Comparison

Nest vs Kwikset

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

Head to head
About

Nest

Control your smart home devices, including thermostats, security systems, cameras, and smoke detectors, all from a single app. Receive alerts, manage schedules, and automate actions based on your presence.

Highlights
  • Remote thermostat control
  • Arm/disarm security system
  • Live camera feeds
  • Smoke/CO alerts
  • Automated actions
  • Visitor notifications
Currently charting
Read full description

At Google Nest, we make products that are beautiful, helpful and easy to use. The Nest app is no exception. Control your Nest thermostat, arm and disarm your Nest Secure alarm system, see your home with Nest Cam, and get an alert if Nest Protect goes off – all in one place. And receive notifications on your iPhone or iPad. Nest uses sensors, algorithms and the location of your phone to do the right thing automatically, turning off the heat and turning on the camera when you leave. Forget to set the alarm? It will notice, and send you a Remind Me alert. Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E Thermostats that program themselves to help you save energy. - Change the temperature from the subway or the sofa using your phone. - See how much energy you used, and why. - View and edit your schedule. - Get extreme temperature alerts before your home gets too cold. Nest Secure alarm system - Arm and disarm your home remotely from the app. - Receive a Remind Me alert if you leave home and forget to set the alarm. - Receive a security alert on your phone telling you what triggered the alarm – a door or window opening, or someone entering a room. Nest Protect The smoke and carbon monoxide alarm that thinks, speaks, and alerts your phone. - Get an alert if Nest Protect senses smoke or carbon monoxide. (Requires Wi-Fi and a working internet connection.) - Silence an alarm from your phone with App Silence. (Nest Protect 2nd gen only.) - See the status of your batteries, sensors, and Wi-Fi connection. - Run a Safety Checkup to test all your alarms at once. (Nest Protect 2nd gen only.) - See your Safety History so you know when alerts happened and why. Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Outdoor, Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, and Dropcam The security cameras that let you see your home on your phone, inside and out. - Get alerts when there’s activity, and talk back to get someone’s attention. - See what you missed with snapshots of the last three hours. - Check in 24/7 with crisp 1080p HD video (Nest Cam and Dropcam Pro only). - Get person alerts (or familiar face alerts with Nest Cam IQ) and up to 30 days of video history when you subscribe to Nest Aware. (Subscription service sold separately.) Nest Hello Know who’s knocking. - 24/7 video streaming means you’ll never miss a moment. - Designed to show you everything at your doorstep – people head to toe, or packages on the ground. - Knows the difference between a person and a thing. - Notifies you about visitors, even if they don’t ring the bell. - HD Talk and Listen lets you have a seamless conversation with someone at your door. - When you can’t answer the door, quick responses let you reply to visitors with prerecorded audio messages. Nest x Yale Lock The lock for a more secure connected home. - Instead of sharing keys, assign passcodes to people you trust in the Nest app. - Get an alert when someone locks or unlocks the door. - With Home/Away Assist and Auto-Lock, your door can lock itself when you leave. Some features require a working internet connection, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth.

About

Kwikset

Control and monitor your smart locks remotely, manage guest access with custom codes, and receive instant security alerts. Integrate with popular smart home ecosystems for enhanced automation and peace of mind.

Highlights
  • Remote lock monitoring and control
  • Guest access code management
  • Instant activity and security alerts
  • Multi-home and lock management
  • Smart home ecosystem integration (Wi-Fi, Matter)
  • Encrypted data security
Features
Read full description

At Kwikset, we understand that the locks you choose to protect your home is a decision you do not take lightly. That is why we do not take shortcuts when it comes to quality, because we know that a better lock means better peace of mind. Remote Access Control Monitor the status of your locks and manage your home's access seamlessly from anywhere at any time. Trusted Access Management Share app access with guests or create scheduled or one-time access codes for keyless entry. Instant Activity Alerts Receive instant notifications anytime someone accesses your home, or when invalid codes are entered, or lock tampering occurs. Intuitive Home Management Easily configure and manage multiple homes and locks for complete control. Seamless Integration with Smart Ecosystems Add your lock via Wi-Fi to your preferred smart home ecosystems, including Google Home or Amazon Alexa, or amplify automation through IFTTT. Kwikset’s new Halo Select lock is Matter and Wi-Fi compatible, giving you the same Wi-Fi options as our other Halo locks. With Matter, you can connect to Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and other Matter hubs via Thread. Matter features may differ from ecosystem to ecosystem. You can check out www.kwikset.com/matter for more information. Security and Peace of Mind Kwikset provides unparalleled security while safeguarding your privacy. All data shared between the lock, the server, and the Kwikset app is encrypted, and our servers are exclusively hosted in the US. Our goal is to provide you with the utmost convenience, trust, and safety for your smart living experience. The Kwikset App is compatible with all Kwikset Halo and Kwikset Aura smart locks. Kwikset®, a trusted leader in residential security and a registered trademark of ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc., an ASSA ABLOY Group Company

Screenshots

Nest4 screens
Kwikset4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Kwikset at free against Nest's free with in-app purchases. Kwikset also leads on review sentiment (48% vs 24%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). Nest's advantage is ratings volume (2.6M vs 60K) and chart position (#77 vs unranked). On price, 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

Kwikset holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nest has 2.6M ratings behind it against 60K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Nest's written reviews are positive against 48% of Kwikset's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nest ships an update every 2 months, Kwikset every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Nest versus Kwikset: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNestKwikset
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.6M ratings)4.8 (60K ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.4% of reviews47.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.6M — better60K
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#77 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size240 MB356 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNest LabsASSA ABLOY AMERICAS RESIDENTIAL INC.

Customer experience

Nest

All ratings2,564,294 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral3.2%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews4,651 reviews
Positive24.4%
Neutral9.5%
Negative66.1%

Kwikset

All ratings58,076 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews608 reviews
Positive47.9%
Neutral12.2%
Negative40.0%

User reviews

Nest

From 2.6M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🔒 Reliable security features
  • 📽️ Good video quality
  • 🔔 Useful alerts and notifications
  • 🌐 Convenient remote access

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
  • ⏱️ Slow app performance
  • 🔒 Overly complex setup and login process
  • 💰 Expensive subscription required for full functionality
  • 🔋 Battery life issues with cameras

Kwikset

From 60K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🔒 Secure access
  • 👍 Convenient remote control
  • 👍 Helpful for short-term rentals
  • 👍 Great design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🔋 Battery life problems
  • 🐛 Unreliable app performance
  • 🐛 Firmware update challenges
  • 🐛 Difficult setup and pairing

Bugs and requests

Nest

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inconsistent home/away detection
  • Thermostat schedule resets unexpectedly
  • Smoke detector false alarms
  • Camera feed freezes or fails to load

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved scheduling and automation options
  • Better integration with other smart home devices
  • More customization options for alerts and notifications
  • Offline viewing and recording capabilities

Kwikset

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Inability to update firmware
  • Inconsistent lock status reporting
  • Pairing failures with Bluetooth and WiFi

Requested features

4 requests
  • Customizable notifications
  • Ability to manage multiple locks
  • Scheduled auto-lock feature
  • Integration with smart home platforms

In-app purchases

None

Nest

No in-app purchases

None

Kwikset

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nest free?
Nest is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kwikset free?
Kwikset is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nest or Kwikset?
Kwikset is rated higher. Nest averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.6M ratings, while Kwikset averages 4.8 from 60K ratings.
Do Nest or Kwikset have ads?
Neither Nest nor Kwikset shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nest or Kwikset?
Nest ships an update every 2 months, and Kwikset every 3 months. Most recently, Nest was updated on November 3, 2026 and Kwikset on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons