# Controller for HomeKit vs iSmartgate Access

The clearest difference is rating: Controller for HomeKit at 4.1 against iSmartgate Access's 2.5. Controller for HomeKit also leads on ratings volume (2.7K vs 34) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). iSmartgate Access's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (14.4 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Controller for HomeKit sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. iSmartgate Access asks for nothing beyond the download.

Controller for HomeKit holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Controller for HomeKit has 2.7K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Controller for HomeKit's written reviews are positive against 23% of iSmartgate Access's.

Controller for HomeKit ships an update every 10 days, iSmartgate Access every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Controller for HomeKit | iSmartgate Access |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727/reviews)** | [2.5 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ismartgate-access/id1277087476/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.7K** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | **26.7% of reviews** | 23.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 210 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [acasa Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/974663980) | [PYKRS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1675021093) |

## What reviewers say

### Controller for HomeKit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727)

Enhance your smart home experience with advanced control and automation. Visualize your home with floor plans, track device performance with charts, and create complex automations tailored to your needs. Organize devices, store setup codes, and monitor your entire smart home ecosystem.

**Highlights:** Floor plan visualization with LiDAR, Device performance charts, Complex automations and workflows, Custom notifications, Smart folders and filters, Setup code storage, Device maintenance and logs

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Controller Essentials | $4.99 | per month |
| Essentials Lifetime - Plus Addon | $4.99 | per month |
| Controller Plus | $8.99 | per month |
| Essentials Lifetime - Plus Addon | $39.99 | per year |
| Controller Essentials | $39.99 | per year |
| Controller Plus | $79.99 | per year |
| Controller Essentials Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |
| Controller Essentials Lifetime | $139.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful automation features
- 📚 Helpful backup and restore functionality
- 🔍 Detailed logging and troubleshooting
- 🧠 Advanced HomeKit control and customization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crash-prone
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive UI

**Reported bugs**

- Backup and restore issues
- Disappearing automations and accessories
- Compatibility problems with iOS 16.2
- Slow performance and unresponsiveness

**Requested features**

- Improved documentation and tutorials
- Better integration with Apple Home app
- Support for more HomeKit device types
- Ability to customize automation triggers


### iSmartgate Access

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ismartgate-access/id1277087476)

Control and monitor your garage doors or gates remotely using your smart device. This app works with a separate iSmartgate device to provide status alerts, manage multiple doors, and integrate with smart home assistants.

**Highlights:** Remote garage door control, Garage door status alerts, HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT compatible, Supports multiple garage doors (PRO version), IP camera integration, Unlimited user access

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works with HomeKit
- 👍 Works with Apple Watch
- 👍 Saves time
- 👍 Good support when available
- 👍 Reliable when working

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and cumbersome app
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 Poor HomeKit integration
- 🐛 Baffling interface

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Login forms break password manager integration
- Automations stopped working after iOS updates (e.g., ios26, 16.2, 16.4, 18)
- Device stops responding after a few minutes
- Door sensor keeps losing connection

**Requested features**

- CarPlay integration
- Schedule open/close options
- Apple Watch app
- Ability to open gate partially (e.g., 20%)
- Add additional users/user menu access


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Controller for HomeKit free?

Controller for HomeKit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is iSmartgate Access free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Controller for HomeKit or iSmartgate Access?

Controller for HomeKit is rated higher. Controller for HomeKit averages 4.1 out of 5 from 2.7K ratings, while iSmartgate Access averages 2.5 from 34 ratings.

### Do Controller for HomeKit or iSmartgate Access have ads?

Neither Controller for HomeKit nor iSmartgate Access shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Controller for HomeKit or iSmartgate Access?

Controller for HomeKit ships an update every 10 days, and iSmartgate Access every 2 months. Most recently, Controller for HomeKit was updated on October 18, 2026 and iSmartgate Access on October 13, 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.*