# Winter Fireplace vs Controller for HomeKit

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Controller for HomeKit at 2.7K against Winter Fireplace's 206. Controller for HomeKit also leads on device support (5 vs 3). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Winter Fireplace sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Controller for HomeKit sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for Winter Fireplace against 4.1 for Controller for HomeKit. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Controller for HomeKit has 2.7K ratings behind it against 206, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of Winter Fireplace's written reviews are positive against 26% of Controller for HomeKit's.

Winter Fireplace ships an update every 2 weeks, Controller for HomeKit every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Winter Fireplace | Controller for HomeKit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/winter-fireplace/id1041703579/reviews) | **[4.1 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 206 | **2.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **30.6% of reviews** | 26.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 161 MB | 212 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Henry Glendening](https://appshunter.io/developer/975984954) | [acasa Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/974663980) |

## What reviewers say

### Winter Fireplace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/winter-fireplace/id1041703579)

Transform any space into a cozy haven with a vast library of 4K fireplace, candle, and campfire videos. Enjoy immersive soundscapes and seamless syncing across devices for relaxation, romance, or seasonal cheer.

**Highlights:** Extensive 4K fire video library, Diverse fire scene types, Immersive soundscapes, Favorites and history, iCloud syncing, AirPlay support

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Winter Fireplace Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Winter Fireplace Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Fireplace Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fireplace Pack 12 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fireplace Pack 1 - Originals | $3.99 | one-time |
| Fireplace Pack 4 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Fireplace Pack 8 - Frameless | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pack 11 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Fireplace Pack 9 - Christmas | $5.99 | one-time |
| Fireplace Pack 10 - Halloween | $5.99 | one-time |
| Mega Bundle | $12.99 | one-time |
| Unlock | $19.99 | one-time |


### Controller for HomeKit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727)

Enhance your smart home experience with advanced control and automation. Visualize your home with floor plans, track device performance with charts, and create complex automations tailored to your needs. Organize devices, store setup codes, and monitor your entire smart home ecosystem.

**Highlights:** Floor plan visualization with LiDAR, Device performance charts, Complex automations and workflows, Custom notifications, Smart folders and filters, Setup code storage, Device maintenance and logs

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Controller Essentials | $4.99 | per month |
| Essentials Lifetime - Plus Addon | $4.99 | per month |
| Controller Plus | $8.99 | per month |
| Controller Essentials | $39.99 | per year |
| Essentials Lifetime - Plus Addon | $39.99 | per year |
| Controller Plus | $79.99 | per year |
| Controller Essentials Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful automation features
- 📚 Helpful backup and restore functionality
- 🔍 Detailed logging and troubleshooting
- 🧠 Advanced HomeKit control and customization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crash-prone
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive UI

**Reported bugs**

- Backup and restore issues
- Disappearing automations and accessories
- Compatibility problems with iOS 16.2
- Slow performance and unresponsiveness

**Requested features**

- Improved documentation and tutorials
- Better integration with Apple Home app
- Support for more HomeKit device types
- Ability to customize automation triggers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Winter Fireplace free?

Winter Fireplace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Controller for HomeKit free?

Controller for HomeKit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Winter Fireplace or Controller for HomeKit?

Controller for HomeKit is rated higher. Winter Fireplace averages 4.0 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while Controller for HomeKit averages 4.1 from 2.7K ratings.

### Do Winter Fireplace or Controller for HomeKit have ads?

Neither Winter Fireplace nor Controller for HomeKit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Winter Fireplace or Controller for HomeKit?

Winter Fireplace ships an update every 2 weeks, and Controller for HomeKit every 10 days. Most recently, Winter Fireplace was updated on September 21, 2026 and Controller for HomeKit on September 26, 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.*