment](https://appshunter.io/developer/942334463) | [HaiLin Energy Technology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/860466636) |

## 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


### MRCOOL Universal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mrcool-universal/id1506149089)

Control your smart thermostat remotely to adjust the temperature from anywhere. Optimize your home's climate with this easy-to-use controller. Some features require an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Remote temperature adjustment, Control from anywhere, Easy-to-use interface, Requires internet for some features

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kidde free?

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

### Is MRCOOL Universal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kidde or MRCOOL Universal?

Kidde is rated higher. Kidde averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while MRCOOL Universal averages 1.4 from 14 ratings.

### Do Kidde or MRCOOL Universal have ads?

Neither Kidde nor MRCOOL Universal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kidde or MRCOOL Universal?

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, and MRCOOL Universal every 2 days. Most recently, Kidde was updated on October 13, 2026 and MRCOOL Universal on September 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.*