Secure Controls vs ATC CALA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Secure Controls
Control your home's heating and hot water remotely or from anywhere with this app. It allows you to view current status, adjust temperatures, set schedules, and receive important alerts. An optional Wi-Fi adapter enables remote access.
- View heating status
- Modify target temperature
- Home-Away feature
- 7-day schedule control
- Device management
- Instant alerts
- Hold temperature
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It works with Secure C1727 and H3747 programmable thermostat displays and temperature sensors. While at home, using Secure Controls app, you would be able to control the heat and hot water from the comfort of your seat. It does not need any internet connection. On adding an optional Wi-Fi adaptor, you will be able to control your heating system from anywhere. Main features View the most up to date heating status of your home View and modify the target temperature as desired One click Home-Away feature to change the target temperature Modify 7 days heating and hot water schedule with simple time and temperature control Add or replace heating control devices with ease Instant alerts about battery life, communication errors and service reminders Hold the target temperature Boost hot water
ATC CALA
Control your new ATC thermal emitters remotely. Adjust settings, monitor performance, and manage your heating system from your smartphone. Designed for efficient and convenient home climate management.
- Remote control of thermal emitters
- Adjust settings
- Monitor performance
- Manage heating system
- Smartphone integration
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App for controlling the new ATC thermal emitters
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ATC CALA at 50% against Secure Controls's 12%. ATC CALA also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). Secure Controls's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Secure Controls ships an update every 3 months, ATC CALA every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Secure Controls | ATC CALA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 2.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 12.1% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 14.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 40 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Secure Controls (UK) Ltd | Ferroli España |
Customer experience
Secure Controls
ATC CALA
Bugs and requests
Secure Controls
Reported bugs
38 issues- Spinning donut of death
- Cannot connect
- Boost for water only, not heating
- Display does not show boost countdown correctly
- Settings gear icon not visible on iPhone 11
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- Cannot remove systems
- Schedule doesn't work
- Keeps saying error try again
- Never connects from outside the house
- App keeps crashing
- Disconnects constantly
- App stops working
- Refuses to connect
- Cannot establish communication unless thermostat woken up
- App disconnects when wall controller goes into standby
- Doesn't connect reliably
- App is terrible
- Never connects to the unit
- Impossible to add another user
- 6 digit OTP issue, app only gives 5 slots
- Keeps crashing and getting disconnected
- Cannot get into the app
- No Apple update
- Comms error on PTD
- Wants to re-register system
- App loses heating system immediately
- App loses system after a day
- Scan QR code, re-pair on Bluetooth needed
- Loses comms halfway through
- Sends verification code but doesn't register number
- Keyboard disappears immediately
- Paired but wouldn't connect to Wi-Fi
- App kept crashing and disconnected
- App doesn't work when not at home
- Crashes every time
- App does not work
- Horrid app
- Doesn't pair device
Requested features
11 requests- Add immersion timing to app
- API for home assistant
- Edit button to name devices
- Apply boost to upstairs heating
- Local Siri Shortcuts integration
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- Public API for plugins
- Ability to switch 'off peak' on for short period
- Automate boiler for cheapest intervals
- Reduce minimum timer on hot water
- 10 or 15 minute intervals for boosts
- Boost for heating, not just water
ATC CALA
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Secure Controls
No in-app purchases
ATC CALA
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Secure Controls free?
Is ATC CALA free?
Do Secure Controls or ATC CALA have ads?
Which is updated more often, Secure Controls or ATC CALA?
Other comparisons
