Comparison

Third Reality vs Signals for HomeKit

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

Head to head
About

Third Reality

Control your home's lights and switches remotely with smart devices. This app allows you to configure hubs, add smart switches and bulbs, group devices for easy control, and set lighting schedules. Voice assistant integration is also supported.

Highlights
  • Remote control of lights and switches
  • Configure smart home hubs
  • Add and manage smart switches and bulbs
  • Group devices for unified control
  • Create lighting schedules
  • Voice assistant integration (Alexa, Google Home)
Features
Read full description

THE SIMPLIEST PATH TO A SMARTER HOME Take complete control of your home or apartment’s switches and lights from anywhere with the Reality Series of Smart Home devices. RealityAdapter connects all your Third Reality devices to your home network RealitySwitch turns any existing switch into a smart switch Set lights to reflect your mood with SmartBulbs Use RealityApp to configure and control your Smart Home RealityApp FEATURES Configure RealityAdapter hub to communicate with your home network and connect all Third Reality devices Add, name and configure RealitySwitches and RealityBulbs Group multiple devices to control from your smartphone with one button Create timers to control lighting schedules Connect Amazon Alexa or Google Home voice assistants to manage all your devices with voice commands Apple Notes: The app utilizes Location Services to record the location of your Remote Plus when you add it to your account and also when you ring it. Continue use of GPS or Bluetooth running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Signals for HomeKit

Utilize your HomeKit lights for silent communication within your home. Create custom light signals to announce events, get attention, or convey messages without shouting. Ideal for families or those with hearing impairments.

Highlights
  • Customizable light signals
  • Voice control with Siri Shortcuts
  • Widget support for quick triggers
  • Announce dinner time
  • Alert for shower time
  • Set light states after flashing
Features
Read full description

*** Featured by Shane Whatley - "Will let you flash any of your HomeKit lights.. and either set the light back to the original state… or set it to a new state after flash. Really cool stuff!" *** Featured on 9to5Mac.com - "as a dad of three, I need less noise in our house, so I am really enjoying using Signals for HomeKit" *** Featured on iMore.com - “create tons of distinct signals that cover scenarios like announcing dinner time, or letting someone know that they are taking a little too much time in the shower.” *** Featured on AppleInsider.com - "Our favorite tips and tricks for making the most out of Apple HomeKit" *** Featured on HomeKitNews.com - "save your lungs, and get this app" *** Featured on HomeKitHero.com - "clever way to get someone’s attention in your home" Communication at home takes many forms — we want more of the dinner-time conversations, but we could do with less of the loud knocking on doors, banging on ceilings, and shouting up stairs. If you have a HomeKit home, why not take advantage of it, and use your lights to help communicate? Introducing Signals for HomeKit, the best way to communicate in the home, without all the shouting. Signals works with any of your bulbs, switches or outlets with lights attached - have a kid who plays video games with headphones on? Just tap on their light to give it a few flashes. Take it to a new level with the Signals Plus In-App Purchase, and put some meaning behind your flashes: - Create a Time to Go Signal to flash the kids bedroom lights, and then set their night lights green - A Dinner Time Signal can pulse lights in the bedrooms and the office, and then set them to blue - Even setup a “GET DOWN HERE NOW” signal, to flash the kids’ lights red, and keep them that way! Trigger your Signals in multiple ways — in the app, with your voice or automations using Siri Shortcuts, or with our beautiful Widgets! Whether you have kids, or someone in the family with a hearing disability, Signals for HomeKit can help quiet things down, and keep the conversations face to face, rather than shouted through the house. Requirements - Any HomeKit equipped light bulb, switch or outlet. Switches or outlets must be configured with a light attached. HomeKit must already be configured. - Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. iOS 15 required. Usage Notes: - If you have a bulb or switch with a slow ramp/fade rate, try shortening this rate in the manufacturers app, if the flash isn't noticeable - if this doesn't work, please let us know at https://www.homemadeautomation.com/contact-us, so we can help find a solution!

Screenshots

Third Reality3 screens
Signals for HomeKit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Signals for HomeKit at 4.0 against Third Reality's 2.2. Signals for HomeKit also leads on review sentiment (36% vs 12%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). Third Reality's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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

Both are free to download. Signals for HomeKit sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Third Reality asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Signals for HomeKit holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 137 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of Third Reality's written reviews are positive against 36% of Signals for HomeKit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Third Reality ships an update every 3 months, Signals for HomeKit every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Third Reality versus Signals for HomeKit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThird RealitySignals for HomeKit
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (29 ratings)4.0 (137 ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.8% of reviews35.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings29137 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThird Reality, IncCoreBits LLC

Customer experience

Third Reality

All ratings26 ratings
Positive30.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative69.2%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive11.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.2%

Signals for HomeKit

All ratings138 ratings
Positive71.7%
Neutral6.5%
Negative21.7%
Written reviews81 reviews
Positive35.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative53.1%

Bugs and requests

Third Reality

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Signals for HomeKit

Reported bugs

36 issues
  • App becomes unresponsive
  • App freezes
  • Settings revert back after glitching
  • Does not recognize all HomeKit lights
  • Does not automate anything via the phone
Show 31 more
  • Inconsistent results with restoring Adaptive Lighting
  • Strobes in a startling way
  • Lights randomly change color during signals
  • End state of lights is incorrect
  • App does not work with MacBook Pro
  • App launch stalls at a blank screen
  • Lifx lights not viewable in the app
  • Flash duration doesn't update
  • App does not work consistently
  • App launch stalls
  • Gets a no response every time
  • App asks to review with every change
  • App gives message of 'Looking for lights'
  • Lights remain on when they should turn off
  • Shortcut errors when running
  • App doesn't work well
  • Very long delay time
  • Sometimes works, most times no
  • It'll flash your lights, maybe kind of
  • They may or may not return to their current state
  • Sometimes they'll stay bright
  • Sometimes they don't come on at all
  • App is garbage
  • Does not work
  • No response
  • Buggy and not really working
  • Poor execution
  • Not working. Junk
  • Garbage
  • Inconsistent & Unreliable
  • Buggy

Requested features

33 requests
  • Ability to create signals based on text messages
  • Support for all HomeKit lights
  • Link signals into Home or personal automation
  • Make setting brightness/color across all lights less tedious
  • Improve strobe effect to be less startling
Show 28 more
  • Create scenes in the Home app
  • Automate via iPhone
  • Unlock automations on Mac without extra purchase
  • Support for HomeKit automations
  • Improve free version functionality
  • Provide documentation and help
  • Add support for light groups
  • Implement extensible features like flashing between colors
  • Adjustable frequency slider for flash/strobe
  • Make pulse setting less imperceptible/faster
  • Fix issues with Lifx lights not showing up
  • Clarify Mac compatibility before purchase
  • Fix random color changes during signals
  • Ensure lights turn off as intended
  • Reliably restore original light state
  • Improve UI and make it more intuitive
  • Add sound recognition features for HomeKit
  • Allow adding to HomeKit scenes
  • Fix the 'Looking for lights' issue
  • Add family sharing for in-app purchases
  • Improve shortcuts integration for many lights
  • Support for HomeKit automations when sensors trigger
  • Allow flashing between a group of colors
  • Make the pulse setting more functional
  • Fix flash duration update issues
  • Make the app free or remove fees
  • Add dark mode
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard

In-app purchases

None

Third Reality

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Signals for HomeKit

One-time3
  • Signals Plus2 variants$4.99
  • Signals Automate$8.99
  • Signals Automate Plus$12.99

Questions

Is Third Reality free?
Third Reality is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Signals for HomeKit free?
Signals for HomeKit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Third Reality or Signals for HomeKit?
Signals for HomeKit is rated higher. Third Reality averages 2.2 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Signals for HomeKit averages 4.0 from 137 ratings.
Do Third Reality or Signals for HomeKit have ads?
Neither Third Reality nor Signals for HomeKit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Third Reality or Signals for HomeKit?
Third Reality ships an update every 3 months, and Signals for HomeKit every 5 weeks. Most recently, Third Reality was updated on October 22, 2026 and Signals for HomeKit on October 21, 2026.

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