# Hue Essentials vs Schlage Abode

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hue Essentials at 38% against Schlage Abode's 0%. Hue Essentials also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and device support (5 vs 2). Schlage Abode's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Schlage Abode asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hue Essentials ships an update every 2 weeks, Schlage Abode every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hue Essentials | Schlage Abode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hue-essentials/id1462943921/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **138** | — |
| Positive reviews | **37.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 271 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Vos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462943920) | [Allegion (Australia) Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1510864626) |

## What reviewers say

### Hue Essentials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hue-essentials/id1462943921)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Effects: Christmas | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Universe | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Wonders of nature | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Romantic | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Floral fantasy | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Spooky | $0.99 | one-time |
| Multiple bridges | $4.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent Hue lighting control
- 👍 Works well with multiple bridges
- 💡 Customizable remote controls
- 🚀 Faster than official Hue app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔒 In-app purchases required for key features
- 👎 Poor execution and user experience
- 🔋 Widgets and Apple Watch app not working

**Reported bugs**

- Fade feature not working
- Saving automations not working
- Crashes when checking 'About' section
- Widgets and Apple Watch app issues

**Requested features**

- Repeat/loop function for automations
- Strobing/flashing effects
- Dark mode
- Alexa integration


### Schlage Abode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schlage-abode/id1519363307)

Control your smart lock remotely, manage guest access, and monitor activity. Schedule temporary access codes and receive notifications for peace of mind. Enhance your home security with keyless convenience.

**Highlights:** Keyless lock/unlock, Guest access code management, Scheduled access, Virtual key sharing, Activity log, Auto-lock scheduling, Low battery warnings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hue Essentials free?

Hue Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Schlage Abode free?

Schlage Abode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Hue Essentials or Schlage Abode have ads?

Neither Hue Essentials nor Schlage Abode shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hue Essentials or Schlage Abode?

Hue Essentials ships an update every 2 weeks, and Schlage Abode every 2 months. Most recently, Hue Essentials was updated on October 20, 2026 and Schlage Abode on October 1, 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.*