# U vs BroadLink

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BroadLink at 58% against U's 12%. BroadLink also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.9) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 8). U's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). 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.

BroadLink holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BroadLink has 2.6K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of U's written reviews are positive against 58% of BroadLink's.

U ships an update every 5 months, BroadLink monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 10, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | U | BroadLink |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-control/id1230920915/reviews) | **[4.3 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/broadlink/id1450257910/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 12.3% of reviews | **57.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 82 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BFT SpA](https://appshunter.io/developer/699617160) | [Broadlink Co.,Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/714823084) |

## What reviewers say

### U

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-control/id1230920915)

Control your home's automated gates and systems remotely via your smartphone or tablet. Open, close, or stop automations from anywhere with an internet connection, and even set up automatic opening as you approach.

**Highlights:** Remote open/close/stop of automation systems, Real-time status monitoring, Automatic opening via GPS proximity, Scenario creation for multiple automations, Easy user function sharing, Administrator control over user access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### BroadLink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/broadlink/id1450257910)

Manage all your smart home devices from one place, anywhere in the world. Control lighting, appliances, security, and more with intelligent automation and one-button scene control. Features zero-configuration setup for compatible devices.

**Highlights:** Remote device management, Intelligent power control, Lighting control, IR and RF remote control, Security and sensor integration, Scene creation, Zero configuration device setup

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Works well with Alexa
- 💡 Consolidates multiple remotes
- 🔒 Secure connection
- 👍 Intuitive app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable device pairing
- 🐛 Buggy app updates
- 🔧 Difficult setup process
- 🔧 Confusing user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Scenes not working as expected
- Frequent app crashes
- Devices going offline randomly
- Alexa integration issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize button layouts
- Integration with more smart home platforms
- Improved scheduling and automation features
- Temperature display in Fahrenheit
- Backup and restore functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is U free?

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

### Is BroadLink free?

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

### Which has better reviews, U or BroadLink?

BroadLink is rated higher. U averages 1.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while BroadLink averages 4.3 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do U or BroadLink have ads?

Neither U nor BroadLink shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, U or BroadLink?

U ships an update every 5 months, and BroadLink monthly. Most recently, U was updated on August 10, 2026 and BroadLink on September 25, 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.*