# ecobee SmartBuildings vs UniFi Access

The clearest difference is review sentiment: UniFi Access at 60% against ecobee SmartBuildings's 16%. UniFi Access also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.1) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 30). ecobee SmartBuildings's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.0). 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.

UniFi Access holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UniFi Access has 5.2K ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of ecobee SmartBuildings's written reviews are positive against 60% of UniFi Access's.

ecobee SmartBuildings ships an update every 5 weeks, UniFi Access every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ecobee SmartBuildings | UniFi Access |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ecobee-smartbuildings/id1437536049/reviews) | **[4.9 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unifi-access/id1578429007/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 30 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 15.8% of reviews | **59.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 25 MB | 280 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ecobee Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/339159188) | [Ubiquiti Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/683620863) |

## What reviewers say

### ecobee SmartBuildings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ecobee-smartbuildings/id1437536049)

Manage multiple thermostats across various business locations remotely. Receive alerts for temperature and HVAC equipment, and adjust settings on the go. This app provides centralized control for multi-site businesses.

**Highlights:** View all building thermostats in one place, Remote thermostat control, Temperature and HVAC equipment alerts, Modify comfort settings on the go, Switch HVAC system modes remotely

**In-app purchases:** none


### UniFi Access

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unifi-access/id1578429007)

Manage your entire access control system remotely. Oversee doors, users, readers, and security policies. View real-time activity logs and receive doorbell notifications.

**Highlights:** Manage connected doors and security policies, Oversee user rosters and access methods, Configure reader devices and greeting messages, View real-time access event logs, Receive doorbell notifications, Grant remote access to visitors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Works great
- 🔒 Secure access control
- 💡 Useful features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Missing key features
- 💻 Lack of iPad/desktop support
- 🔔 Notification issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Notifications not working
- Remote login issues
- Outdated information in app

**Requested features**

- Integrate with Unifi Protect
- Add schedule management in app
- Allow door hold open/timer controls
- Improve camera/intercom integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ecobee SmartBuildings free?

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

### Is UniFi Access free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ecobee SmartBuildings or UniFi Access?

UniFi Access is rated higher. ecobee SmartBuildings averages 2.1 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while UniFi Access averages 4.9 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do ecobee SmartBuildings or UniFi Access have ads?

Neither ecobee SmartBuildings nor UniFi Access shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ecobee SmartBuildings or UniFi Access?

ecobee SmartBuildings ships an update every 5 weeks, and UniFi Access every 2 weeks. Most recently, ecobee SmartBuildings was updated on October 24, 2026 and UniFi Access on October 31, 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.*