# Kidde vs Black

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Black at 100% against Kidde's 44%. Black also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Kidde's advantage is ratings volume (6.7K vs 8) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 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. Black asks for nothing beyond the download.

Black holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kidde has 6.7K ratings behind it against 8, 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 100% of Black's.

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, Black every 7 months. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kidde | Black |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidde/id942334464/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-haak/id6745274642/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 44.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 88 MB | 355 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Walter Kidde Portable Equipment](https://appshunter.io/developer/942334463) | [Black-Haak Heating Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1811613138) |

## 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


### Black

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-haak/id6745274642)

Manage your smart home devices, optimize energy usage, and prevent water damage with this intuitive application. It offers enhanced security features and convenient control over your home's comfort and safety.

**Highlights:** Energy savings optimization, HVAC system monitoring, Water leak detection alerts, Automated lighting for security, Centralized smart device control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kidde free?

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

### Is Black free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kidde or Black?

Black is rated higher. Kidde averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while Black averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do Kidde or Black have ads?

Neither Kidde nor Black shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kidde or Black?

Kidde ships an update every 2 months, and Black every 7 months. Most recently, Kidde was updated on October 15, 2026 and Black on October 15, 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.*