M1 Touch Cloud vs Hue Essentials
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
M1 Touch Cloud
Control your M1 or EZ panel remotely from your iOS device. Manage security, lighting, and thermostats with real-time status updates and notifications. Supports multiple users and offers flexible monthly or annual in-app purchases for cloud service.
- Remote M1/EZ panel control
- Real-time zone and output status
- Arm/disarm security system
- Lighting and thermostat control
- Push notifications
- Cloud connection (no port forwarding)
- Multiple family member access
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Controlling your Ness / Elk M1 or EZ8 / EZ24 panel couldn't be any easier with the M1 Touch Cloud App. Giving you the ultimate hand held communication to your M1 using your iOS Smartphone. The M1 Touch Cloud App gives you control from anywhere in the world over the M1 Cloud service. Multiple family members can sign in from there smartphone, (no need to pay multiple times) and control the M1. Small in-app purchase fee is required per M1 per month due to servers that need to be managed each month. Annual in-app purchases available in case you don't want to purchase it monthly. Features supported in this version include; - Cloud Connection (no port forwarding or static IP address required) - Push Notifications - Arm and Disarm Status - Quick Arming - Activate Keypad Chime button - Function Keys - Easy switching between areas - Easy switching between keypads - Live status of Zones - View Zone Voltage - By-pass Zones (Zone must be programmed to allow bypassing) - View live output status - Toggle Outputs on/off - Momentary activate output (turn on for 2 seconds) - Output Timer allowing you to turn the output on for a x amount of time - Live Lighting status - Toggle Light on/off - Dim Light (light needs to be a dimmable light and must be programmed to allow dimming) - Light Timer allowing you to turn the light on for a x amount of time - View Temperatures Probes - View Keypad Temperatures - View and control thermostats - Activate Tasks that have been programmed in the controller - Cloud based event log If you run into any issues while setting up the app, then feel free to email us and we are more than happy to assist.
Hue Essentials
Unlock the full potential of your smart lighting system. Create custom scenes, dynamic effects, and automate your lights with schedules and triggers. Control multiple smart home bridges and devices seamlessly for a personalized ambiance.
- Custom scenes and effects
- Music and entertainment sync
- Sunrise/sunset automation
- Multi-bridge control
- Device discovery and setup
- Button and sensor automation
- Away from home control
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Imagine unlimited possibilities in your smart home. Set scenes and fast effects to your mood. Experience Dance Sensation in your entertainment area with Philips Hue Entertainment. Feel more in control with schedules and automation from sunrise to sunset. Control multiple bridges simultaneously without switching between them. Supported devices • Philips Hue bridge • Philips Hue Bluetooth lights • deCONZ (ConBee) • diyHue • LIFX Scenes & effects Create the perfect ambiance from your photos or the included photo library. Experience special animations like lava, fireplace, fireworks, or lightning. Wake up at sunrise and go to sleep at sunset with fading lights. Get into the party on the beats of your music. Sync your lights for a night of disco with strobe effects (updates 25 times/sec). Quick access Create rooms and groups to organize your lights. You can even put a light in several groups. Smart lights & controls The unique ‘Touchlink’ search allows you to find new (3rd party, Zigbee) lights. Use included wizards for easy setup of your devices. You can set scenes, actions, or even multiple scenes on a button to make your switch a real investment. Experience the right ambiance during different times of your day with your motion sensor. All of your creations are stored on the bridge. Easy for you and your family. Advanced Automation allows you to have greater control of your smart home. Turn on your lights when the door opens. Adjust your ventilation when the humidity gets too high. Open or close blinds and curtains based on temperature or sunshine. Make it look like you are at home using 'Away from Home' (out of home control). Communicate directly with your Hue bridge using the API debugger. View technical details of your Hue bridge and update its resources like lights and sensors. You want it all? Fast performance with ad-free experience. Purchase the premium version to unlock full content.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: M1 Touch Cloud at 71% against Hue Essentials's 37%. M1 Touch Cloud also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Hue Essentials's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and rating (4.1 vs 3.8). 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
Both are free to download. M1 Touch Cloud sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Hue Essentials holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hue Essentials has 133 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of M1 Touch Cloud's written reviews are positive against 37% of Hue Essentials's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
M1 Touch Cloud ships an update every 2 months, Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | M1 Touch Cloud | Hue Essentials |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (11 ratings) | 4.1 (133 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.6% of reviews — better | 37.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 11 | 133 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 269 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PlanetM1 Cloud Pty Ltd | Thomas Vos |
Customer experience
M1 Touch Cloud
Hue Essentials
Bugs and requests
M1 Touch Cloud
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Hue Essentials
Reported bugs
4 issues- Fade feature not working
- Saving automations not working
- Crashes when checking 'About' section
- Widgets and Apple Watch app issues
Requested features
4 requests- Repeat/loop function for automations
- Strobing/flashing effects
- Dark mode
- Alexa integration
In-app purchases
M1 Touch Cloud
- 30 Day Connection$2.99
- 120 Day Connection$9.99
- 365 Day Connection$25.99
Hue Essentials
- Effects: Christmas$0.99
- Effects: Universe$0.99
- Effects: Wonders of nature$0.99
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- Effects: Romantic$0.99
- Effects: Floral fantasy$0.99
- Effects: Spooky$0.99
- Multiple bridges$4.99
- Premium$7.99
Questions
Is M1 Touch Cloud free?
Is Hue Essentials free?
Which has better reviews, M1 Touch Cloud or Hue Essentials?
Do M1 Touch Cloud or Hue Essentials have ads?
Which is updated more often, M1 Touch Cloud or Hue Essentials?
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