# MRCOOL SmartHVAC vs Brightlayer Home

MRCOOL SmartHVAC and Brightlayer Home both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 49% of MRCOOL SmartHVAC's written reviews are positive against 30% of Brightlayer Home's. MRCOOL SmartHVAC also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 2.5K) and iOS requirement (13 vs 15.1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for MRCOOL SmartHVAC against 4.7 for Brightlayer Home. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12K and 2.5K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of MRCOOL SmartHVAC's written reviews are positive against 30% of Brightlayer Home's.

MRCOOL SmartHVAC ships an update every 4 weeks, Brightlayer Home every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MRCOOL SmartHVAC | Brightlayer Home |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mrcool-smarthvac/id1439162688/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightlayer-home/id1598965906/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 2.5K |
| Positive reviews | **49.4% of reviews** | 30.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 144 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cielo WiGle Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030282554) | [Eaton Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/439590491) |

## What reviewers say

### MRCOOL SmartHVAC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mrcool-smarthvac/id1439162688)

Transform your existing MRCOOL air conditioners and heat pumps into smart devices. Control your home's climate remotely via smartphone or voice commands, automate settings based on your location, and set personalized schedules for comfort and energy savings.

**Highlights:** Remote AC and heat pump control, Voice command integration (Alexa, Google Home), Location-based automation, Weekly scheduling, Usage history monitoring, Air filter status alerts, Intelligent temperature triggers ('Comfy' feature)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy installation
- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Effective heating and cooling
- 🚀 Quiet operation
- 🚀 Helpful customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent temperature readings
- 🐛 Unreliable scheduling and automation
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Lack of metric unit support
- 🐛 Confusing interface and controls

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently loses connection to unit
- Schedules not working as expected
- Temperature calibration issues
- Inconsistent behavior between app, remote, and unit

**Requested features**

- Add Celsius temperature option
- Improve scheduling functionality (set on and off times)
- Integrate remote temperature sensor
- Provide energy usage monitoring
- Allow multiple user accounts


### Brightlayer Home

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightlayer-home/id1598965906)

Monitor and control your home's power usage with smart breakers and wiring devices. Gain energy insights, set schedules for cost savings, and receive important notifications. Manage connected devices remotely and enhance security with features like vacation mode.

**Highlights:** Real-time energy insights, Historical energy usage data, Customizable energy-saving schedules, Remote device control, Out-of-ordinary activity notifications, Vacation mode for security, Voice control integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🚀 Seamless connection to devices
- 💡 Useful scheduling features
- 🔒 Secure remote control

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable device connectivity
- 🐛 Inconsistent scheduling functionality
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- 🤔 Lacking key features (e.g. EV charger support)

**Reported bugs**

- Schedules randomly disappearing
- Devices disconnecting from WiFi
- App login issues and account creation problems
- Incompatibility with certain WiFi routers

**Requested features**

- Add advanced scheduling options (e.g. if-then rules)
- Improve app stability and reliability
- Integrate with popular smart home platforms (e.g. Alexa, Google Home)
- Add support for more device types (e.g. EV chargers)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MRCOOL SmartHVAC free?

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

### Is Brightlayer Home free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MRCOOL SmartHVAC or Brightlayer Home?

Brightlayer Home is rated higher. MRCOOL SmartHVAC averages 4.7 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Brightlayer Home averages 4.7 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do MRCOOL SmartHVAC or Brightlayer Home have ads?

Neither MRCOOL SmartHVAC nor Brightlayer Home shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MRCOOL SmartHVAC or Brightlayer Home?

MRCOOL SmartHVAC ships an update every 4 weeks, and Brightlayer Home every 3 weeks. Most recently, MRCOOL SmartHVAC was updated on October 30, 2026 and Brightlayer Home on October 30, 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.*