Circle 1st generation vs Hubitat Elevation
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Circle 1st generation
Manage your family's online time and filter content with this app, designed to work with the Circle 1st gen device and select NETGEAR routers. It helps balance internet usage for connected devices on your home network.
- Content filtering
- Online time management
- Device management
- Customizable settings
- Works with Circle 1st gen
- Supports NETGEAR routers
Read full descriptionHide full description
Works with the Circle with Disney device and supported NETGEAR routers (Nighthawk and Orbi). Not compatible with the 2nd generation Circle Home Plus device. ABOUT CIRCLE: Circle products help families better manage time spent online. Filtering content and balancing online usage has never been easier. From devices on your home network, both wireless and wired to connected devices, Circle has you covered. Customizing Circle for your unique family is quick and easy. Circle’s mission is to improve families’ lives, online and off. Don’t have a Circle with Disney device or a supported NETGEAR router? Please visit www.meetcircle.com to learn more about our products. NEED HELP? If you have any questions, need help with Circle, or want to provide feedback, you can contact our Support Team at help@meetcircle.com or go to support.meetcircle.com NETGEAR OPTIONAL IN APP SUBSCRIPTION - Pricing & Terms Circle Premium (for supported NETGEAR routers) is an optional automatic renewing subscription. Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renewing is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of your current period. Current subscribers can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by visiting iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Privacy policy: https://meetcircle.com/privacy/ Terms of use: https://meetcircle.com/license/
Hubitat Elevation
Control your smart home devices from anywhere with this mobile application. Customize your home screen for quick access to favorites, manage lights, locks, and thermostats, and automate tasks using geofencing. Receive push notifications for important events and monitor your home's security remotely.
- Customizable home screen
- Remote device management
- Grid-based dashboards
- Geofencing presence detection
- Push notifications and alert history
- Remote home monitoring
Read full descriptionHide full description
Hubitat Elevation Mobile App: Seamless Smart Home Control Welcome to the future of smart home management. With the Hubitat Elevation Mobile App, you can effortlessly control your connected devices, whether you're at home or on the go. Simplify your experience, enhance automation, and enjoy the convenience of mobile control. Key Features: - Home: Customize your home screen to quickly access notifications and favorite devices for instant control. - Devices: Manage lights, locks, thermostats, and more from anywhere. Our app supports a vast range of devices from various manufacturers. - Dashboards: Enjoy a user-friendly, grid-based interface that offers quick access and easy customization for all your smart devices. - Geofence: Use your phone as a presence sensor. Enable geofencing to automate tasks based on your arrival or departure. - Notifications: Get push notifications for events and view alert history directly in the app. - Monitoring: Remotely monitor your home and manage security modes effortlessly with the Hubitat Safety Monitor app. Discover the difference with Hubitat Elevation and take control of your smart home like never before!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Circle 1st generation at 4.6 against Hubitat Elevation's 4.1. Circle 1st generation also leads on ratings volume (28K vs 1.2K) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 14.0). Hubitat Elevation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Circle 1st generation sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Hubitat Elevation asks for nothing beyond the download.
Circle 1st generation holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Circle 1st generation has 28K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Circle 1st generation's written reviews are positive against 24% of Hubitat Elevation's.
Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, Hubitat Elevation every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Circle 1st generation | Hubitat Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (28K ratings) — better | 4.1 (1.2K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.2% of reviews — better | 23.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 28K — better | 1.2K |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Circle Media Incorporated | Hubitat, Inc. |
Customer experience
Circle 1st generation
Hubitat Elevation
User reviews
Circle 1st generation
From 28K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works great
- 🔒 Helpful for internet safety
- 👍 Customizable and flexible
- 💡 Allows controlling devices
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🔍 Difficult to set up and use
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Lacks important features
- 🔽 Slows down internet speed
Hubitat Elevation
From 1.2K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Improved geofencing
- 👍 Snazzy new design
- 🚀 Faster and more reliable
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes on startup
- 🐛 Dashboards won't load
- 🐛 Unsupported devices
- 👎 Clunky and unintuitive UI
- 🐛 Notifications not working
Bugs and requests
Circle 1st generation
Reported bugs
4 issues- Incompatible with certain routers
- Devices not detected properly
- Time limits not working as expected
- App crashes after iOS updates
Requested features
4 requests- Better device identification
- Easier profile management
- More granular time controls
- Remote access from anywhere
Hubitat Elevation
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes on selecting hub
- Home screen not updating
- Unable to add devices
Requested features
3 requests- Dark mode option
- Restore old app functionality
- Better customization options
In-app purchases
Circle 1st generation
- Circle Premium NETGEAR monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
- Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly1 Month trial$49.991 Year
- Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly$49.991 Year
Hubitat Elevation
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Circle 1st generation free?
Is Hubitat Elevation free?
Which has better reviews, Circle 1st generation or Hubitat Elevation?
Do Circle 1st generation or Hubitat Elevation have ads?
Which is updated more often, Circle 1st generation or Hubitat Elevation?
Other comparisons
