Comparison

Vario vs Eltako GFA5

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

Head to head
About

Vario

Features
Read full description

Become a lighting designer in the privacy of your home. Create atmospheric coloured light or let your lighting automatically follow the natural course of the sun. Choose from a set of professionally pre-programmed light sequences or simply become creative at your own: With the App "Vario" and the control device "instalight Vario", impressing lighting creation proves a breeze. Main features: - Control of indoor and outdoor lighting - Control of coloured light with RGB or RGBW - White light with controllable colour temperature (Tunable White TW) - Dynamic light variations with up to 40 changes per second - Intuitive colour selection via colour picker or front camera of the iPhone - Storage of up to four user-defined light colours - Operation via iPhone and Apple Watch - Human Centric Lighting due to sun light simulation synchronised to the time of day - Combined profiles offer separate control of ambient- and general lighting - Automatic operation via internal timer with individual switch-on/-off times for all light scenes - Control interfaces: DALI, PWM, DMX, LEDTRIX Additional note: - Requires control device „instalight Vario“ (see www.insta.de/vario) - Commissioning of the control device via separate App "Vario Setup" (free)

About

Eltako GFA5

Control your home's blinds, lights, heating, and alarms with this smart home app. Set up custom rules and automations, and integrate devices from various manufacturers. Regular updates ensure your smart home controller stays current.

Highlights
  • Control blinds, lighting, heating, and alarms
  • Customizable rules and automations
  • Integrate third-party devices
  • Voice control via Amazon Echo and Google Assistant
  • Room, device, and favorite sorting
  • Intuitive setup with clear instructions
Features
Read full description

Und das hat sie zu bieten:  Sie übernimmt die Steuerung von Jalousien, Beleuchtung, Heizung/ Klima und Alarm im Gebäude. Umfangreiche Regeln und Automationen lassen sich mit Hilfe der komfortablen Bedienungsoberfläche individuell einstellen. Neben den Professional Smart Home-Produkten von Eltako, bietet sie auch die Möglichkeit eine ständig wachsende Anzahl an Geräten von anderen Herstellern zu integrieren.  Eine vollständige Datensicherung wird durch Backups und Abspeichern der Account-Konfiguration gewährleistet. Regelmäßige Updates halten den Smart Home-Controller stets aktuell. GFA5 ist eine App zur Steuerung des Eltako Controllers MiniSafe2, sowie aller daran angelernten Enocean-Funk-Komponenten. Ihr Zuhause wird mittels MiniSafe2 als Steuerzentrale schnell und unkompliziert in ein zentral zu bedienendes Smart Home verwandelt. Weitere Funktionen: - Sprachsteuerung über Amazon Echo und Google Assistant (Cloudanbindung). - schneller und dauerhaft kostenloser Fernzugriff - Leicht einzurichtende Regeln (Wenn/Dann) mit Auslöser (z. B. Sensoren, Gerätezuständen, Zeit, Astro) und mehrstufigen Bedingungen (Und/Oder) - Heizpläne und Zeitfunktionen sind schnell erstellt und übersichtlich angeordnet - unterschiedliche Einzelfunktionen, wie auch komfortable Szenensteuerung - Die komfortable Bedienoberfläche ist sortiert nach Räumen, Geräten, Favoriten - Intuitive Inbetriebnahme mit eindeutigen Anweisungen

Screenshots

Vario4 screens
Eltako GFA54 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Vario at none against Eltako GFA5's 2. Vario also leads on iOS requirement (8.2 vs 11.0). Eltako GFA5's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Eltako GFA5 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Vario asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vario ships an update every 8 months, Eltako GFA5 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Vario versus Eltako GFA5: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVarioEltako GFA5
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews—92.9% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.2 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB91 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInsta GmbHEltako GmbH

In-app purchases

None

Vario

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Eltako GFA5

One-time2
  • Cloud Dienste 12 Monate$29.99
  • Cloud Dienste 24 Monate$49.99

Questions

Is Vario free?
Vario is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Eltako GFA5 free?
Eltako GFA5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Vario or Eltako GFA5 have ads?
Neither Vario nor Eltako GFA5 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vario or Eltako GFA5?
Vario ships an update every 8 months, and Eltako GFA5 every 2 months. Most recently, Vario was updated on October 18, 2026 and Eltako GFA5 on October 23, 2026.

Other comparisons