Hue Essentials vs VeggiePatch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
VeggiePatch
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VeggiePatch – Your companion planting planner for garden, balcony and raised beds Discover the tradition of companion planting – a centuries-old, proven growing method for a healthy, natural and sustainable garden. What VeggiePatch offers • No subscription: Pay once and use all features permanently. • Overview of good, neutral and bad plant companions for vegetables, herbs and berries • Helpful tips for combining plant species to create a healthy, diverse garden • Suitable for garden beds, raised beds, containers and balconies – and all growing situations where more than one plant shares space • Continuously expanded and updated plant database based on horticultural sources and practical experience • Display of common and botanical plant names Why companion planting? Companion planting is based on the deliberate interaction of different plant species. These natural relationships can improve nutrient cycles in the soil, reduce pests, support plant growth and strengthen soil life. Some plants – such as beans – enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefiting neighboring heavy feeders. Shallow- and deep-rooted plants use different soil layers and do not compete directly. Herbs can repel unwanted insects with their essential oils or attract beneficial pollinators through their scent. Plant diversity also helps prevent one-sided soil depletion, which often occurs in monocultures. Fallow periods can be reduced or avoided altogether. The result is a resilient, balanced garden with stable long-term yields – without synthetic inputs. Scientifically grounded and practical The recommendations in VeggiePatch are based on established horticultural literature, permaculture approaches, educational materials from organic farming and the experience of long-time gardeners. The focus is always on clarity and practical usability – whether you are just starting out or already experienced. Sowing and planting times All time references in VeggiePatch are based on the temperate climate of Central Europe (e.g. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux). In other climates, altitudes or regions, ideal planting windows may differ significantly. Please adapt your planning to local conditions. Your garden grows – and VeggiePatch grows with you The plant database is regularly expanded and updated to include new species, varieties and combinations. We emphasize quality, practical relevance and diversity – from classic vegetables to lesser-known herbs and berries. Feedback welcome VeggiePatch thrives on shared experience and real gardening practice. Missing a plant or combination? Have suggestions or corrections? We welcome your feedback via email directly from the app. Together, we make VeggiePatch even more helpful – from companion planting enthusiast to companion planting enthusiast.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Hue Essentials at Free against VeggiePatch's $5.99. Hue Essentials also leads on device support (5 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). VeggiePatch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On ads 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
Hue Essentials is free to download; VeggiePatch costs $5.99 up front. Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. VeggiePatch asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Hue Essentials | VeggiePatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $5.99 |
| Rating | 4.2 (138 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 37.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 138 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 271 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thomas Vos | Ingo Panz |
Bugs and 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
VeggiePatch
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
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
VeggiePatch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hue Essentials free?
Is VeggiePatch free?
Do Hue Essentials or VeggiePatch have ads?
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