# Hubitat vs Shadetool

The clearest difference is rating: Hubitat at 2.8 against Shadetool's 1.0. Hubitat also leads on ratings volume (163 vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hubitat holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hubitat has 163 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Hubitat ships an update every 2 months, Shadetool every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on August 5, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hubitat | Shadetool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.8 (163 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hubitat/id1367244704/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadetool/id6476119369/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **163** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 28.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 29 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hubitat, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1367244703) | [Ningbo Dooya Mechanic & Electronic Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/573076253) |

## What reviewers say

### Hubitat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hubitat/id1367244704)

Control and monitor your smart home devices remotely. Set up location-based automation and receive important alerts directly to your phone. This app enhances your existing home automation system.

**Highlights:** Access Dashboards, Monitor and control devices, Arm/disarm Safety Monitor, Change Modes, Define Geofence for Presence, Receive Push Notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast local control and response times
- 🔒 Local-first architecture with optional cloud access
- 💡 Highly customizable and flexible platform
- 📱 Geofencing and presence detection capabilities
- 🎯 Excellent device compatibility and integrations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🎨 Outdated, clunky UI design (Windows 98 style)
- 📍 Geofencing unreliable and inconsistent
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain from location tracking
- ☁️ Cloud/remote access requires paid subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup consistently
- Geofence detection fails to send events to hub
- Geofence shows incorrect location (off by km)
- Login screen keyboard covers continue button
- App hangs at 'Loading User Data' screen

**Requested features**

- Native iOS app with proper UI/UX design
- Dark mode option
- Widget support for quick device access
- Ability to add/discover devices from mobile app
- Automation and scene creation from app


### Shadetool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadetool/id6476119369)

Easily set up and adjust motorized window coverings and hubs. Control upper/lower limits, favorite positions, and tilt ranges. Get motor status like signal strength and battery level.

**Highlights:** Set upper and lower limits, Adjust favorite position, Configure tilt range, View signal strength, Check battery level, Supports Matter system Fabric Share

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hubitat free?

Hubitat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shadetool free?

Shadetool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hubitat or Shadetool?

Hubitat is rated higher. Hubitat averages 2.8 out of 5 from 163 ratings, while Shadetool averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Hubitat or Shadetool have ads?

Neither Hubitat nor Shadetool shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hubitat or Shadetool?

Hubitat ships an update every 2 months, and Shadetool every 6 months. Most recently, Hubitat was updated on August 5, 2026 and Shadetool on September 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*