Comparison

ESP vs SmartLicht

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

Head to head
About

ESP

This utility app allows users to build and configure ESP-MESH networks, leveraging the ESP32 chip. It explores the capabilities of a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hybrid protocol for innovative wireless networking solutions. The app supports various ESP32-based hardware devices for smart home applications.

Highlights
  • Build and configure ESP-MESH networks
  • Explore ESP-MESH protocol capabilities
  • Utilize ESP32 chip for networking
  • Support for ESP32-MeshKit devices
  • Smart home lighting solutions
Features
Read full description

ESP-Mesh App is a tool for building and configuring ESP-MESH networks. The tool helps explore the potential of the ESP-MESH protocol developed by Espressif. ESP-MESH can be thought of as an extension of the Wi-Fi protocol. It combines the advantages of both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies to provide innovative solutions that make you re-think how wireless networks can be built using the same networking equipment. Since ESP-MESH has been designed for the ESP32 chip, you can use this protocol to network any hardware devices that incorporate ESP32, either available for purchase or created by you. Espressif offers a line of ESP-MESH hardware devices, called ESP32-MeshKit, to help you get started. This line is specifically designed with the goal to demonstrate the features of the ESP-MESH protocol. The number of available devices is steadily growing. Currently, ESP32-MeshKit includes: ESP32-MeshKit-Light - smart light bulbs. ESP32-MeshKit-Button - remote control with ultra-low power consumption for MeshKit-Light devices. ESP32-MeshKit-Sense - development board for controlling MeshKit peripherals based on the data from its multiple onboard sensors. When built into an ESP-MESH network, these devices present a ready-made solution for smart home lighting. For more details, please see https://github.com/espressif/esp-mdf The source code for the ESP-Mesh App can be found https://github.com/EspressifApp/EspMeshForiOS. It might be helpful in development of your own ESP-MESH applications.

About

SmartLicht

This app provides a professional intelligent lighting solution for homes and businesses. It integrates various protocols for seamless control and management of lighting systems, offering features like scene-based control and automation.

Highlights
  • Intelligent lighting system solution
  • Integrates DALI, KNX, BLE Mesh, Matter
  • SaaS management and control
  • Configuration and debugging
  • Mobile control for users and personnel
  • Scene-based lighting control
  • Automation creation
Features
Read full description

SmartLicht Intelligent Lighting System Solution is a professional intelligent lighting solution for high-end residences, villas, and commercial applications. To meet the needs of complex scenarios, the solution seamlessly integrates various protocols such as DALI, KNX, BLE Mesh and Matter. It provides a systematic upgrade to the DALI wired intelligent lighting system and realizes SaaS management and control of various devices in the DALI protocol. SmartLicht App is an application within the SmartLicht Intelligent Lighting System Solutions. It meets the configuration management, debugging, and mobile control needs of both construction personnel and users. The App supports: 1. Free control of devices and areas: Create various lighting effects according to your needs. 2. Control based on lighting scenes: Meet the lighting needs of different scenarios. 3. Create various types of automation: Realize the automatic upgrade of lighting control. 4. Support DALI device access to the Matter ecosystem: Perfectly integrate wired lighting products with the wireless IoT platform.

Screenshots

ESP4 screens
SmartLicht4 screens

Verdict

The call

ESP and SmartLicht are too close to call on the numbers: across 7 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

ESP ships an update every 2 months, SmartLicht every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
ESP versus SmartLicht: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterESPSmartLicht
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.312.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperESPRESSIF SYSTEMS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.深圳市智光系统技术有限公司

Customer experience

ESP

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

SmartLicht

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ESP

No in-app purchases

None

SmartLicht

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ESP free?
ESP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SmartLicht free?
SmartLicht is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ESP or SmartLicht have ads?
Neither ESP nor SmartLicht shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ESP or SmartLicht?
ESP ships an update every 2 months, and SmartLicht every 6 weeks. Most recently, ESP was updated on August 29, 2026 and SmartLicht on September 16, 2026.

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