Virtual Keypad vs Control4 for OS 3
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Virtual Keypad
Control your home or business security system remotely. Arm/disarm, manage lights, locks, thermostats, and view live camera feeds. Automate actions and receive important notifications.
- Arm and disarm security system
- Control smart home devices
- View live and recorded camera footage
- Automate system actions
- Receive event notifications
- Manage user access
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The Virtual Keypad™ App gives you control of your security system on-the-go. Connect to your home or business system to arm or disarm, control lights, locks, thermostats and more, easily with your app. Even view and record video from your security cameras. With the Virtual Keypad App, you can: • Arm and disarm your system • View what’s happening at your home or business • Control Z-Wave-connected devices such as thermostats, lights, locks and garage doors individually or all at once • Set up Actions to automatically control your system throughout the day • View and control Z-Wave devices using a photo or a security camera • Receive notifications when doors are opened or closed • View security cameras and your recorded clips • Add users to your security system from your app • Search your complete system event history • Cancel or verify alarms with live video view The app requires a compatible control panel and connected service. For more information about upgrading your alarm system, contact your DMP installing alarm company today. All features may not come standard with your app. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Control4 for OS 3
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a personal interface for your smart home. Control all connected devices, including lights, thermostats, security, and media, with a redesigned, personalized experience. Requires a Control4 Smart Home OS 3 system.
- Personalized user interface
- Control lights, thermostats, security
- Manage music and video
- Access favorites and room-specific settings
- Intuitive volume control
- Customizable room wallpapers
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This Control4 app is specifically designed to be used with Control4 Smart Homes running OS 3. It turns your iPhone or iPad into your personal user interface to control all your smart home devices. ------------ NOTE: Prior to using this app, your Control4 system must be updated to Control4 Smart Home OS 3 or later. If you are unsure of the software version on your system, check with your Control4 Dealer or login to your Control4 account at control4.com. ------------ Smart Home OS 3 was thoughtfully redesigned to make it more personal and the smart home OS of choice for families. It enables you to check on the status and control your entire smart home including music, video, lights, thermostats, security system, cameras, door locks, garage doors, pools, and much more. New features in OS 3 • Favorites give you fast access to the devices and sources that you use most • Quickly personalize the interface right from the app • Each room can have its own favorites for fast access to the things you use most • Hide icons that are less important, but easily access them through the room menu • Swipe between favorite rooms to quickly navigate around the home • Filtering lets you see all lights, locks and shades, or just those that are on, unlocked or open • All-new Active Media Bar shows what’s currently playing and gives you fast control of media • Easily adjust volume through a new, intuitive volume slider control • Background wallpapers for each room can now be easily changed right from the app Visit Control4.com to learn more, find a showroom near you, or find a independent professional integrator.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Virtual Keypad at 66% against Control4 for OS 3's 22%. Virtual Keypad also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (13K vs 573). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Virtual Keypad holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Virtual Keypad has 13K ratings behind it against 573, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Virtual Keypad's written reviews are positive against 22% of Control4 for OS 3's.
Virtual Keypad ships an update every 2 weeks, Control4 for OS 3 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Virtual Keypad | Control4 for OS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (13K ratings) — better | 3.0 (573 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.4% of reviews — better | 21.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13K — better | 573 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 289 MB | 207 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Digital Monitoring Products, Inc. | Snap One, LLC |
Customer experience
Virtual Keypad
Control4 for OS 3
User reviews
Virtual Keypad
From 13K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient remote access
- 🔒 Secure system control
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 Reliable security
Room to improve
- 🐛 Inconsistent connectivity
- 🐛 Unreliable arming/disarming
- 🐛 Slow to update status
- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
Control4 for OS 3
From 573 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 🌟 Elegant and modern UI
- 🔒 Robust security features
- 👍 Customizable and personalized
- 🎨 Improved visual design
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow load times and reconnections
- 🔌 Unreliable connectivity
- 🤖 Lacking integration with smart home platforms
- 💰 Expensive and costly to maintain
Bugs and requests
Virtual Keypad
Reported bugs
5 issues- Timed out connections
- Unresponsive app controls
- Incorrect alarm status display
- Delayed push notifications
- Compatibility issues with updates
Requested features
6 requests- Improved scheduling options
- Customizable notifications
- Apple Watch app support
- Enhanced camera integration
- Geofencing automation
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- Streamlined user management
Control4 for OS 3
Reported bugs
5 issues- Intercom and doorbell issues
- Thermostat controls not working as expected
- Inability to connect to the system remotely
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes
Requested features
5 requests- Apple Watch app support
- Better integration with Apple ecosystem
- Improved voice control and Alexa integration
- More customization options for users
- Faster and more responsive app performance
In-app purchases
Virtual Keypad
No in-app purchases
Control4 for OS 3
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Virtual Keypad free?
Is Control4 for OS 3 free?
Which has better reviews, Virtual Keypad or Control4 for OS 3?
Do Virtual Keypad or Control4 for OS 3 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Virtual Keypad or Control4 for OS 3?
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