Comparison

Hue Essentials vs Sleenova

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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.

About

Sleenova

Enhance your audio experience with intelligent ear muffs offering superior sound quality and smart features. Customize alarms with favorite music or nature sounds, enjoy noise cancellation, and manage device settings through a dedicated app.

Highlights
  • Customizable alarms with music/nature sounds
  • Advanced Bluetooth connectivity
  • Built-in noise cancellation
  • Real-time battery level display
  • Customizable button functions
  • Rich library of alarm sounds
Read full description

This is a pair of intelligent ear muffs designed specifically for music enthusiasts and lifestyle aficionados. It not only delivers exceptional sound quality but also integrates a variety of smart functions to make your daily use more convenient. With the dedicated app, you can easily set alarms and choose your favorite music or natural sounds as the alarm tone, ensuring that each morning starts with joy. The app offers a rich library of alarm sounds, ranging from soothing bird chirps to dynamic melodies, so there’s always one that suits your mood. The intelligent ear muffs use advanced Bluetooth connectivity technology to pair quickly and stably with your device, ensuring smooth music playback without interruptions. Additionally, the ear muffs feature built-in noise-cancellation functionality. With a single press, you can block out external noise and fully immerse yourself in your music. Moreover, the ear muffs support real-time battery level display, allowing you to keep track of the device’s status at all times and avoid the hassle of unexpected power loss. The buttons on the ear muffs can also be customized via the app, enabling you to set up operations according to your personal preferences for greater convenience. While the intelligent ear muffs do not support phone call answering functions, they focus on providing you with the ultimate music experience and life-assisting features. They allow you to better manage your daily life while enjoying music. Whether you are commuting, working out, or relaxing at home, the intelligent ear muffs are your perfect audio companion.

Screenshots

Hue Essentials4 screens
Sleenova4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hue Essentials at 4.2 against Sleenova's 2.0. Hue Essentials also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 0%) and ratings volume (143 vs 4). Sleenova's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hue Essentials holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hue Essentials has 143 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Hue Essentials's written reviews are positive against 0% of Sleenova's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hue Essentials ships an update every 2 weeks, Sleenova every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Hue Essentials versus Sleenova: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHue EssentialsSleenova
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (143 ratings) — better2.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews37.8% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings143 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size271 MB83 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas VosShenzhen Mingchao Technology Co. Ltd

Customer experience

Hue Essentials

All ratings138 ratings
Positive77.5%
Neutral7.2%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews241 reviews
Positive37.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative53.9%

Sleenova

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

Sleenova

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Hue Essentials

One-time8
  • Effects: Christmas$0.99
  • Effects: Universe$0.99
  • Effects: Wonders of nature$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Effects: Romantic$0.99
  • Effects: Floral fantasy$0.99
  • Effects: Spooky$0.99
  • Multiple bridges$4.99
  • Premium$7.99
None

Sleenova

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hue Essentials free?
Hue Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sleenova free?
Sleenova is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hue Essentials or Sleenova?
Hue Essentials is rated higher. Hue Essentials averages 4.2 out of 5 from 143 ratings, while Sleenova averages 2.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Hue Essentials or Sleenova have ads?
Neither Hue Essentials nor Sleenova shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hue Essentials or Sleenova?
Hue Essentials ships an update every 2 weeks, and Sleenova every 3 weeks. Most recently, Hue Essentials was updated on November 3, 2026 and Sleenova on October 30, 2026.

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