# Controller for HomeKit vs Refoss

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Refoss at 87% against Controller for HomeKit's 26%. Refoss also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and rating (4.5 vs 4.1). Controller for HomeKit's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (2.7K vs 125). On price 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. Refoss asks for nothing beyond the download.

Refoss holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Controller for HomeKit has 2.7K ratings behind it against 125, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Controller for HomeKit's written reviews are positive against 87% of Refoss's.

Controller for HomeKit ships an update every 10 days, Refoss every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Controller for HomeKit | Refoss |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727/reviews) | **[4.5 (125 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refoss/id1662335679/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.7K** | 125 |
| Positive reviews | 26.0% of reviews | **87.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 212 MB | 224 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [acasa Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/974663980) | [FLEXBEE HK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1655869340) |

## 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


### Refoss

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refoss/id1662335679)

Control and manage your home automation devices remotely. Schedule device operations, monitor their status, and integrate with voice assistants for hands-free control. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your electronics are managed efficiently.

**Highlights:** Remote on/off control, Automated work plans, Voice assistant integration, Device status monitoring, Manage smart plugs

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to set up
- 🚀 Works well
- 🚀 Reliable
- 🚀 Precise measurements
- 🚀 Responsive app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🐛 Incorrect status reporting
- 🐛 Buggy app
- 🐛 Unreliable door control
- 🐛 Confusing setup process

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently loses login credentials
- Incorrect door status reporting
- Failure to connect and control devices
- Outdated app version not allowing new features

**Requested features**

- Ability to set different electricity rates based on time of day and day of week
- More detailed energy consumption data (hourly/minute-level)
- Apple Watch app
- CarPlay integration
- Ability to pause/stop door operation mid-cycle


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Controller for HomeKit free?

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

### Is Refoss free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Controller for HomeKit or Refoss?

Refoss is rated higher. Controller for HomeKit averages 4.1 out of 5 from 2.7K ratings, while Refoss averages 4.5 from 125 ratings.

### Do Controller for HomeKit or Refoss have ads?

Neither Controller for HomeKit nor Refoss shows ads.

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

Controller for HomeKit ships an update every 10 days, and Refoss every 5 weeks. Most recently, Controller for HomeKit was updated on October 12, 2026 and Refoss on October 12, 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.*