Comparison

Bright vs HM | DC

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

Head to head
About

Bright

Track your electricity and gas usage in real-time from your smart meters. This app helps you manage energy consumption and spend more efficiently, contributing to carbon reduction goals. Requires compatible hardware for full functionality.

Highlights
  • Real-time energy consumption monitoring
  • Electricity and gas usage tracking
  • Smart meter data access via DCC or CAD
  • Clamp-on sensor support for electricity
  • Energy spend management
  • Carbon efficiency goals
Features
Read full description

Monitor your energy consumption anytime, anywhere with Bright. For real-time data you need Glowmarkt compatible hardware (https://shop.glowmarkt.com/) - which works with either smart or traditional meters. People with SMETS2 (or E&A SMETS 1) meters can access their half hourly data with Bright for free, once they go through our verification process. Bright lets you check your energy consumption, this could be electricity and gas usage from your smart meters, via the DCC or our Consumer Access Device (CAD). Clamp-on technology sensors can support electricity usage monitoring. Our goal is to help you manage your energy consumption and spend more efficiently as we all strive to become more carbon efficient. To see our Frequently Asked Questions go to: https://glowmarkt.com/#/faqs/apps For more information or any questions please contact: support@glowmarkt.com Join the Glow community (https://forum.glowmarkt.com/).

About

HM | DC

Control your model train DC layout wirelessly using Bluetooth. Manage multiple circuits, locomotive speed, braking, sounds, and accessories like signals and lights. Plan your track layouts with an integrated builder.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth low energy control
  • Independent control of 2 circuits
  • Locomotive speed and braking control
  • Loco sound and inertia features
  • Accessory control (signals, lights)
  • Integrated track layout planner
Features
Read full description

App Based Analogue Control From now on there is no need for the controller to be tethered to the track because by using Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology Hornby’s HM6000 control system can operate a DC layout with consummate ease. The HM6000 system not only provides simple control of two circuits but also features inertia and braking control, loco sounds, minimum and maximum speed control plus an intuitive layout planning feature Utilising both Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Bluetooth Mesh Network architecture, developed by Hornby, the HM6000 provides a stable and responsive system that becomes increasingly efficient the more a model layout develops. The App based HM|DC system is built around two pieces of hardware which form the key elements of the set up and these are the HM6000 App Circuit Controller and the HM6010 App Operating Accessory unit. The HM6000 is paired with the HM|DC application on a smartphone or tablet and provides control of up to 2 circuits independent of each other. Up to 4 HM6000 units can be linked to the application which consequently provides control of 8 independent circuits via one device be it a smartphone or tablet. Similarly, the HM6010 is also paired with the HM|DC application on a smartphone or tablet and that in turn allows for the control of up to 4 accessories be they continuous current such as used for lighting or a quick burst of power used to operate a point motor. Up to three HM6010 units can be linked to the application providing control of up to twelve accessories from one smartphone or tablet. Locomotive Control The HM6000 DC application is simple and straightforward to use and includes many features not included in other DC controllers, for example, the HM6000 not only controls a locomotives speed and direction but also the braking of the model which can be incrementally applied. An ‘Emergency Stop & Resume’ function are also featured to immediately halt all circuits at the touch of a virtual button, this allowing for an effective pause time to alter settings before resuming with new settings in place. Accessory Control The HM6010 DC operating accessory unit provides multiple ways of controlling accessories including those that require a constant current or others that function from receiving a short burst of power. HM6010 allows the user to flick between Red, Green or Off for signal lights, On or Off for street or model house lighting plus providing constant power for accessories such as turntables. Points and certain other accessories require a quick pulse of current and this too can be provided by the HM6010 App. These operations can be activated via the dedicated accessories screen on a smartphone or tablet or through using the accessory toolbar that is integrated into the circuit control screen. Track Builder Integrated into the HM|DC application is a very useful function that provides the facility to plan and build numerous layouts while at the same time listing the components required as the virtual layout takes shape. Short Circuit Detection An innovative and rapid short circuit detection system included in the HM6000 software can quickly detect a short circuit and providing that the short has been removed, the system can once again become ‘live’ with a touch of a virtual button. Such a function can prove to be very useful should a locomotive move from one circuit to another which may be operating with opposite polarities. Such an action will cause a short circuit which can quickly and easily be corrected by altering a directional button on the circuit control screen. R7292 - HM6000 App Circuit Control • Controls 2 circuits* • Speed control • Includes 18 individual locomotive sounds • Track builder *Control up to 8 circuits – additional HM6000 controllers required.

Screenshots

Bright4 screens
HM | DC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bright at every 2 months against HM | DC's every 9 months. HM | DC's advantage is review sentiment (70% vs 50%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bright ships an update every 2 months, HM | DC every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Bright versus HM | DC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrightHM | DC
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews70.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHILDEBRAND TECHNOLOGY LTDHornby Hobbies Ltd

Customer experience

Bright

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral4.5%
Negative45.5%

HM | DC

Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Bright

Reported bugs

28 issues
  • App crashes
  • Data not loading
  • Login issues
  • Registration errors
  • Password reset emails not received
Show 23 more
  • Graphs too tall for screen
  • Inconsistent billing data
  • App stopped working
  • Tariff information outdated
  • Login issues with password managers
  • Slow data loading
  • Gas cost not showing
  • Comparison views broken
  • Font changed to Times New Roman
  • Doesn't remember login
  • App won't load anything on iOS 15.3
  • Duplicate meters showing
  • Server outage caused no data
  • Smart meter display not recognized
  • Authentication details not sent
  • Login button not clickable until character re-typed
  • Comparison views broken
  • Gas Tariff not found
  • App won't work on IOS 15.3
  • Doesn't remember login
  • Login button not clickable until character re-typed
  • Gas Tariff not found
  • App won't work on IOS 15.3

Requested features

8 requests
  • Export data (CSV)
  • More data analysis
  • iOS widget
  • Support for dual-rate electricity tariffs (Economy 7)
  • Apple Watch version
Show 3 more
  • Ability for customer to override incorrect supplier data
  • Face-ID login
  • Live gas usage in graphical fashion

HM | DC

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Bright

No in-app purchases

None

HM | DC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bright free?
Bright is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HM | DC free?
HM | DC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Bright or HM | DC have ads?
Neither Bright nor HM | DC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bright or HM | DC?
Bright ships an update every 2 months, and HM | DC every 9 months. Most recently, Bright was updated on September 29, 2026 and HM | DC on September 30, 2026.

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