# ESi Centro vs TCP Smart

The clearest difference is monetization model: TCP Smart at free against ESi Centro's paid. TCP Smart also leads on review sentiment (39% vs 17%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). ESi Centro's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

ESi Centro ships an update every 5 weeks, TCP Smart every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and June 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESi Centro | TCP Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.1 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcp-smart/id1400601542/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **66** |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **39.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 224 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ESI Controls Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1151779580) | [TCPi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1433496154) |

## What reviewers say

### ESi Centro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esi-centro/id1151779581)

Control your home's heating and cooling remotely with this smart thermostat. It offers sophisticated energy-saving features for enhanced comfort and control.

**Highlights:** Programmable room thermostat, Quick installation, Easy to use, Energy saving features, High level of control, Enhanced comfort

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works well once connected
- 👍 Basic functionality is good
- 👍 Integration with Alexa works well
- 👍 App works perfectly fine
- 👍 Basic functionality is generally good

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Painful connection process
- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 App cannot find thermostat
- 🐛 Nightmare to connect
- 🐛 Barely works, sometimes not at all

**Reported bugs**

- Connection issues after updates
- App cannot find thermostat
- 5GHz WiFi issues
- Setup requires turning off 5GHz WiFi
- Permissions not requested at outset

**Requested features**

- Option to rename devices
- 15/30 minute boost on heating
- Option for a 15/30 minute boost on heating
- Option to remove Hot Water for combi-boiler users
- Option to rename thermostats


### TCP Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcp-smart/id1400601542)

Effortlessly connect and control your smart home devices from anywhere. Share access with family members and manage multiple devices through a single application. Schedule timers for automated actions.

**Highlights:** Easy connecting and controlling, Remote device control, Family device sharing, Multi-device management, Timer scheduling

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 💡 Affordable smart home devices
- 🎨 Wide color and brightness options
- 📱 Convenient remote control via app
- ⚡ Reliable performance when working

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnection issues
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- ❌ Poor remote access functionality
- ❌ Inconsistent device status display
- ⚠️ Unreliable after app updates

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to connect to devices remotely
- Unable to establish secure connection error
- Devices show incorrect status on home screen
- App crashes when changing colors
- Devices randomly disconnect and flash

**Requested features**

- Dark mode for app interface
- iOS 18 widget support
- iPad app version
- Siri integration and HomeKit compatibility
- Improved schedule and timer functionality with minute/hour options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESi Centro free?

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

### Is TCP Smart free?

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

### Do ESi Centro or TCP Smart have ads?

Neither ESi Centro nor TCP Smart shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESi Centro or TCP Smart?

ESi Centro ships an update every 5 weeks, and TCP Smart every 3 months. Most recently, ESi Centro was updated on September 19, 2026 and TCP Smart on June 8, 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.*