# Spa Control - BWA — user reviews > 444 indexed App Store user reviews of Spa Control by Balboa Water Group, rated 2.70/5 from 601 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spa-control-bwa/id469882268/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spa-control-bwa/id469882268.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 189 · 4★ 49 · 3★ 33 · 2★ 40 · 1★ 290 ## Newest reviews (20 of 444) ### 1/5 — Now subscription based?? Not helpful!! *2026-07-09, version 4.8.1* I previously had no issues with this app. But now that remote access is subscription based, the app is useless when not at home. Extremely disappointing for a legacy user. ### 1/5 — Scandaleux *2026-07-06* Il est scandaleux de changer les règles d’utilisation de l’application et de rendre payant les connexions à distance ! À tous les futurs acheteurs de Spa: assurez vous de ne pas avoir de système Balboa pour le pilotage de votre Spa. Préférez d’autres systèmes qui ne vous feront pas payer pour simplement pouvoir contrôler votre machine. Je suis très en colère ! Si j’avais su! Et même en connexion locale ça déconne, certains jours il est impossible de se connecter! C’est vraiment nul de chez nul! Update: j’ai fait un signalement à Apple pour que cette application apparaisse avec la mention « achat intégré » car en l’état cette mention n’apparaît pas et c’est mensonger! ### 2/5 — Not impressed *2026-07-03, version 4.8.1* I thought it may get a new look in this update as I’ve never known there to be one in the last 4 years of using it, which by the way the app worked fine. So maybe a new look, new feature, but no, just charge you for a feature which used to be free. What a rip off!! Unless you have a damn good WiFi signal, and I mean good, the app isn’t really reliable to work all the time. ### 1/5 — Used to be free now we pay monthly and it doesn’t work *2026-06-27, version 4.8.1* I am so frustrated. This was a feature that we paid $1000’s extra for (upgraded our tub for wifi feature), it worked OK before, now it won’t connect and we have to pay for it. Money for nothing. I have been telling everyone looking to buy a tub NOT to upgrade for wifi. You’d think adding a monthly/yearly fee they would upgrade the app and give some new features… nope. Same app. Pure greed. Be better. ### 1/5 — Mr Williamson *2026-06-26, version 4.8.1* Think that after paying to purchase this wifi controller I’ve used for years that it is now a disgrace that you have now started to charge a fee to yous away from home ### 1/5 — Now a Pay Service *2026-06-24, version 4.8.1* This app was acceptable and functional. After it stopped responding, I was told by customer service to remove the app and reset the hot tub. I did so, only to find that the cloud service that was free for 8 years, was now subscription based. What good is the app if I now have to pay monthly fees? Avoid Balboa. ### 1/5 — New update is now subscription based *2026-06-20, version 4.8.1* If I could give 0 stars I would. The previous version was terrible, but having spent $15k for my spa at least it was included. Now - the SAME terribile functionality is behind a subscription paywall? THIS.IS.AWFUL… ### 1/5 — Awful *2026-06-09, version 4.8.1* I’ve had my hot tub for 3years now and 2 years ago it started failing first being the audio system then the ozone device. WiFi module is very intermittent whether it will connect or not and has been extremely basic since day one. If your spending thousands on a hot tub I’d recommend staying away from anything controlled by Balboa ### 1/5 — Terrible *2026-06-07, version 4.8.1* I’m rating this as 1 star simply because 0 isn’t an option. Most useless app I’ve used in my life. The developer responsible for this needs to find a new line of work. ### 1/5 — Great app when it connects *2026-05-19, version 4.8.1* As they said in anchorman - 60% of the time it works all the time. Please fix your constant server errors, especially if you are charging a monthly fee. ### 1/5 — From bad to worse *2026-05-16, version 4.8.1* For five years, this was the singular worst app I’ve ever seen. It rarely connected. No update updates in years to address this. Now they force an update without informing us and without consent in order to put remote access behind a paywall. Now we have to pay for functionality that previously was free, on the rare occasions that it worked. Outrageous. What are these people thinking? ### 1/5 — Horrible Product *2026-05-12, version 4.8.1* BWA spa control is unbelievably frustrating! Very inconsistent despite adding new router and booster s to house network. Works one day and not that evening. I’ve tried dozens of variables like turning cellular off, Turning on 2.5 mbz, resetting wifi, etc. ### 1/5 — Du racket organisé *2026-05-10* Un scandale que devoir payer maintenant une fonction qui était vendue à l’époque avec le spa. Vous pouvez toujours tenter de nous faire payer mais patience nous allons trouver une solution pour contourner le problème. Bande de voleurs ! ### 1/5 — What a scam *2026-04-30, version 4.8.1* I purchased the Balboa controller for my spa because it came with remote connectivity, now a few years in and they decide I now need to pay for functionality I have already purchased! What a scam, this is illegal in many countries! I will not be buying balboa for my next spa! What a great way to annoy your customers and ensure they will ditch you given the chance. The employee that came up with this will get a pat on the back this year, then fired next year when sales plummet! ### 1/5 — Poorly designed *2026-04-30, version 4.8.1* App runs poorly and the cash grab is bogus. 0/5 would not recommend ### 1/5 — Do not buy - doesn’t work and no support at all *2026-04-27, version 4.8.1* Purchased this hoping it would work better than their original app. It did not. Balboa does not answer their phone or email. Total garbage! Total scam. They take your subscription money and then won’t talk to you. Warning! Do not buy! ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-04-27, version 4.8.1* Since they started charging for it, it no longer works. Been using it for 6 years but since the new monthly charge, it just produces a “internal system error” ### 1/5 — Awful *2026-04-25, version 4.8.1* Pretty terrible setup pretty terrible ui ### 1/5 — Ne fonctionne plus *2026-04-25, version 4.8.1* Depuis la nouvelle version payante, je ne peux même pas me connecter en mode local! J’ai toujours réussi à faire fonctionner. Ça fait plus de 12 ans que je l’utilisais. Maintenant ça ne connecte plus, même en rétablissant les valeurs par défaut, en désinstallant et réinstallant l’app. Je l’ai fait des dizaines de fois me connecter avec les valeurs d’origine mais là, ça ne fonctionne juste plus. Désolant ### 1/5 — Dreadful *2026-04-25, version 4.8.1* Prime example of taking an app that had basic functionality and trying to monetise it. Broken completely. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Garbage App and Unreliable Module *2026-09-02, version 4.8.1* UPDATE: Ripped out the junk wifi module, installed an ESP32/RS485 for a few bucks and added a Home Assistant integration that reads the tub data. Add I small dashboard to control the basics. Next fault monitoring. And goes what -it’s reliable without monthly gouging of customers. Since my earlier review was booted by calling the developers out 🙄 … I’ll tone it down. Mandatory update introduced a subscription for cloud access. Totally below belt move by the developers especially when the app still is the worse piece of junk paired with an equally subpar wifi module. There are other and better methods for remote access to replace this trash (that even has fault monitoring). The last update made it worth my effort to actually do it. So thanks developers! 👋 ### 1/5 — Worked for about a week *2026-08-23, version 4.8.1* Nice idea but doesn’t work - constantly shows server errors when you try to login. Waste of money ### 1/5 — Buggy and unexpected fees *2026-08-12, version 4.8.1* Often fails to connect locally and after buying with a view to only heating when the sun is out as wwe have solar energy, they have started charging for remote control. Would not buy a tub with a Balboa controller again. ### 1/5 — Awful *2026-07-30, version 4.8.1* Pretty terrible setup pretty terrible ui. The balls to try and charge money for such a buggy garbage app are astounding. Whoever wrote this thing is bad and should feel bad ### 1/5 — Just bad *2026-07-28, version 4.8.1* Unstable connection, weird UI, requires precise location for a local connection… just badly designed and implemented. It has BS Compsci thesis circa 2002 vibes. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2026-07-24, version 4.8.1* Original app was useless but now Update is extra useless and after paying a hearty premium for the garbage wifi connection they have the audacity to try to charge you for remote access. ### 1/5 — CEOs Suck *2026-07-20, version 4.8.1* Another companies reputation wrecked by a greedy CEO choosing to screw customers for short term profits. ### 1/5 — WORSE THAN USELESS *2026-07-20, version 4.8.1* WORSE THAN USELESS BECAUSE I STILL TRY AND USE IT. IF YOU TOUCH THE HOT TUB SCREEN IT WILL CONNECT FOR A BRIEF MIN. I NEVER WROTE A REVIEW FOR ANYTHING. THIS WOULD HAVE SWAYED MY DECISION TO BY CALSPA! ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2026-07-14, version 4.8.1* Flip a coin, that’s what you can hope for of the app will actually connect to your spa. Then these people have the audacity to make you pay for the cloud module that has maybe a 10% connect rate. It’s comical how bad this app works. ### 1/5 — Charging for??? *2026-07-11, version 4.8.1* How can you start charging for something that was free when I bought the hot tub?….if you insist on ripping customers off, at least make sure what you are charging for works! I don’t want to pay for SERVER ERROR at least 50% of the time! You really need to get this sorted or go back to not charging for at best, a mediocre app! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Pas l’application du siècle *2026-04-08* Ce n’était déjà pas l’application du siècle, avec beaucoup de bug et de latence. Mais alors maintenant on doit payer un abonnement à 2,99€/mois pour utiliser à distance ! Je suis vraiment déçu ! ### 5/5 — Unhappy *2026-02-23, version 4.8.1* Existing user not happy. Had the spa with the BWA control module for 3 years and opened the app to use it on the weekend and it won’t work unless I join up for $40 a year. Should only be charged for new clients who can see the charges before they purchase a product ( not after years later ) trapped with trickery ### 5/5 — Working until update -Feb2026 *2026-02-21, version 4.8.1* You updated the app and now we are having all sorts of issues connecting to the SPA. Help! It was working so well until now. ### 5/5 — Seems to Work *2024-12-08* Just installed this and it took about 30 minutes with the internet connections (local and Cloud). I’ll update the post in a few weeks after using it. ### 5/5 — Works Perfectly *2024-01-06, version 4.7.3* Once you ensure that the Wifi signal to your Spa is strong and stable, it works perfectly. In my case that meant installing an outdoor Wifi repeater and mounting the Balboa Wifi module on the side of the hot tub itself (signal was flaky when the module was inside of the spa enclosure). It’s great to be able to control all of my spa settings from literally anywhere I have an Internet connection! ### 5/5 — Convenient app, but could be better. *2022-03-18, version 4.7.3* Really convenient app, would like to have a timer added where you could set when the hottub should heat up. So to make use of night rates. Unless I’m using the app wrong. ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2022-02-07, version 4.6* You guys did a great job at this update it works great with my google mesh system! You guys solved all my issues with the module not connecting to my google mesh system. keep up the great work. ### 5/5 — Great bit of Smart Tech *2021-11-19, version 4.5* It’s a great app in all honesty! I can turn the lights on and off, turn the pumps to high/low, set the target temperature, change the mode (Ready or Rest) and change nearly all the settings, including filter schedules all from within the app either on the same WiFi network or via the internet. Provided you have a strong WiFi signal near your tub there is no latency. In fact, I’ll admit, I’ve restarted the pumps when they’ve timed out from my phone in the past to avoid floating over to the other side of the tub to do it on the control panel by hand. Efficiency at its best. Yes, it would be nice if it did have a little more functionality, like having a calendar to schedule periods of Rest (eco rather than always hot) throughout the week but this is possible with the later generations of Balboa WiFi control. To have later generations you would need an upgraded top (control) panel, control unit, and WiFi receiver. Overall, I’m pleased with this! Good work Balboa! ### 5/5 — Easy to use *2021-03-04, version 4.2* Great app, no issues with connectivity, easy to use. Only function missing is cleanup setting other than that no issues. Happy as ### 5/5 — Works fine Just needs some changes *2020-12-15, version 4.1* Works fine for me, does need some fixes. When you have logged in via cloud, dont keep prompting me for login details. The overall look of the app needs a overhaul, looks pretty dated. --- *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 2026-09-06.*