# Hive — Smart Home > Smart home energy management for heating, EV charging, lighting, and solar. (iPhone/iPad app by Centrica Hive Limited.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive/id712829172 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Centrica Hive Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1171162560) - Category: Lifestyle, Utilities - Price: Free - Rating: 4.20/5 from 762 App Store ratings · 1,652 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 173 MB - Languages: British English, French (France), Italian, European Spanish - Released: 2013-10-18 - Data updated: 2026-08-28 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive/id712829172/reviews.md ## What is Hive? SAVE MONEY AND ENERGY WITH HIVE From smart heating to EV charging and so much more, Hive makes it easy to cut costs and carbon – all from your smartphone. Already trusted by more than 2 million customers, our clever technology is changing the way homes use, store and generate energy for the better. So we can get Britain living more sustainably every day. INTRODUCING THE NEW HIVE APP Our better-than-ever app has even more features to make saving energy easier – all based on feedback from real Hive users. • Personalise your dashboard to show your most-used devices first for quicker control. • Track budgets, check your history and discover more ways to save with Trends. • Switch on your devices, set smart actions and control it all from the dashboard.   HIVE THERMOSTATS • Get everything you need to take control of your heating with the best-selling Hive Thermostat - or choose the Hive Thermostat Mini for all the benefits at an even more affordable price. • Set energy-saving schedules, boost the temperature and get alerts if you’ve accidentally left the heating on. • Save energy and protect your heating system with built-in features like Frost Protection and Holiday Mode. • Boost your control with smart Hive Radiator Valves and save by never heating a room you’re not using. • Upgrade to Hive Heating Plus for even more ways to save, including insight tools, budget tracking and personalised recommendations.   HIVE EV CHARGING • Make the switch to EV easier with Hive EV Charging, including a smart home charger, installation by British Gas and simple control via the Hive app. • Pair it with any British Gas electricity tariff to access SmartCharge – our revolutionary scheduling tool that automatically charges at the greenest and cheapest times. Then, get any money you’ve saved credited on your next bill. • Or if you’re a new customer, get exclusive access to FreeCharge for a year of free charging on us! • See how much you’re spending in the Hive app and get real-time updates when your car’s ready to go.   HIVE LIGHTS, SENSORS & PLUGS • Set the mood with a swipe and get light where you need it with our ultra-efficient bulbs. • Monitor power-hungry appliances with smart plugs, so you can see how much energy you’re using at any time. • Link your whole smart home together with Motion Sensors and get it saving energy without lifting a finger.   *NEW* HIVE SOLAR • Get everything you need to power your home with greener, renewable energy, including solar panels, home battery, expert installation and full app control. • Generate free green energy from the sun, store what you don’t use with a solar battery and sell any you don’t need back to the grid. • Pair it with the Hive Solar Saver tariff from British Gas and save hundreds on your energy bills. Discover more at hivehome.com ## Key features - Smart heating control - EV charging management - Smart lighting and plugs - Solar energy generation and storage - Energy usage tracking and budgeting - Personalized dashboard - Smart actions and scheduling ## What do users think of Hive? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to use - 🔒 Secure system - 👍 Convenient remote control - 👍 Integrates well with Alexa and Google **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues - 🐛 Unreliable app performance - 🐛 Scheduling problems - 🔋 High battery drain on devices - 👎 Paywall for basic features **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes and freezes - Devices randomly going offline - Heating/cooling schedules not working as expected - Camera live view and recordings not functioning properly **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - More granular scheduling controls - Better integration with smart home platforms - Improved camera functionality and recording ## Recent user reviews (10 of 1,652) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive/id712829172/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Can’t use heating after recent update to app and firmware *2026-08-04, version 15.4.1* My 3 devices are all functioning and able to pair but won’t come online . This started after the last update . No support and I’ve spent the last week every day going through the lengthy re pairing . I’m at IT person of 40 years in the industry this by a long way is the worst, most complex and unreliable and obstuse setup I’ve ever seen . Finally got it to pair in offline mode so all the radios work , the online side is a mess with shockingly poor and sometimes conflicting instructions. I’ve used early access alpha test kit that’s works better! A couple of years ago when I had to replace the hub there was someone I was able to call , not now . So if you’re thinking of buying this, from an IT guy I wouldn’t recommend it as it’s unreliable and has no support available when it breaks . Mmm class action coming I wonder there’s so many reviews I’ve read recently that have the same issue as me that started a month ago when the new app rolled out to fix the Apple Watch issues and a few other things. Bug ridden code and poor testing prior to putting it live . ### 1/5 — System stopping linking regularly *2026-08-04, version 15.4.1* System will not pair up with my mobile phone despite resetting the whole system over 5 times ### 1/5 — Waste of time *2026-08-03, version 15.4.1* Every 6-10 weeks the hot water goes off and it’s always because the hive thermostat has lost connection with the rest of the system. It’s never easy to reconnect it. It takes hours of resetting and reconnecting them you have to reprogram everything. It wastes hours of my life every 6 weeks. Currently looking to bin it and find a smart thermostat that works. ### 1/5 — Hardly ever works *2026-08-03, version 15.4.1* The phone app is next to useless on my iPhone 11. It worked for a few days then just disconnected even though the rest of the system is working fine. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling. Switch on off etc followed all give videos. Still not working. ### 2/5 — Connect *2026-08-02, version 15.4.1* Connecting the hub, controller and phone is very unreliable ### 1/5 — I wish we hadn’t got one *2026-08-01, version 15.4.1* We were persuaded to get this by a gas engineer servicing our boiler. It’s been a complete disaster. Every time we have a power cut, it disconnects resulting in a complete loss of heating and hot water. It then has to be reset has which can often take 20 minutes to do. ### 2/5 — No camera *2026-07-31, version 15.4.1* Disappointed camera has ceased ### 1/5 — Would not recommed *2026-07-31, version 15.4.1* Bought it because it stated it allowed me to control temperature remotely. Whenever I try to access via phone there is an issue, and whenever I try to get help, they ask whether I am on a higher priced plan to get help resetting it. Have ended up not using the remote control that I spent a good amount on. Would have been cheaper to not get the technology and stick to just controlling temperature from the boiler. ### 1/5 — Disconnects constantly *2026-07-31, version 15.4.1* Device constantly disconnects, device is in an SA so useless as I can only get in there when guests are gone ### 1/5 — Hive *2026-07-30, version 15.4.1* What a useless piece of equipment and a complete waste of money ## Frequently asked questions about Hive ### What does the Hive app do? The Hive app allows you to control and manage various aspects of your home's energy usage from your smartphone. This includes smart heating, EV charging, lighting, smart plugs, and even solar energy systems. It aims to help users save money and reduce their carbon footprint. ### What are the key features of the Hive app? Key features include personalized dashboards for quick control, energy usage tracking with budget monitoring and savings insights, smart scheduling for heating and EV charging, and remote control of lights, sensors, and plugs. It also supports managing solar energy generation and storage. ### Is the Hive app free to use? Based on the provided information, the Hive app itself is free to download and use. The costs are associated with the smart home devices and services that the app controls, such as thermostats, EV chargers, and solar panel installations. ### What devices are compatible with the Hive app? The Hive app is designed to work with a range of Hive smart home devices, including Hive Thermostats, Hive Thermostat Minis, Hive Radiator Valves, Hive EV Chargers, Hive Lights, Hive Sensors, Hive Plugs, and Hive Solar systems. It also integrates with British Gas electricity tariffs for EV charging. ### How can the Hive app help me save money? The app helps you save money by enabling precise control over your heating schedules, preventing unnecessary energy use. For EV charging, it can automatically charge during the cheapest and greenest times. Monitoring energy-hungry appliances with smart plugs and optimizing solar energy usage also contribute to cost savings. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 15.5.0 — 2026-08-10 - Hive+ made simpler: Access every eligible Hive+ feature from the start, and personalise your experience when it suits you - New-look Discover tab: Explore and learn more about Hive offers, products and features, all in one place - Improved Dark Mode: A cleaner, more polished experience, shaped by your feedback. - Performance improvements: We've fixed bugs and made the app faster and more reliable. ### 15.4.1 — 2026-07-14 Minor Improvements when a customer links their British Gas account to Hive ### 15.4.0 — 2026-07-10 We've made your Hive experience even better with 15.4, including: - Dark Mode (Beta): You asked, we listened - our #1 most requested feature is now live. Switch between Light, Dark or Auto in the Appearance settings, and let us know what you think via the Feedback button. - EV voltage issue support: We’ve improved the journey for understanding and resolving voltage issues - Bug fixes, performance and reliability improvements across the app ### 15.3.1 — 2026-06-24 Minor bug fixes ### 15.3.0 — 2026-06-08 We've added new features and improvements to make your Hive experience even better, including: • Invite others to your Hive home: Share access in just a few taps with our new QR code option or improved email invite journey. • Easier access management: See who has access to your home at a glance, with simplified permission levels and invite tracking. • Sync EV Charging improvements: Updates to charging controls and clearer messaging to help avoid interruptions during active sessions • Plus bug fixes, performance and reliability improvements across the app ## Apps similar to Hive | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [4K Battery Charger Animation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/4k-battery-charger-animation/id6670772543) | 2.8 (97) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Wi-Fi Battery Charger](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wi-fi-battery-charger/id1586964192) | 3.5 (6) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Live Wallpapers 4K ChargeWall](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-wallpapers-4k-chargewall/id6504396303) | 4.7 (2,753) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Rivals Barbershops](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rivals-barbershops/id1660629140) | — | Free | Lifestyle | | [My ATF](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-atf/id1633629780) | — | Free | Lifestyle | | [(株)JAエコパル](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ja/id1635276580) | — | Free | Lifestyle | ## More apps by Centrica Hive Limited - [Hive Engineer App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive-engineer-app/id1348272298) - [Hive Installer Club](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive-installer-club/id6740090709) All apps by Centrica Hive Limited: https://appshunter.io/developer/1171162560 ## Related topics [hive thermostat](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hive-thermostat) · [hive](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hive) · [lmkeji](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/lmkeji) · [ampion](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ampion) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*