Visual Home vs MQTT
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Visual Home
Unify and control your smart home devices from a single dashboard. Visualize data from various sources and trigger actions on connected devices. Offers advanced features through an optional subscription.
- Unified dashboard for smart home data
- Control connected devices
- Support for Philips Hue, HomeKit, Homematic, and more
- MQTT and HTTP REST client
- JavaScript Lambda functions
- Homescreen widgets
- Favorites management
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Visual displays the data from different sources on an unified dashboard. In addition it allows controlling and triggering actions on connected devices. Directly supported are currently - Philips Hue - HomeKit - Homematic - Ezcontrol XS1 - HTML Widgets - Open Weather Map - PVOutput.org The more experienced user can also use - MQTT Client (Subscribe, Publish) - HTTP REST Client - JavaScript Lambda functions # Information on HomeKit Visual offers to visualize the values of all HomeKit accessories with readable characteristics and scalar data formats (e.g. integer, float). In addition Visual can set values to writable characteristics with scalar data formats. # Information on the In-App purchase • This App offers an auto-renewing subscription "Advanced Features" that unlock extended features: - JavaScript Lambda functions - Search and filter datapoints - Trigger scenes defined in the Philips Hue bridge - Debug logging for all endpoints - Multi column dashboard - Homescreen Widgets - Favorites • This In-App purchase is an auto-renewing subscription • The subscription duration is 1 month • For the price please check the In-App purchase details on AppStore or in the App itself • Your iTunes account will be charged for the purchase at the time of subscription purchase. • The subscription is renewed automatically, unless the automatic renewal is terminated at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. • Your iTunes account will be charged the same amount as the original subscription within 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. • Subscriptions can be managed and auto-renewal can be disabled in your iTunes account after the original purchase.
MQTT
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The app has a control range with the ability to control between zero and five lights and doors, depending on the use case. By means of a red-green indicator, the user is shown the connection status of the server. In the settings area of the app the server connection details can be entered. Depending on the use case, the controls for the lights or doors can be switched on and off. For the individual lights and doors, the corresponding theme as well as the message can be set. In addition, further settings for the transmission can be selected.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MQTT at none against Visual Home's 1. MQTT also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). Visual Home's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 11 months). 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
Both are free to download. Visual Home sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.49 per month. MQTT asks for nothing beyond the download.
Visual Home ships an update every 4 months, MQTT every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on August 25, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Visual Home | MQTT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 12.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andreas Binner | Marco Gasser |
In-app purchases
Visual Home
- Advanced Features$1.491 Month
MQTT
No in-app purchases








