Comparison

The Shade Store V2 vs Control4

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

Head to head
About

The Shade Store V2

Control your motorized shades, blinds, and drapery remotely. Set custom positions, schedule timers for natural light, and group treatments by room or individually. Requires a wireless link accessory.

Highlights
  • Motorized shade, blind, and drapery control
  • Set up to 30 shade configurations
  • Schedule automatic timers
  • Control shades individually or in groups
  • Remote control from anywhere
Features
Read full description

Personalize your motorized Shades, Blinds and Drapery for the way you live: Synchronize multiple products, set your favorite positions and schedule timers from your iPhone and iPad. Important note: App must be used with The Shade Store Wireless Link, available to purchase at https://www.theshadestore.com/collections/motorized-window-treatments KEY FEATURES: - Compatible with motorized Shades, Blinds and Drapery by The Shade Store - Up to 30 configurations for Shades: Set your own, group by room or select from various preset heights - Schedule automatic timers to manage natural light throughout the day - Position Shades individually or in groups - Not at home? No problem. The Shade Store App lets you control your window treatments no matter where you are.

About

Control4

Manage your smart home devices like lighting, music, and security from a single, intuitive interface. Customize your home screen and create automated routines for seamless control. Integrates with Apple HomeKit for Siri voice commands.

Highlights
  • All-in-one home screen control
  • Customizable favorites and widgets
  • Automated routines and scenes
  • Multiroom entertainment management
  • Live camera views and security alerts
  • Apple HomeKit and Siri integration
Features
Read full description

Easily manage your smart home with a sleek, intuitive interface. Control lighting, shades, music, security, and more—all from one place. Customize your home screen and create personalized routines for quick, seamless access. Now with enhanced features, including Siri voice control through Apple HomeKit. Contact a Control4 integrator to experience Control4 X4 today. NOTE: Prior to using this app, your Control4 system must be updated to Control4 X4 or later. If you are unsure of the software version of our system, check with your Control4 Integrator or log into your Control4 account at control4.com. A Smarter, More Personalized Experience • All-in-One Home Screen – Your central hub for controlling your favorite devices. Manage lighting, motorized shades, music, video, thermostats, security, cameras, door locks, garage doors, and more. See real-time status updates, access favorite devices, and control everything with ease. • Customizable Favorites – Pin the devices and controls you use most for instant access. • Quick Actions & Widgets – Resize, reorder, and organize widgets for seamless control over lighting, security cameras, and more. Personalized to You • Routines & Scenes – Save time by automating your day with pre-set routines for the morning, evening, or any moment in between. • Timers & Schedules – Set outdoor lights to turn on at sunset, TVs to turn off at bedtime, or security to arm at a set time. • Multiroom Entertainment – Control music and video in every room from one app. Play your favorite streaming services or set TVs to turn on when you walk in. Easy Control, Inside and Out • Live Camera Views – Monitor security cameras in real time and receive instant alerts. • Apple HomeKit Integration – Control your space with Siri, Apple Widgets, and CarPlay.* apple store only • Smart Notifications – Stay informed with alerts for doorbell rings, motion sensors, or security events. With the Control4 App, your space works the way you want it to — simplifying your life with effortless control. Download today and experience personalized automation like never before! *HomeKit, Siri, CarPlay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.

Screenshots

The Shade Store V24 screens
Control44 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Control4 at fortnightly against The Shade Store V2's every 5 months. Control4 also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 15%). The Shade Store V2's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Shade Store V2 ships an update every 5 months, Control4 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
The Shade Store V2 versus Control4: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Shade Store V2Control4
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.5 (72 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.8% of reviews38.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—72 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB253 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Shade Store, LLC.Snap One, LLC

Customer experience

The Shade Store V2

Written reviews115 reviews
Positive14.8%
Neutral6.1%
Negative79.1%

Control4

All ratings72 ratings
Positive58.3%
Neutral6.9%
Negative34.7%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive38.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative55.9%

Bugs and requests

The Shade Store V2

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • App loses all saved devices after hub unplugging
  • Shades randomly disappear from app
  • Hub won't reconnect after power outages
  • Firmware requires frequent soft resets
  • App stuck in endless pairing loop
Show 10 more
  • HomeKit status doesn't update properly
  • Scenes and timers randomly deleted
  • Hub offline despite blue light indicator
  • Shades fail to pair consistently
  • Battery status shows 'low battery' incorrectly
  • App crashes during setup at timezone selection
  • Devices unpairing after being added
  • Hub connection drops after iOS updates
  • Grouped shades stop responding together
  • App won't connect to hub despite HomeKit recognition

Requested features

10 requests
  • Battery percentage display in app
  • Sunrise/sunset timer functionality
  • Labeled buttons during setup process
  • Display upcoming timer activation times
  • Correct sunrise/sunset time calculations
Show 5 more
  • Ethernet pairing support
  • Better documentation and troubleshooting guides
  • Dual-band router compatibility without workarounds
  • Persistent device storage after power outages
  • Improved signal strength and range

Control4

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

The Shade Store V2

No in-app purchases

None

Control4

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The Shade Store V2 free?
The Shade Store V2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Control4 free?
Control4 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do The Shade Store V2 or Control4 have ads?
Neither The Shade Store V2 nor Control4 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Shade Store V2 or Control4?
The Shade Store V2 ships an update every 5 months, and Control4 fortnightly. Most recently, The Shade Store V2 was updated on October 19, 2026 and Control4 on October 21, 2026.

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