HueZapper for Philips Hue vs Hue Essentials
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HueZapper for Philips Hue
Control your Philips Hue lights with an intuitive interface. This app transforms your device into a remote surface for instant access to lights, allowing you to adjust brightness, color, and create custom scenes. Organize lights into zones and control multiple lights simultaneously.
- Instant light access via remote surface
- Adjust brightness and color
- Create and recall custom scenes
- Organize lights into zones
- Control multiple lights simultaneously
- Smart dimming feature
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HueZapper is an easy and intuitive app for Philips Hue smart lights. Forget complicated interfaces that require navigating through several screens just to find the light you want to turn on or off: with HueZapper your iPhone or iPad becomes a remote control surface where buttons and sliders allow instant access to your lights. Better yet, you can easily customize it to suit your preferences and needs. Organize your lights into zones and rearrange them as it makes most sense for you. Quickly and effortlessly turn on and off, adjust brightness and color of one or multiple lights simultaneously. Features "smart dimming" that feels like adjusting an incandescent or halogen lamp. Easily capture current light settings as a scene that can be recalled at any time at the tap of a button. Assign names and custom icons to scenes to find them in the blink of an eye. Define "linked lights" sets, so multiple lights can be controlled with one touch, as if they were wired to the same switch. The full-featured version is available as in-app purchase. You can try HueZapper for free and upgrade if you like it. Requirements: this app requires a Philips Hue bridge and compatible LED light bulbs, strips or other lighting accessories. Hue is a registered trademark of Signify N.V., Eindhoven, Netherlands. Please note that this app is neither provided nor maintained or in any way endorsed by Signify N.V. but merely uses the API provided by Philips Hue / Signify to control the Hue ecosystem products.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Hue Essentials at every 2 weeks against HueZapper for Philips Hue's every 2 months. Hue Essentials also leads on device support (5 vs 3). HueZapper for Philips Hue's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. HueZapper for Philips Hue sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for HueZapper for Philips Hue against 4.2 for Hue Essentials. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 138 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of HueZapper for Philips Hue's written reviews are positive against 38% of Hue Essentials's.
HueZapper for Philips Hue ships an update every 2 months, Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HueZapper for Philips Hue | Hue Essentials |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (47 ratings) | 4.2 (138 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 30.4% of reviews | 37.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 47 | 138 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 271 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Giulio Spelanzon | Thomas Vos |
Customer experience
HueZapper for Philips Hue
Hue Essentials
Bugs and requests
HueZapper for Philips Hue
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
HueZapper for Philips Hue
- Full Version$5.99
Hue Essentials
- Effects: Christmas$0.99
- Effects: Universe$0.99
- Effects: Wonders of nature$0.99
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- Effects: Romantic$0.99
- Effects: Floral fantasy$0.99
- Effects: Spooky$0.99
- Multiple bridges$4.99
- Premium$7.99
Questions
Is HueZapper for Philips Hue free?
Is Hue Essentials free?
Which has better reviews, HueZapper for Philips Hue or Hue Essentials?
Do HueZapper for Philips Hue or Hue Essentials have ads?
Which is updated more often, HueZapper for Philips Hue or Hue Essentials?
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