Comparison

TwinCAT IoT Communicator vs Visual Home

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

Head to head
About

TwinCAT IoT Communicator

Easily transmit process data from TwinCAT controllers to various devices, monitor status changes, and send information back to machines. This tool connects your controller to a messaging service for seamless communication between PLC and mobile operating systems.

Highlights
  • Transmit process data
  • Monitor status changes
  • Send information back to machine
  • Connect TwinCAT controller to messaging service
  • Publish-subscribe pattern integration
  • Easy IT network integration
Features
Read full description

The TwinCAT 3 IoT Communicator ("TF6730") makes it possible to easily transmit process data to multiple end devices, monitor status changes and send information back to the machine. The TwinCAT 3 IoT Communicator connects the TwinCAT controller to a messaging service, making it easy to set it up within the TwinCAT engineering environment to send and receive messages between the PLC and mobile operating systems. Since the TwinCAT 3 IoT Communicator is based on the publish-subscribe pattern, it does not require any special firewall settings but can be easily integrated into an existing IT network. More information: http://www.beckhoff.com/TF6730 http://www.beckhoff.com/TF6735

About

Visual Home

Unify and control your smart home devices from a single dashboard. Visualize data from various sources and trigger actions on connected devices. Offers advanced features through an optional subscription.

Highlights
  • Unified dashboard for smart home data
  • Control connected devices
  • Support for Philips Hue, HomeKit, Homematic, and more
  • MQTT and HTTP REST client
  • JavaScript Lambda functions
  • Homescreen widgets
  • Favorites management
Features
Read full description

Visual displays the data from different sources on an unified dashboard. In addition it allows controlling and triggering actions on connected devices. Directly supported are currently - Philips Hue - HomeKit - Homematic - Ezcontrol XS1 - HTML Widgets - Open Weather Map - PVOutput.org The more experienced user can also use - MQTT Client (Subscribe, Publish) - HTTP REST Client - JavaScript Lambda functions # Information on HomeKit Visual offers to visualize the values of all HomeKit accessories with readable characteristics and scalar data formats (e.g. integer, float). In addition Visual can set values to writable characteristics with scalar data formats. # Information on the In-App purchase • This App offers an auto-renewing subscription "Advanced Features" that unlock extended features: - JavaScript Lambda functions - Search and filter datapoints - Trigger scenes defined in the Philips Hue bridge - Debug logging for all endpoints - Multi column dashboard - Homescreen Widgets - Favorites • This In-App purchase is an auto-renewing subscription • The subscription duration is 1 month • For the price please check the In-App purchase details on AppStore or in the App itself • Your iTunes account will be charged for the purchase at the time of subscription purchase. • The subscription is renewed automatically, unless the automatic renewal is terminated at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. • Your iTunes account will be charged the same amount as the original subscription within 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. • Subscriptions can be managed and auto-renewal can be disabled in your iTunes account after the original purchase.

Screenshots

TwinCAT IoT Communicator4 screens
Visual Home4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TwinCAT IoT Communicator at 5.0 against Visual Home's 1.0. TwinCAT IoT Communicator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 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. Visual Home sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.49 per month. TwinCAT IoT Communicator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TwinCAT IoT Communicator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TwinCAT IoT Communicator ships an update every 2 months, Visual Home every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on August 10, 2026 and August 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
TwinCAT IoT Communicator versus Visual Home: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTwinCAT IoT CommunicatorVisual Home
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—12.5% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size116 MB9 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBeckhoff Automation GmbHAndreas Binner

Customer experience

TwinCAT IoT Communicator

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Visual Home

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive12.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative87.5%

In-app purchases

None

TwinCAT IoT Communicator

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Visual Home

Subscriptions1
  • Advanced Features$1.491 Month

Questions

Is TwinCAT IoT Communicator free?
TwinCAT IoT Communicator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Visual Home free?
Visual Home is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TwinCAT IoT Communicator or Visual Home?
TwinCAT IoT Communicator is rated higher. TwinCAT IoT Communicator averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Visual Home averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do TwinCAT IoT Communicator or Visual Home have ads?
Neither TwinCAT IoT Communicator nor Visual Home shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TwinCAT IoT Communicator or Visual Home?
TwinCAT IoT Communicator ships an update every 2 months, and Visual Home every 4 months. Most recently, TwinCAT IoT Communicator was updated on August 10, 2026 and Visual Home on August 25, 2026.

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