# Home Assistant vs AlcaStars

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Home Assistant at 4K against AlcaStars's 1. Home Assistant also leads on device support (4 vs 2). AlcaStars's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

AlcaStars holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Home Assistant has 4K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Home Assistant ships an update every 10 days, AlcaStars every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Home Assistant | AlcaStars |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/home-assistant/id1099568401/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alcastars/id6774830071/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 54.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 232 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nabu Casa, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525301324) | [ALCA Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6774830073) |

## What reviewers say

### Home Assistant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/home-assistant/id1099568401)

Control your smart home devices from anywhere with this open-source solution. Automate routines, monitor your home's status, and integrate thousands of devices for enhanced privacy and sustainability.

**Highlights:** Control thousands of smart devices, Automate home routines, Discover and configure new devices, Securely share location for automation, Receive home status notifications, Build custom widgets, Integrate with voice assistants

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### AlcaStars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alcastars/id6774830071)

Discover local businesses, earn points with every visit, and redeem them for real rewards. This platform connects you with restaurants, cafes, and services in your neighborhood, while also keeping you informed about local events and recommendations from community influencers.

**Highlights:** Local business directory, Points-based rewards program, Discover local events, Follow community influencers, Become a community creator

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Home Assistant free?

Home Assistant is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AlcaStars free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Home Assistant or AlcaStars?

AlcaStars is rated higher. Home Assistant averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4K ratings, while AlcaStars averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Home Assistant or AlcaStars have ads?

Neither Home Assistant nor AlcaStars shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Home Assistant or AlcaStars?

Home Assistant ships an update every 10 days, and AlcaStars every 3 days. Most recently, Home Assistant was updated on November 2, 2026 and AlcaStars on October 31, 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.*