# Alarm.com vs FreeControl

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Alarm.com at none against FreeControl's 8. Alarm.com also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (23% vs 13%). FreeControl's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FreeControl sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $21.49 per year. Alarm.com asks for nothing beyond the download.

Alarm.com ships an update every 4 weeks, FreeControl every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alarm.com | FreeControl |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (141K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alarmcom/id315010649/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **141K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **23.0% of reviews** | 12.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 438 MB | 412 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alarm.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/315010652) | [RISCO Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/459033514) |

## What reviewers say

### Alarm.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alarmcom/id315010649)

Connect and protect your home or business with a unified system. Remotely control security, locks, lights, and cameras, and receive intelligent alerts for crime, fire, or water damage. Automate routines and manage your property from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Remote property control, Intelligent alerts and live video, Security automation, Smart lock and light control, Video camera monitoring, Two-way doorbell communication

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and intuitive app
- 🔒 Provides good security and monitoring
- 👍 Easy to use and control home devices
- 💡 Helpful for remote home management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues and app crashes
- 🔋 Unreliable notifications and alerts
- 👎 Poor customer service and technical support
- 🕰️ Slow response times for arming/disarming

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent display of system status
- Inability to update WiFi settings remotely
- Unexpected resets of user preferences
- Delayed or missing video recordings

**Requested features**

- Customizable notification sounds
- Ability to bypass specific sensors
- Improved video quality and reliability
- Integration with other smart home platforms


### FreeControl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freecontrol/id647710280)

Remotely monitor and control your security system from your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. Receive intruder alarms with event images for visual verification, view live streaming video from IP cameras, and arm/disarm your system on demand.

**Highlights:** Remote arm/disarm, Intruder alarm notifications, Event image verification, Live IP camera streaming, On-demand video viewing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus 1 | $21.49 | per year |
| Plus 1 Connect | $39.99 | per year |
| Plus 2 | $42.99 | per year |
| Plus 1 Audio Connect | $48.90 | per year |
| Plus 3 | $64.99 | per year |
| Plus 6 | $85.99 | per year |
| Plus 10 | $149.99 | per year |
| Plus 10+ | $234.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alarm.com free?

Alarm.com is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FreeControl free?

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

### Do Alarm.com or FreeControl have ads?

Neither Alarm.com nor FreeControl shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alarm.com or FreeControl?

Alarm.com ships an update every 4 weeks, and FreeControl every 3 months. Most recently, Alarm.com was updated on September 28, 2026 and FreeControl on September 27, 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.*