# ViCare vs Swidget

The clearest difference is rating: ViCare at 4.5 against Swidget's 3.2. ViCare also leads on ratings volume (1.3K vs 5) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). Swidget's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (67% vs 41%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ViCare sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Swidget asks for nothing beyond the download.

ViCare holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ViCare has 1.3K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of ViCare's written reviews are positive against 67% of Swidget's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ViCare ships an update every 9 days, Swidget monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ViCare | Swidget |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vicare/id964468260/reviews)** | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swidget/id1511982576/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 40.8% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 662 MB | 147 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Viessmann IT Service GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801739683) | [Swidget Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437185047) |

## What reviewers say

### ViCare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vicare/id964468260)

Control your home heating system remotely with this app. Adjust temperatures, set schedules, and monitor system status for comfort and energy savings. Receive alerts and manage basic functions from your smartphone.

**Highlights:** Remote heating system control, Set preferred room temperatures, Create daily heating schedules, Monitor system status, Energy cost savings, Holiday program settings

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $33.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app to control heating and hot water
- 📊 Useful data and analytics on energy usage
- 🌟 Intuitive and easy to use interface
- ⏱️ Convenient remote access and control

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues and app crashes
- 🔌 Unreliable sync with boiler, settings not always applied
- 🕰️ Limited scheduling and timer options
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive user experience

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to load or gets stuck on loading screen
- Settings changes not syncing properly with boiler
- Incorrect time zone and DST adjustments
- Frequent loss of connectivity to boiler

**Requested features**

- Add a simple 'boost' or 'quick on' heating mode
- Provide more granular control over heating and hot water schedules
- Enable integration with smart home platforms like Alexa or HomeKit
- Improve data visualization and historical energy usage tracking


### Swidget

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swidget/id1511982576)

Control your smart home devices remotely with this app. Create custom schedules, set up automations, and monitor energy usage for compatible smart outlets and light switches. Integrates with voice assistants for hands-free control.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth pairing, Create rules and automations, Monitor energy usage, Voice assistant integration, Remote control, Custom schedules

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ViCare free?

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

### Is Swidget free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ViCare or Swidget?

ViCare is rated higher. ViCare averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Swidget averages 3.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do ViCare or Swidget have ads?

Neither ViCare nor Swidget shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ViCare or Swidget?

ViCare ships an update every 9 days, and Swidget monthly. Most recently, ViCare was updated on October 16, 2026 and Swidget on October 3, 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.*