# Circle 1st generation vs Hubitat Elevation

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.

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 12, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Circle 1st generation | Hubitat Elevation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-1st-generation/id1037062934/reviews)** | [4.1 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hubitat-elevation/id6475358324/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **28K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | **25.2% of reviews** | 23.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 56 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Circle Media Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/950202222) | [Hubitat, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1367244703) |

## What reviewers say

### Circle 1st generation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-1st-generation/id1037062934)

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.

**Highlights:** Content filtering, Online time management, Device management, Customizable settings, Works with Circle 1st gen, Supports NETGEAR routers

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 🔒 Helpful for internet safety
- 👍 Customizable and flexible
- 💡 Allows controlling devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🔍 Difficult to set up and use
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Lacks important features
- 🔽 Slows down internet speed

**Reported bugs**

- Incompatible with certain routers
- Devices not detected properly
- Time limits not working as expected
- App crashes after iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Better device identification
- Easier profile management
- More granular time controls
- Remote access from anywhere


### Hubitat Elevation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hubitat-elevation/id6475358324)

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.

**Highlights:** Customizable home screen, Remote device management, Grid-based dashboards, Geofencing presence detection, Push notifications and alert history, Remote home monitoring

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Improved geofencing
- 👍 Snazzy new design
- 🚀 Faster and more reliable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on startup
- 🐛 Dashboards won't load
- 🐛 Unsupported devices
- 👎 Clunky and unintuitive UI
- 🐛 Notifications not working

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on selecting hub
- Home screen not updating
- Unable to add devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Restore old app functionality
- Better customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Circle 1st generation free?

Circle 1st generation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hubitat Elevation free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Circle 1st generation or Hubitat Elevation?

Circle 1st generation is rated higher. Circle 1st generation averages 4.6 out of 5 from 28K ratings, while Hubitat Elevation averages 4.1 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Circle 1st generation or Hubitat Elevation have ads?

Neither Circle 1st generation nor Hubitat Elevation shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Circle 1st generation or Hubitat Elevation?

Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, and Hubitat Elevation every 3 weeks. Most recently, Circle 1st generation was updated on November 12, 2026 and Hubitat Elevation on November 8, 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.*