Control4 for OS 3 vs MediaSwitcher for iOS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Control4 for OS 3
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a personal interface for your smart home. Control all connected devices, including lights, thermostats, security, and media, with a redesigned, personalized experience. Requires a Control4 Smart Home OS 3 system.
- Personalized user interface
- Control lights, thermostats, security
- Manage music and video
- Access favorites and room-specific settings
- Intuitive volume control
- Customizable room wallpapers
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This Control4 app is specifically designed to be used with Control4 Smart Homes running OS 3. It turns your iPhone or iPad into your personal user interface to control all your smart home devices. ------------ NOTE: Prior to using this app, your Control4 system must be updated to Control4 Smart Home OS 3 or later. If you are unsure of the software version on your system, check with your Control4 Dealer or login to your Control4 account at control4.com. ------------ Smart Home OS 3 was thoughtfully redesigned to make it more personal and the smart home OS of choice for families. It enables you to check on the status and control your entire smart home including music, video, lights, thermostats, security system, cameras, door locks, garage doors, pools, and much more. New features in OS 3 • Favorites give you fast access to the devices and sources that you use most • Quickly personalize the interface right from the app • Each room can have its own favorites for fast access to the things you use most • Hide icons that are less important, but easily access them through the room menu • Swipe between favorite rooms to quickly navigate around the home • Filtering lets you see all lights, locks and shades, or just those that are on, unlocked or open • All-new Active Media Bar shows what’s currently playing and gives you fast control of media • Easily adjust volume through a new, intuitive volume slider control • Background wallpapers for each room can now be easily changed right from the app Visit Control4.com to learn more, find a showroom near you, or find a independent professional integrator.
MediaSwitcher for iOS
Control your HD over IP video system with a familiar interface on iOS. Easily select video sources, manage AV devices via IR, and create custom control layouts. Push images to displays for instant recognition.
- HD over IP video system control
- Intuitive touch interface
- AV device control via IR
- Customizable remote panels
- Image Push technology
- Synchronized configuration
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Control your Just Add Power HD over IP video system using MediaSwitcher's familiar interface - now on iOS. Tap a screen icon and select your video source from the menu that shows up. It couldn't be much simpler. Control your AV devices using IR panels. Access your presets, groups and sequences. Control your video walls simply by dragging your finger across the screen! Unlike competing products we don't charge subscriptions to use our iOS app. MediaSwitcher for iOS also controls more than DirecTV - we work with and can control any device via IR, RS-232, HTTP, TCP/IP or CEC (some external hardware may be required)! Have unique remote control panels for each screen and source combination! Up to 122 buttons per remote panel! Custom control layout and with system drawings are available just like on desktop (see pictures). MediaSwitcher for iOS will use the same background image and control layout just like the desktop app. If the image/layout is larger than the screen, the screen scrolls. If you have a layer 3 compatible Just Add Power system, you can take images from your photo library or your camera and send them to any display in the system using our Image Push technology! Given instant recognition to your family, friends or customers! All configuration is done via MediaSwitcher Desktop (available for OS X, Windows and Linux from our website). A fully licensed copy of MediaSwitcher Desktop (standard license or higher) is required to use MediaSwitcher for iOS. Desktop version 4.3 or later required. Changes made in MediaSwitcher for iOS are automatically synchronized with our desktop and web software applications. Changes made in desktop or web are synchronized to IOS as well! We give you flexibility and convenience in a control system for a cost that is far less than anything else available. Limitations of iOS app compared to Desktop: - All configuration changes need to be performed on the desktop. This includes saving presets, groups, etc. - No image pull or MoreVue™ in version 1.0. This will be coming in future release - MediaSwitcher for iOS does not have a maintenance window like desktop - For Enterprise users, version 1 does not support user logins - all users currently have access to the full system. This will be addressed in a future release. - +4+ Control is not available yet. This will be added to a future release - Audio control for "plus" and "AVPro" devices not available in version 1.0 - will be added in a future release - TwoWay AV Devices have limited functionality compared to desktop. Our desktop app allows for use of a robust scripting language that is not allowed in iOS. - All scheduled automations still will require desktop or web to run (MediaSwitcher for iOS can run any automation that is programmed to a remote panel button. Questions, comments, feature requests and bug reports are all welcomed via our support email - support@justaddsoftware.net Please note: By using this software, you continue to accept the license terms granted you when you began using our desktop software. MediaSwitcher for iOS is sold as-is without any express or implied warranties.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MediaSwitcher for iOS at 5.0 against Control4 for OS 3's 3.0. MediaSwitcher for iOS also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Control4 for OS 3's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (577 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MediaSwitcher for iOS holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Control4 for OS 3 has 577 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Control4 for OS 3 ships an update fortnightly, MediaSwitcher for iOS every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Control4 for OS 3 | MediaSwitcher for iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (577 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 21.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 577 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 207 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Snap One, LLC | Just Add Software |
Customer experience
Control4 for OS 3
MediaSwitcher for iOS
Bugs and requests
Control4 for OS 3
Reported bugs
5 issues- Intercom and doorbell issues
- Thermostat controls not working as expected
- Inability to connect to the system remotely
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes
Requested features
5 requests- Apple Watch app support
- Better integration with Apple ecosystem
- Improved voice control and Alexa integration
- More customization options for users
- Faster and more responsive app performance
MediaSwitcher for iOS
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Control4 for OS 3
No in-app purchases
MediaSwitcher for iOS
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Control4 for OS 3 free?
Is MediaSwitcher for iOS free?
Which has better reviews, Control4 for OS 3 or MediaSwitcher for iOS?
Do Control4 for OS 3 or MediaSwitcher for iOS have ads?
Which is updated more often, Control4 for OS 3 or MediaSwitcher for iOS?
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