Comparison

CPI Security inTouch vs NorthStar Home

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

Head to head
About

CPI Security inTouch

Monitor and control your home or business security system remotely. Receive real-time notifications for events like alarms, door/window status, and system arming/disarming. Access event history and manage enabled devices for enhanced peace of mind.

Highlights
  • Arm and disarm security system
  • Real-time door and window status
  • System arm/disarm notifications
  • 30-day event history access
  • Email and text notifications for events
  • Control CPI Night Guard devices
Features
Read full description

Now CPI makes it just as easy for you to stay connected to what really matters most: your home and family. With the NEW inTouch App from CPI Security, CPI customers can monitor and control their home or business security system through iPhone and iPod touch! With the inTouch App you can - * Arm and disarm your CPI Security System. * See what doors and windows are open in real time. * Be notified when the system is armed or disarmed. Great for school-age children! * Access a 30 day event history. * Access CPI Night Guard enabled devices. Email and Text notifications – With the inTouch service you can set up email and text notifications to come to your iPhone or iPod touch in real time – - when an alarm event occurs - fire, water leak, intrusion, or medical panic - when a specific user arms or disarms the system - when someone opens a door or window - if you left a door or window open - if you forgot to arm the system - if your safe, gun or liquor cabinet is opened - if someone attempts to login to your inTouch account and more! *Functionality depends on the level of inTouch service you have subscribed to. A CPI inTouch user login and password are required to log into this app. Visit www.cpisecurity.com/intouch to learn more or to sign up for service.

About

NorthStar Home

Monitor and control your home or business remotely from your Apple devices. Manage security, view live video, and automate devices like lights and thermostats. Receive real-time notifications for important events.

Highlights
  • Real-time remote monitoring
  • Interactive security control
  • Live video streaming
  • Home automation management
  • Customizable push notifications
  • Apple Watch integration
Features
Read full description

With a NorthStar Home security system, you can monitor and control your home or business in real-time and from anywhere - from your iPhone, iPad, or your Apple Watch. NorthStar Home's interactive security, video monitoring, energy management, and home automation solutions give you instant awareness and remote control for the places you care about most. With Apple Watch support, your home is always at your fingertips, and on your wrist. Glances let you quickly see home status, and through the watch app you can control your key devices and even view live video from your home. Note: This app requires a compatible system and an interactive NorthStar Home service plan. Feature availability varies based on system, equipment, and service plan. Visit www.northstarhome.com for more information. Remote features: • See what’s happening at your property • Arm or disarm your security panel • Watch live video and recorded clips from your security cameras • Turn on or off lights • Set the ideal temperature • Lock or unlock doors • Search your complete system event history • And much more! With NorthStar Home, you can also receive real-time email, text message, and push notifications for the specific events that matter to you. Beyond important emergency related events, you can also immediately know when: Your kids get home from school

Screenshots

CPI Security inTouch4 screens
NorthStar Home4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CPI Security inTouch at 3.7 against NorthStar Home's 3.2. CPI Security inTouch also leads on ratings volume (1.6K vs 59) and review sentiment (21% vs 7%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CPI Security inTouch holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CPI Security inTouch has 1.6K ratings behind it against 59, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of CPI Security inTouch's written reviews are positive against 7% of NorthStar Home's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
CPI Security inTouch versus NorthStar Home: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCPI Security inTouchNorthStar Home
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (1.6K ratings) — better3.2 (59 ratings)
Positive reviews21.0% of reviews — better7.1% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K — better59
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size375 MB377 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCPI SecurityNorthstar Alarm Services, LLC

Customer experience

CPI Security inTouch

All ratings1,620 ratings
Positive66.8%
Neutral5.5%
Negative27.7%
Written reviews186 reviews
Positive21.0%
Neutral10.8%
Negative68.3%

NorthStar Home

All ratings59 ratings
Positive52.5%
Neutral3.4%
Negative44.1%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive7.1%
Neutral7.1%
Negative85.7%

Bugs and requests

CPI Security inTouch

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Cameras going offline frequently
  • Inability to access recorded videos
  • Thermostat controls not working properly
  • Inconsistent arming/disarming of system
  • Doorbell camera not capturing footage

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to delete/manage recorded videos
  • Improve app responsiveness and stability
  • Provide more customization options
  • Integrate with smart home platforms
  • Enhance notification system

NorthStar Home

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

CPI Security inTouch

No in-app purchases

None

NorthStar Home

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CPI Security inTouch free?
CPI Security inTouch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NorthStar Home free?
NorthStar Home is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CPI Security inTouch or NorthStar Home?
CPI Security inTouch is rated higher. CPI Security inTouch averages 3.7 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while NorthStar Home averages 3.2 from 59 ratings.
Do CPI Security inTouch or NorthStar Home have ads?
Neither CPI Security inTouch nor NorthStar Home shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CPI Security inTouch or NorthStar Home?
CPI Security inTouch ships an update every 2 months, and NorthStar Home every 2 months. Most recently, CPI Security inTouch was updated on November 6, 2026 and NorthStar Home on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons