Comparison

RTiPanel vs Compass Control

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

Head to head
About

RTiPanel

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a personalized remote for your professionally installed smart home or business system. Control lighting, climate, security, and entertainment from anywhere, locally or globally. Create custom scenes and automations for seamless device management.

Highlights
  • Control audio/video, lighting, and climate systems
  • Local and remote system access
  • Customizable graphical interface
  • Create scenes and automations
  • Full two-way feedback support
  • Portrait and landscape view support
Features
Read full description

The RTiPanel app works exclusively with professionally installed RTI control and automation systems, enabling your iPhone or iPad to control the connected smart devices and systems in your home or business. PERSONALIZED CONTROL RTiPanel is completely customizable by your RTI integrator to deliver intuitive and personalized mobile control of your lighting, climate, security, entertainment, and more—the same control you get with your dedicated RTI remote or touch panel. CREATE SCENES AND AUTOMATIONS Your RTI integrator can combine multiple actions into personalized scenes and create automations based on time of day, weather, media selection or other inputs. CONTROL FROM ANYWHERE The RTiPanel app securely connects to your RTI control system via your local area network or through an Internet connection from anywhere – across town or around the world. Get custom alerts wherever you may be. Note: This application requires an RTI control system. Features: • Control Audio/Video, Lighting, Climate and other systems in your RTI smart home or business. • Access your RTI control system either locally or remotely. • Completely customizable graphical interface. • Intuitive new template and graphics • Full support for RTI Music • Programmed by your integrator using the same Integration Designer software that is used for all RTI products. • Supports the creation of both portrait and landscape views. • Supports full two-way feedback including cover art, graphics, text, dynamic scrolling lists, and more. • Supports local connection via Wi-Fi and remote connection via Wi-Fi or LTE, with automatic switching. • Highly optimized for fast connection times. • Control system programming is stored on the mobile device, and it updates automatically when changes are made. Please visit www.rticontrol.com for more information on RTI control systems.

About

Compass Control

This app transforms your iOS device into a universal remote for home automation and entertainment systems. It integrates with a wide range of third-party hardware for seamless control of AV equipment, thermostats, and security systems.

Highlights
  • Universal remote functionality
  • Smart home automation
  • AV system control
  • Thermostat control
  • Alarm system control
  • Third-party hardware integration
Features
Read full description

Compass Control represents the first fully integrated major control system built from the ground up to use Apple's iOS devices - iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch - as its backbone. Let Compass Control be your guide to complete control for your residential or commercial application. Compass Control replaces all of your remotes and traditional control interfaces with one device. Compass Control becomes your cable remote, TV remote, thermostat, alarm control panel, and many other remote devices all contained in the sleek and beautiful shape of Apple's family of iOS powered devices. Compass Control has an entire family of integrated devices allowing plug and play thanks to our Key Alliance Partners: Aprilaire, Denon, Furman, iPort, Key Digital, Lutron, Luxul, Marantz, Onkyo, Panamax, Russound, and SurgeX. Key Alliance third party hardware combined with Compass Control provides seamless integration and unparalleled capability for your entire AV or 'smart' automation system. To use the application for actual control of components please contact an approved Compass Control reseller or sales@keydigital.com for System Creating assistance.

Screenshots

RTiPanel4 screens
Compass Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Compass Control at 4.3 against RTiPanel's 2.7. Compass Control also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 32%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). RTiPanel's advantage is ratings volume (60 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

Compass Control holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RTiPanel has 60 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of RTiPanel's written reviews are positive against 50% of Compass Control's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RTiPanel versus Compass Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRTiPanelCompass Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (60 ratings)4.3 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.4% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings60 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB96 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperRemote Technologies Inc.Key Digital

Customer experience

RTiPanel

All ratings58 ratings
Positive41.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative53.4%
Written reviews108 reviews
Positive32.4%
Neutral7.4%
Negative60.2%

Compass Control

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

RTiPanel

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes immediately upon opening
  • Freezes and requires complete deletion and reinstallation
  • Loses WiFi connection frequently
  • Incompatible with iOS 16.20 and newer versions
  • Stuck on loading screen after using other apps
Show 7 more
  • License recognition errors after reinstallation
  • Unresponsive buttons requiring multiple taps
  • App fails to recognize system after network changes
  • Incompatible with iPhone 12 and newer models
  • Hangs several times per year
  • Connection drops when iPad goes to standby
  • Demo mode screen flashing before loading interface

Requested features

10 requests
  • Apple Watch companion app
  • Multi-location support without reconfiguration
  • Swipe gestures and notifications
  • Dark mode option
  • Remote file uploads and password-protected file extraction
Show 5 more
  • More pre-made templates for dealers
  • Touch recognition on release instead of press
  • Automatic app updates
  • Better iPhone optimization for smaller screens
  • Modern, updated UI design

Compass Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

RTiPanel

No in-app purchases

None

Compass Control

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RTiPanel free?
RTiPanel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Compass Control free?
Compass Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RTiPanel or Compass Control?
Compass Control is rated higher. RTiPanel averages 2.7 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Compass Control averages 4.3 from 7 ratings.
Do RTiPanel or Compass Control have ads?
Neither RTiPanel nor Compass Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RTiPanel or Compass Control?
RTiPanel ships an update every 3 months, and Compass Control every 3 months. Most recently, RTiPanel was updated on October 1, 2026 and Compass Control on October 2, 2026.

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