# Kidde vs Carrier SmartHome

The clearest difference is rating: Kidde at 4.7 against Carrier SmartHome's 3.6. Kidde also leads on review sentiment (45% vs 11%). Carrier SmartHome's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Kidde holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.7K and 2.5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Kidde's written reviews are positive against 11% of Carrier SmartHome's.

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, Carrier SmartHome fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kidde | Carrier SmartHome |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidde/id942334464/reviews)** | [3.6 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carrier-smarthome/id6503700523/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | 2.5K |
| Positive reviews | **45.0% of reviews** | 11.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 88 MB | 191 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Walter Kidde Portable Equipment](https://appshunter.io/developer/942334463) | [Carrier Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/542004889) |

## 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


### Carrier SmartHome

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carrier-smarthome/id6503700523)

Control your home's comfort remotely with this app. Adjust temperature, set custom schedules, monitor energy usage, and receive important alerts. It offers a personalized and efficient way to manage your home's climate.

**Highlights:** Remote temperature and humidity control, Customizable smart schedules, Energy usage monitoring, Real-time system alerts, Personalized comfort settings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Significant improvement
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Sleek, modern feel
- 👍 Refreshed look and improved experience
- 👍 Good screens

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes and requires force quit
- 🐛 Doesn't show correct operating status
- 🐛 Doesn't update outside temperature
- 🐛 Fails to register temperature changes
- 🐛 Unreliable connection and sync issues

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and becomes unresponsive
- Operating status not in sync with wall controller
- Notifications don't work or are delayed
- AQI data is inaccurate for user's location
- Temperature changes not reflected in app

**Requested features**

- Show system operating status (heating, cooling)
- Display energy consumption details
- Add more temperature schedule options
- Integrate with Apple HomeKit
- Show outside temperature measured by the system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kidde free?

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

### Is Carrier SmartHome free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kidde or Carrier SmartHome?

Kidde is rated higher. Kidde averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while Carrier SmartHome averages 3.6 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do Kidde or Carrier SmartHome have ads?

Neither Kidde nor Carrier SmartHome shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kidde or Carrier SmartHome?

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, and Carrier SmartHome fortnightly. Most recently, Kidde was updated on September 23, 2026 and Carrier SmartHome on September 24, 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.*
