# SmartThings vs Alpha Connect

The clearest difference is update cadence: SmartThings at monthly against Alpha Connect's every 6 months. SmartThings also leads on review sentiment (31% vs 7%) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). Alpha Connect's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

SmartThings ships an update monthly, Alpha Connect every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartThings | Alpha Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (809K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthings/id1222822904/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **809K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **31.1% of reviews** | 7.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 961 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/359580642) | [ALPHA THERM LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462783379) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartThings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthings/id1222822904)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Unify and manage all your smart home devices from a single application. Connect hundreds of brands, create custom scenes and routines, and control your home remotely. Monitor energy usage and even get meal planning assistance.

**Highlights:** Connect and control devices from multiple brands, Create custom scenes and routines, Remote home monitoring and control, Automated notifications and status updates, Voice control with Google Assistant, Energy tracking and saving features, Smart cooking and meal planning assistance

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Remote control functionality
- 📚 Laundry cycle recommendations
- 🤖 Automation and scheduling capabilities
- 🔧 Customizable settings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and crashes
- ⏱️ Slow and laggy performance
- 🔍 Difficulty connecting and configuring devices
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive user interface
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to add or remove devices
- Inconsistent device status updates
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to control TV without remote
- Improved photo/artwork management for Frame TV
- More advanced automation and scheduling options
- Better integration with other smart home platforms


### Alpha Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpha-connect/id1498706687)

Control your home heating system remotely from your smartphone. Adjust temperatures and manage your comfort from any location, offering convenience and energy savings.

**Highlights:** Remote heating control, Control from anywhere, Time-based adjustments, Temperature management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartThings free?

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

### Is Alpha Connect free?

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

### Do SmartThings or Alpha Connect have ads?

Neither SmartThings nor Alpha Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartThings or Alpha Connect?

SmartThings ships an update monthly, and Alpha Connect every 6 months. Most recently, SmartThings was updated on September 24, 2026 and Alpha Connect 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.*