Comparison

CFX vs Hue Essentials

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CFX

Monitor and control your compatible fridge/freezer remotely via Wi-Fi. Adjust temperatures, manage power sources, set alarms, and receive alerts for lid openings. Ideal for managing your portable cooling device from a distance.

Highlights
  • Remote temperature control and monitoring
  • Turn fridge/freezer on/off
  • Set battery protection level
  • Select temperature units (°C/°F)
  • Set temperature alarms
  • View power source (AC/DC)
  • Lid open alerts
Features
Read full description

Total CFX monitoring and control at your fingertips! The CFX APP can be used to monitor and control your CFX fridge/freezer from a distance providing you can connect your IPhone to the CFX using Wi-Fi connection. Use the CFX APP to: • Control and monitor temperatures remotely (Wi-Fi connection, distance depends on environment) • Turn on and off the CFX and/or individual compartments • Set your battery protection level • Select temperature unit (°C or °F) • Set temperature alarm (+/-3°C or +/-5°C) • See what power source your CFX is running on – AC or DC • See what the supply voltage level is if running on DC • See whenever your CFX lid is open, and be alerted if open for >3mins. • Change Wi-Fi name and password The CFX APPs works for the following set of CFX models; CFX35W, CFX40W, CFX50W, CFX65W, CFX95DZW and CFX100W. A quick connection guide is available in order to quickly get you connected and started with your CFX APP.

About

Hue Essentials

Unlock the full potential of your smart lighting system. Create custom scenes, dynamic effects, and automate your lights with schedules and triggers. Control multiple smart home bridges and devices seamlessly for a personalized ambiance.

Highlights
  • Custom scenes and effects
  • Music and entertainment sync
  • Sunrise/sunset automation
  • Multi-bridge control
  • Device discovery and setup
  • Button and sensor automation
  • Away from home control
Features
Read full description

Imagine unlimited possibilities in your smart home. Set scenes and fast effects to your mood. Experience Dance Sensation in your entertainment area with Philips Hue Entertainment. Feel more in control with schedules and automation from sunrise to sunset. Control multiple bridges simultaneously without switching between them. Supported devices • Philips Hue bridge • Philips Hue Bluetooth lights • deCONZ (ConBee) • diyHue • LIFX Scenes & effects Create the perfect ambiance from your photos or the included photo library. Experience special animations like lava, fireplace, fireworks, or lightning. Wake up at sunrise and go to sleep at sunset with fading lights. Get into the party on the beats of your music. Sync your lights for a night of disco with strobe effects (updates 25 times/sec). Quick access Create rooms and groups to organize your lights. You can even put a light in several groups. Smart lights & controls The unique ‘Touchlink’ search allows you to find new (3rd party, Zigbee) lights. Use included wizards for easy setup of your devices. You can set scenes, actions, or even multiple scenes on a button to make your switch a real investment. Experience the right ambiance during different times of your day with your motion sensor. All of your creations are stored on the bridge. Easy for you and your family. Advanced Automation allows you to have greater control of your smart home. Turn on your lights when the door opens. Adjust your ventilation when the humidity gets too high. Open or close blinds and curtains based on temperature or sunshine. Make it look like you are at home using 'Away from Home' (out of home control). Communicate directly with your Hue bridge using the API debugger. View technical details of your Hue bridge and update its resources like lights and sensors. You want it all? Fast performance with ad-free experience. Purchase the premium version to unlock full content.

Screenshots

CFX4 screens
Hue Essentials4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hue Essentials at 4.2 against CFX's 1.2. Hue Essentials also leads on review sentiment (37% vs 11%) and device support (5 vs 3). CFX's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. CFX asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hue Essentials holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 117 and 138 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of CFX's written reviews are positive against 37% of Hue Essentials's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CFX ships an update weekly, Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
CFX versus Hue Essentials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCFXHue Essentials
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.2 (117 ratings)4.2 (138 ratings) — better
Positive reviews10.9% of reviews37.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings117138 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS9.3 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB271 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDometic Group ABThomas Vos

Customer experience

CFX

All ratings117 ratings
Positive3.4%
Neutral4.3%
Negative92.3%
Written reviews129 reviews
Positive10.9%
Neutral6.2%
Negative82.9%

Hue Essentials

All ratings138 ratings
Positive77.5%
Neutral7.2%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews239 reviews
Positive37.2%
Neutral8.4%
Negative54.4%

User reviews

CFX

From 117 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✅ Simple and intuitive interface when working
  • 🎯 Effective temperature and settings control
  • ⚡ Quick setup for some users
  • 📱 Basic functionality operates as designed

Room to improve

  • 🐛 WiFi connection fails consistently
  • 🐛 Bluetooth pairing not recognized
  • 🐛 App stuck on connection guide screen
  • 🐛 App freezes at startup
  • 📵 WiFi connection disables cellular/internet access

Hue Essentials

From 138 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent Hue lighting control
  • 👍 Works well with multiple bridges
  • 💡 Customizable remote controls
  • 🚀 Faster than official Hue app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 🔒 In-app purchases required for key features
  • 👎 Poor execution and user experience
  • 🔋 Widgets and Apple Watch app not working

Bugs and requests

CFX

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • App does not recognize WiFi connection despite phone showing connected
  • Bluetooth search fails to detect cooler
  • App stuck on connection guide as only available option
  • App crashes on startup
  • App freezes during setup process
Show 10 more
  • Cannot get past step 3 of setup
  • Temperature slider snaps back to 0 when setting negative values
  • Plus/minus buttons don't work consistently
  • App crashes when attempting WiFi connection
  • WiFi drops in and out intermittently
  • App doesn't appear in phone settings
  • Voltage readings significantly inaccurate (0.2-0.6V lower than actual)
  • App incompatible with newer iOS versions
  • App incompatible with newer iPhone models
  • Wrong app being promoted (should be 'Mobile Cooling' app instead)

Requested features

7 requests
  • Bluetooth connectivity option
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Better visual indicators for fridge section status
  • Improved temperature slider with precise control
  • Battery consumption tracking
Show 2 more
  • Current draw monitoring
  • Automatic WiFi connection without manual setup

Hue Essentials

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Fade feature not working
  • Saving automations not working
  • Crashes when checking 'About' section
  • Widgets and Apple Watch app issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Repeat/loop function for automations
  • Strobing/flashing effects
  • Dark mode
  • Alexa integration

In-app purchases

None

CFX

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Hue Essentials

One-time8
  • Effects: Christmas$0.99
  • Effects: Universe$0.99
  • Effects: Wonders of nature$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Effects: Romantic$0.99
  • Effects: Floral fantasy$0.99
  • Effects: Spooky$0.99
  • Multiple bridges$4.99
  • Premium$7.99

Questions

Is CFX free?
CFX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hue Essentials free?
Hue Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CFX or Hue Essentials?
Hue Essentials is rated higher. CFX averages 1.2 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while Hue Essentials averages 4.2 from 138 ratings.
Do CFX or Hue Essentials have ads?
Neither CFX nor Hue Essentials shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CFX or Hue Essentials?
CFX ships an update weekly, and Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. Most recently, CFX was updated on October 4, 2026 and Hue Essentials on October 3, 2026.

Other comparisons