# Ember vs Xthings Home(formerly U home)

The clearest difference is rating: Xthings Home(formerly U home) at 4.6 against Ember's 3.3. Xthings Home(formerly U home) also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 18%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Xthings Home(formerly U home) holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.5K and 8.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Ember's written reviews are positive against 52% of Xthings Home(formerly U home)'s.

Ember ships an update every 2 months, Xthings Home(formerly U home) every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ember | Xthings Home(formerly U home) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (7.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-temperature-control/id1147470931/reviews) | **[4.6 (8.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xthings-homeformerly-u-home/id1291627821/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7.5K | **8.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 17.6% of reviews | **52.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 63 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ember Technologies Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1063861447) | [XTHINGS INDUSTRY LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/967159122) |

## What reviewers say

### Ember

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-temperature-control/id1147470931)

This app allows you to precisely control the temperature of your hot beverages using a smart mug. Customize presets, receive notifications when your drink reaches the perfect temperature, and explore recipes. Personalize your mug settings for an enhanced drinking experience.

**Highlights:** Precise temperature control, Save temperature presets, Beverage recipes and blogs, Customizable notifications, Manage multiple mugs, Personalize mug settings

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Keeps drink at perfect temperature
- 🍵 Great for tea and coffee drinkers
- 🎨 Customizable LED light colors
- 🔋 Decent battery life when used properly
- 🤖 Apple Watch app integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 Requires frequent charging and docking
- 🔒 Forced account creation and login
- 🔄 Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity
- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent issues
- 🤔 Confusing app UI and controls

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently logs users out
- Mug disconnects from app randomly
- Firmware update process often fails
- App doesn't always detect liquid in mug
- Presets and settings get lost after updates

**Requested features**

- Battery level indicator on main screen
- Improved Apple Watch app functionality
- Wireless charging option
- Ability to lock temperature settings
- Automatic temperature adjustment based on volume


### Xthings Home(formerly U home)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xthings-homeformerly-u-home/id1291627821)

Manage all your smart home devices from a single app. Control smart locks, cameras, lights, and more, with features for automation, security alerts, and shared access. Experience enhanced connectivity and privacy in a unified ecosystem.

**Highlights:** Unified smart device management, Scene automation and routines, Shared home access and permissions, Real-time security alerts, Control smart locks, lights, cameras, and sensors, Two-way intercom functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great smartlock
- 🚀 Reliable and easy to use
- 🚀 Excellent device
- 🚀 Excelente producto
- 🚀 Capable lock that's easy to set up

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 Application en français svp
- 🔋 The only problem is that it does not have a warning for when battery is low
- 🐛 Usuarios temporales
- 🐛 Frustratingly Slow
- 🐛 Wifi connection is useless

**Reported bugs**

- Temporary users settings not saving
- Admin login issues after updates
- Inconsistent lock/unlock status reporting
- Bluetooth connectivity problems
- WiFi connectivity issues

**Requested features**

- Auto lock time extension
- More customizable auto lock settings
- Apple Home integration
- Alexa/Google Home integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ember free?

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

### Is Xthings Home(formerly U home) free?

Xthings Home(formerly U home) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Ember or Xthings Home(formerly U home)?

Xthings Home(formerly U home) is rated higher. Ember averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7.5K ratings, while Xthings Home(formerly U home) averages 4.6 from 8.1K ratings.

### Do Ember or Xthings Home(formerly U home) have ads?

Neither Ember nor Xthings Home(formerly U home) shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ember or Xthings Home(formerly U home)?

Ember ships an update every 2 months, and Xthings Home(formerly U home) every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ember was updated on November 1, 2026 and Xthings Home(formerly U home) on November 1, 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.*