# SmartHQ vs Living Forward

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Living Forward at 100% against SmartHQ's 17%. Living Forward also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). SmartHQ's advantage is ratings volume (89K vs 13) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

SmartHQ holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartHQ has 89K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of SmartHQ's written reviews are positive against 100% of Living Forward's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SmartHQ ships an update every 4 weeks, Living Forward every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartHQ | Living Forward |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (89K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarthq/id992883749/reviews)** | [4.3 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/living-forward/id1424823530/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **89K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 17.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#81** | — |
| Size | 251 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1203332547) | [Alosant](https://appshunter.io/developer/1198107934) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartHQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarthq/id992883749)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Control and monitor smart appliances from multiple brands in one app. Receive notifications, update software, and personalize settings. Get expert help and track energy usage.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Appliance notifications, Software updates, Personalized settings, Voice integration, Energy/water usage monitoring, AI cooking recipes, Product registration, Expert assistance, Proactive service alerts

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and easy to connect
- 👍 Convenient notifications
- 👍 Helpful for laundry efficiency
- 👍 Automation and scheduling
- 👍 Integrated with Amazon

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Account verification issues
- 🐛 Connectivity problems
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🐛 Limited functionality
- 🐛 Intrusive data collection

**Reported bugs**

- Account verification loop
- Inability to connect appliances to WiFi
- Crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate cycle tracking
- Disconnection issues

**Requested features**

- Allow setting favorites as default
- Provide more granular control over appliance settings
- Integrate with smart home platforms
- Add more customization options
- Improve notification controls


### Living Forward

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/living-forward/id1424823530)

Discover the vibrant energy and natural beauty of Willow Valley Communities. This app serves as your personal guide to pursuing passions, making friends, and enjoying a healthy, active lifestyle within a captivating neighborhood.

**Highlights:** Experience community energy and friendliness, Explore natural beauty and architectural elegance, Pursue passions and make new friends, Grow, learn, and engage, Enjoy a healthy, vibrant lifestyle, Create memories with family

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartHQ free?

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

### Is Living Forward free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartHQ or Living Forward?

SmartHQ is rated higher. SmartHQ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 89K ratings, while Living Forward averages 4.3 from 13 ratings.

### Do SmartHQ or Living Forward have ads?

SmartHQ shows ads; Living Forward does not.

### Which is updated more often, SmartHQ or Living Forward?

SmartHQ ships an update every 4 weeks, and Living Forward every 2 months. Most recently, SmartHQ was updated on October 27, 2026 and Living Forward on October 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.*