# Controller for HomeKit vs Author CONNECT

The clearest difference is rating: Controller for HomeKit at 4.1 against Author CONNECT's 1.8. Controller for HomeKit also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (2.8K vs 4). Author CONNECT's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and review sentiment (44% vs 29%). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Controller for HomeKit sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Author CONNECT asks for nothing beyond the download.

Controller for HomeKit holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Controller for HomeKit has 2.8K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of Controller for HomeKit's written reviews are positive against 44% of Author CONNECT's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Controller for HomeKit ships an update every 2 weeks, Author CONNECT every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Controller for HomeKit | Author CONNECT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727/reviews)** | [1.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/author-connect/id1394124230/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 28.7% of reviews | **44.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 232 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [acasa Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/974663980) | [AUTHOR-ALARM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1344731145) |

## 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, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Controller Essentials | $4.99 | per month |
| Controller Plus | $8.99 | per month |
| Controller Essentials | $39.99 | per year |
| Controller Plus | $79.99 | per year |
| Controller Plus Lifetime | $179.99 | 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


### Author CONNECT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/author-connect/id1394124230)

Monitor your vehicle's status and location remotely. Control anti-theft systems, start the engine, and track key parameters. View event logs and trip history for enhanced car management and security.

**Highlights:** Remote IGLA anti-theft system management, Remote engine start and blocking, Scheduled engine autostart, Remote car parameter monitoring, Car location tracking, Trip recording and viewing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Controller for HomeKit free?

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

### Is Author CONNECT free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Controller for HomeKit or Author CONNECT?

Controller for HomeKit is rated higher. Controller for HomeKit averages 4.1 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while Author CONNECT averages 1.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do Controller for HomeKit or Author CONNECT have ads?

Neither Controller for HomeKit nor Author CONNECT shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Controller for HomeKit or Author CONNECT?

Controller for HomeKit ships an update every 2 weeks, and Author CONNECT every 4 months. Most recently, Controller for HomeKit was updated on November 9, 2026 and Author CONNECT on November 2, 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.*