# Rate Alert vs Optimal Blue

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Optimal Blue at 80% against Rate Alert's 17%. Optimal Blue also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months). Rate Alert's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Optimal Blue holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Optimal Blue has 208 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Rate Alert's written reviews are positive against 80% of Optimal Blue's.

Rate Alert ships an update every 9 months, Optimal Blue monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rate Alert | Optimal Blue |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rate-alert/id979304599/reviews) | **[4.9 (208 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimal-blue-ppe/id6469644596/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **208** |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 18 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THINK BIG WORK SMALL, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/979304598) | [Optimal Blue LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/819598914) |

## What reviewers say

### Rate Alert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rate-alert/id979304599)

This app provides real-time mortgage-backed security information and customizable notifications to help users anticipate market changes. It aims to give users a significant advantage in saving deals by alerting them to pricing shifts and breaking news before they occur.

**Highlights:** Real-time MBS information, Customizable deal-saving notifications, Advance pricing change alerts, Live market volatility meter, Daily lock advice and commentary, Mobile home page widget

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Optimal Blue

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimal-blue-ppe/id6469644596)

Access a comprehensive mortgage pricing and product engine on your mobile device. Track market indices, receive real-time updates, and generate instant, accurate loan quotes. Ideal for mortgage professionals needing on-the-go access to pricing data and scenario analysis.

**Highlights:** Mortgage product, pricing, and eligibility engine, Track mortgage market indices (OBMMI™), Receive push notifications for updates, Price scenarios and save favorites, Automatic scenario refresh, Access full pricing inputs and custom fields, View eligible and ineligible products with reasons

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rate Alert free?

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

### Is Optimal Blue free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Rate Alert or Optimal Blue?

Optimal Blue is rated higher. Rate Alert averages 3.2 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Optimal Blue averages 4.9 from 208 ratings.

### Do Rate Alert or Optimal Blue have ads?

Neither Rate Alert nor Optimal Blue shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rate Alert or Optimal Blue?

Rate Alert ships an update every 9 months, and Optimal Blue monthly. Most recently, Rate Alert was updated on October 5, 2026 and Optimal Blue on October 20, 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.*