Comparison

HDMI vs ESPHome

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

Head to head
About

HDMI

Transform your device into an external monitor for gaming, photography, and video. Connect consoles, cameras, PCs, and more for high-quality HD streaming. Enjoy a portable display and immersive audio experience.

Highlights
  • External display functionality
  • Connect gaming consoles
  • High-quality HD streaming
  • Supports cameras and PCs
  • Portable screen solution
  • USB-C video capture card compatible
Features
Read full description

Turn your device into an external display with HDMI Monitor, perfect for gaming, photo- & video-shooting, and more. Connect your gaming console to your device and enjoy your favorite games without the need to have a TV or Display at hand. Key Features: - Versatile Functionality: Seamless integration with consoles, cameras, professional photoshooting gear, PC, and just about any other device that supports HDMI output. - High-Quality Streaming: Crystal-clear HD video and high-quality audio, with full support for your headphones. - Get a Display and High-Quality Speakers: Turn your device into a media station that’s part of the ecosystem that you can access for complete immersion and 100% satisfaction. - Fast and User-Friendly: Quick setup and responsive design for a hassle-free experience. Improved Connectivity: - Use a simple USB-C video-capture card for easy connection. - Supports various resolutions and frame rates for optimal video clarity. Ideal For: - Gamers, photographers, videographers and geeks. - Anyone needing a portable screen for games, movies, TV, or presentations. You need: HDMI to USB-C Video Capture Card, iPad with USB-C and iOS 17 Try the ultimate app that turns your device into a universal display!

About

ESPHome

Features
Read full description

ESPHome-WLED Device Manager is a powerful native iOS, iPad, and Apple Watch app for discovering and controlling your smart home devices on your local network. Recommended ESPHome Component For the best experience, add the webserver_listcomponents (https://github.com/domgrimm/esphome-webserver-listcomponents) external component to your ESPHome config. It enables fast, reliable entity discovery with full metadata support. ESPHome Device Control • Automatic network discovery via Bonjour/mDNS • Full component support: switches, lights, fans, covers, sensors, climate, numbers, selects, buttons, text, time, and alarm control panels • Native API with Noise encryption for secure, real-time communication • Live log streaming and Server-Sent Events for instant state updates • HTTP Basic authentication support • Manual device addition for devices outside your local network WLED Advanced Control • Power, brightness, and full effect/palette management • Segment management with blend modes and transition styles • Live LED preview via WebSocket for 1D strips and 2D matrices • Native gradient palette editor with WLED JSON codec • PixelForge tools for WLED 0.16+: Pixel Paint, Image Tool, and Scrolling Text • LittleFS file browser and custom palette management Widgets • Device Hub widget shows multiple ESPHome and WLED devices in an Apple Home-style layout • Device Control widget displays individual components or WLED segments with interactive toggle • Both widgets support small and medium sizes with AppIntent-driven configuration iPad Optimized • Two-column NavigationSplitView with sidebar device list • Balanced split-view layout for efficient device browsing and control • Adaptive interface that responds to size class changes Apple Watch • Full watchOS companion app with device discovery and control • Digital Crown brightness control with haptic feedback for WLED • Effect and palette wheel pickers with live color preview • Manual device sync from your iPhone via App Groups ESPHome-WLED Device Manager runs entirely on your local network — no cloud services, no accounts, and no tracking. Your devices stay under your control. Requires ESPHome or WLED devices on your local network. Supports current ESPHome firmware with entity-name-based URL paths and API 1.14+ native handshake.

Screenshots

HDMI3 screens
ESPHome4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HDMI at none against ESPHome's 5. ESPHome's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. ESPHome sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. HDMI asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HDMI ships an update every 3 weeks, ESPHome weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
HDMI versus ESPHome: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHDMIESPHome
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (74 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews52.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings74 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.017
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIon DanilovDominic Grimm

In-app purchases

None

HDMI

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

ESPHome

One-time5
  • Small Tip$0.49
  • Medium Tip$1.99
  • Large Tip$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Extra Large Tip$5.99
  • Massive Tip$12.99

Questions

Is HDMI free?
HDMI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ESPHome free?
ESPHome is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HDMI or ESPHome have ads?
Neither HDMI nor ESPHome shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HDMI or ESPHome?
HDMI ships an update every 3 weeks, and ESPHome weekly. Most recently, HDMI was updated on October 8, 2026 and ESPHome on October 1, 2026.

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