# ESi Centro vs Halo Playback

The clearest difference is monetization model: Halo Playback at free against ESi Centro's paid. Halo Playback also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). ESi Centro's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, review sentiment, 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.

ESi Centro ships an update every 5 weeks, Halo Playback every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESi Centro | Halo Playback |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | **16.7% of reviews** | 10.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 28 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) | [SPACE DATA CENTRES LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1276150868) |

## 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


### Halo Playback

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-playback/id6572298272)

Access and download footage from your dash camera. This application allows you to adjust device settings for your Road Angel Halo Playback Dash Camera.

**Highlights:** View dash camera footage, Download dash camera footage, Adjust device settings, Compatible with Road Angel Halo Playback

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESi Centro free?

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

### Is Halo Playback free?

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

### Do ESi Centro or Halo Playback have ads?

Neither ESi Centro nor Halo Playback shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESi Centro or Halo Playback?

ESi Centro ships an update every 5 weeks, and Halo Playback every 4 months. Most recently, ESi Centro was updated on September 19, 2026 and Halo Playback on September 26, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*