Comparison

mqttch vs CarHA

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

Head to head
About

mqttch

Features
Read full description

Control your MQTT-connected smart home devices from your iPhone and Watch. mqttch gives you a live dashboard on both your iPhone and your wrist. Configure toggles, buttons, and status indicators for any MQTT broker โ€” then operate them from either device. The iPhone app acts as an always-on proxy so your watch stays connected without draining its battery. Free to use with up to 3 controls. Unlock unlimited controls with a one-time purchase. KEY FEATURES - iPhone dashboard with live MQTT state and one-tap controls - Watch app with instant control from your wrist - Toggle, button, status, and compact control types - Per-topic payloads and JSON value path extraction - iPhone proxy keeps the watch connected via WatchConnectivity - Custom SF Symbol icons for every control - Visual topic builder for configuring MQTT topics per control - Secure credential storage in the Keychain - JSON config import/export for quick setup - Background App Refresh keeps state current - Home Assistant integration with device and entity browser BUILT FOR MQTT Works with any standard MQTT broker (Mosquitto, EMQX, HiveMQ, etc.). Publish and subscribe to arbitrary topics with configurable payloads. Request-update topics refresh state on every connect. TLS and authentication supported. DESIGNED FOR IPHONE & WATCH The iPhone dashboard shows live state for all controls. The watch app is a first-class citizen โ€” large toggle rows, compact icon grids, and a connection status indicator give you a dashboard on your wrist.

About

CarHA

Features
Read full description

CarHA lets you control your Home Assistant smart home directly from your car's touch screen while driving. Configure buttons for lights, switches, covers, and any Home Assistant entity. Monitor sensors, battery levels, water tanks, and power consumption โ€” all from your car dashboard with large, color-coded buttons designed for driving. FEATURES - Control any Home Assistant switch, light, or automation - Monitor sensors in real time with WebSocket updates - Fully customizable tabs and buttons with colored icons - Supports multiple Home Assistant instances - Geofence zones โ€” get notified or trigger automations automatically when you arrive near home, work, or any location - iOS Widget โ€” check battery and sensor status from your home screen - Backup & Restore โ€” export and import your configuration - Works over local network or remote connection (Tailscale, Nabu Casa) - No cloud, no subscriptions โ€” connects directly to your server MQTT support โ€” connect any MQTT broker directly (ESPHome, Zigbee2MQTT, Mosquitto) eWeLink support โ€” control Sonoff devices directly without Home Assistant Tuya support โ€” control Tuya and Smart Life devices directly REQUIREMENTS - A running Home Assistant instance - Home Assistant URL and Long-Lived Access Token - iPhone with iOS 16+ - A car with a compatible car dashboard system CarHA is not affiliated with Nabu Casa, Inc. or the Home Assistant project.

Screenshots

mqttch4 screens
CarHA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: mqttch at Free against CarHA's $9.99. CarHA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

mqttch is free to download; CarHA costs $9.99 up front. mqttch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CarHA asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
mqttch versus CarHA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermqttchCarHA
PriceFree โ€” better$9.99
Update frequencyโ€”Weekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size6 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNico BousquetVeghes Lucian

In-app purchases

1 purchases

mqttch

One-time1
  • Unlock Unlimited Controls$2.99
None

CarHA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is mqttch free?
mqttch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CarHA free?
CarHA costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do mqttch or CarHA have ads?
Neither mqttch nor CarHA shows ads.

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