Comparison

HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS vs Hue Essentials

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS

Control and monitor your smart home devices with live 3D animations and AI-powered visual detection. Create custom scenes, manage multiple properties, and enjoy a user-friendly interface with voice tutorials. Backup and restore your configurations easily.

Highlights
  • BACnet Control Protocols
  • Live 3D Animated Device Values
  • AI Visual Device Detection
  • Live Alarm & Status Views
  • Dynamic 3D Animations
  • Scene Recorder
  • Multi-Site Control
Features
Read full description

HOS Smart Home BACnet is a full-featured BMS Automation App with support for BACnet Control protocols, compatible with almost every DDC, PLC, or any other BACnet Controllers. Providing Live values for all BACnet devices showing the actual 3D Animated image of the device with Live Values represent the actual percentage (or other units) of the device while it’s working (Live Edition). Ai technology visually detects all smart devices in your house using the devices camera live mode or the pre selected wallpaper (Live Edition). Live Alarm System & Status views shows many device status in animated 3D like Device Alarm, Device Fault Status, Device Out of Service and many more (Live Edition). Dynamic 3D Animation reacts exactly as it do in real world, like an AHU Fan that turns faster as the actual rotation speeding up (Live Edition). Hi Quality Sound Effects reflects the real sound of each smart device as it operates in real world, Like opening and closing a Valve or faucet, turning on/off a light switch, rotating a thermostat knob and many for HVAC units (Live Edition). One touch Scene recorder allow you to store 4 presets of all BACnet devices together on each zone so it’s like 24 scenes for each room. Improved Apple Watch Presets/Scenes playing recorded Scenes for BACnet. Designed to control multiple sites, houses and properties at the same time so if you have a summer house and a winter hut you may control and monitor both from same app on your touch device iPhone/iPad, Apple Watch or AppleTV. WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Got) technology allow you to use your iPhone/iPad camera to add real rooms / devices photos / skins to be controlled by a simple touch. VR (Virtual Reality) simulate the exact actions of the real push button wall / in-line switches in your room with a set-up easier than setting a channel on your conventional TV. Multi Layers Option Allowing you to Add A transparent layer of alpha pictures on each others to build your own unique custom room design making home control real & more user friendly. One on one voice assisted live tutorial makes it easy for the average house owner to understand the basics of building a smart home control panel using HOS Live. A dedicated library of rooms profiles and Animated remote controls skins professionally designed to meet with most modern houses rooms, devices and BMS standards. Backup and Restore your Smart Houses profiles on your iCloud as well as your personal computer (no other system do) never been as easy. The software is an apple iOS or TVOS application that is configured and controlled from anywhere in the world with any iOS, WatchOS or TVOS device. This is an all devices App (iPhone/iPad, Apple Watch, and AppleTV) which means you can pay for one device and download the app for all other devices for free. HOS is designed to control thermostats, sensors, fans, actuators, pumps, dampers, water valves, light switches, door locks, audio / video equipment, cameras, garage doors, energy monitors and much more. With a dedicated library of rooms profiles and Animated remote controls skins professionally designed to meet with most modern BMS/SCADA networks, devices and standards. Main Features: - Controls light, wall / inline switches, thermostats, door locks, garage doors, water valves, energy monitors, environmental sensors, cameras and more! - Runs all DDC, PLC, or any other BACnet Controllers. - Multi profiles allowing you to control as many BMS’s as you wish from one iOS device. - WYSIWYG (what you see is what you got) technology allow you to use your iPhone/iPad camera to add real rooms/devices photos / skins to be controlled by a simple touch. - User friendly animated customized on screen switches simulate the exact actions of the real push button wall / in-line switches with a set-up easier than setting a channel on your conventional TV. - Advanced monitor / control view checks indoor / outdoor temperature, humidity, and electricity consumption.

About

Hue Essentials

Unlock the full potential of your smart lighting system. Create custom scenes, dynamic effects, and automate your lights with schedules and triggers. Control multiple smart home bridges and devices seamlessly for a personalized ambiance.

Highlights
  • Custom scenes and effects
  • Music and entertainment sync
  • Sunrise/sunset automation
  • Multi-bridge control
  • Device discovery and setup
  • Button and sensor automation
  • Away from home control
Features
Read full description

Imagine unlimited possibilities in your smart home. Set scenes and fast effects to your mood. Experience Dance Sensation in your entertainment area with Philips Hue Entertainment. Feel more in control with schedules and automation from sunrise to sunset. Control multiple bridges simultaneously without switching between them. Supported devices • Philips Hue bridge • Philips Hue Bluetooth lights • deCONZ (ConBee) • diyHue • LIFX Scenes & effects Create the perfect ambiance from your photos or the included photo library. Experience special animations like lava, fireplace, fireworks, or lightning. Wake up at sunrise and go to sleep at sunset with fading lights. Get into the party on the beats of your music. Sync your lights for a night of disco with strobe effects (updates 25 times/sec). Quick access Create rooms and groups to organize your lights. You can even put a light in several groups. Smart lights & controls The unique ‘Touchlink’ search allows you to find new (3rd party, Zigbee) lights. Use included wizards for easy setup of your devices. You can set scenes, actions, or even multiple scenes on a button to make your switch a real investment. Experience the right ambiance during different times of your day with your motion sensor. All of your creations are stored on the bridge. Easy for you and your family. Advanced Automation allows you to have greater control of your smart home. Turn on your lights when the door opens. Adjust your ventilation when the humidity gets too high. Open or close blinds and curtains based on temperature or sunshine. Make it look like you are at home using 'Away from Home' (out of home control). Communicate directly with your Hue bridge using the API debugger. View technical details of your Hue bridge and update its resources like lights and sensors. You want it all? Fast performance with ad-free experience. Purchase the premium version to unlock full content.

Screenshots

HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS4 screens
Hue Essentials4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Hue Essentials at Free against HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS's $9.99. Hue Essentials also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.0) and review sentiment (38% vs 0%). HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS's advantage is iOS requirement (13.6 vs 15.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Hue Essentials is free to download; HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS costs $9.99 up front. HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hue Essentials holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hue Essentials has 144 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS's written reviews are positive against 38% of Hue Essentials's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS ships an update every 5 weeks, Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS versus Hue Essentials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHOS Smart Home BACnet BMSHue Essentials
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)4.2 (144 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews37.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1144 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.6 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB271 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAhmed El-BermawyThomas Vos

Customer experience

HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Hue Essentials

All ratings138 ratings
Positive77.5%
Neutral7.2%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews241 reviews
Positive37.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative53.9%

Bugs and requests

HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Hue Essentials

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Fade feature not working
  • Saving automations not working
  • Crashes when checking 'About' section
  • Widgets and Apple Watch app issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Repeat/loop function for automations
  • Strobing/flashing effects
  • Dark mode
  • Alexa integration

In-app purchases

5 purchases

HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS

One-time5
  • Live Animation & Sound Effects$9.99
  • HOS for HomeKit Plugin$9.99
  • HOS for KNX Plugin$9.99
Show 2 more
  • IP Controllers Plugin$9.99
  • digitalSTROM Plugin$9.99
8 purchases

Hue Essentials

One-time8
  • Effects: Christmas$0.99
  • Effects: Universe$0.99
  • Effects: Wonders of nature$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Effects: Romantic$0.99
  • Effects: Floral fantasy$0.99
  • Effects: Spooky$0.99
  • Multiple bridges$4.99
  • Premium$7.99

Questions

Is HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS free?
HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Hue Essentials free?
Hue Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS or Hue Essentials?
Hue Essentials is rated higher. HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Hue Essentials averages 4.2 from 144 ratings.
Do HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS or Hue Essentials have ads?
Neither HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS nor Hue Essentials shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS or Hue Essentials?
HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS ships an update every 5 weeks, and Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. Most recently, HOS Smart Home BACnet BMS was updated on November 6, 2026 and Hue Essentials on November 6, 2026.

Other comparisons