Homecast App vs pocketChat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Homecast App
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Homecast for iOS is the companion to Homecast for Mac. It extends your HomeKit setup with features the standard Home app doesn't offer - API access, webhooks, shareable links, and AI assistant integration. The Homecast Mac app runs on your home network and connects to your HomeKit devices. This iOS app then provides an additional dashboard to access Homecast Features. WHAT HOMECAST ADDS - REST and GraphQL APIs for your HomeKit devices - Webhooks — get notified when device states change - API tokens scoped to specific homes - Share access via link (with optional passcode) — no Apple ID required - Invite people with role-based permissions (admin, control, view-only) - Connect AI assistants like Claude or ChatGPT via MCP and OAuth The dashboard itself works similarly to the Home app - you can view and control your devices, organised by home and room. It also supports custom collections, compact mode, and background customisation. REQUIRES HOMECAST FOR MAC This app requires the Homecast Mac app running on your home network. Download it separately to get started. Free tier includes up to 10 accessories. Subscribe for unlimited. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Cloud Service Terms of Service: https://homecast.cloud/terms Cloud Service Privacy Policy: https://homecast.cloud/privacy
pocketChat
This app consolidates multiple streaming platform chats into one color-coded view on your phone. It offers features like text-to-speech, OBS control, and event tracking for streamers. Manage your stream and engage with your audience from anywhere.
- Multi-platform chat consolidation
- Text-to-speech for chat and events
- OBS stream and scene control
- Customizable stream deck
- Real-time location sharing
- Event tracking and alerts
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pocketChat is your free companion app for live and IRL streaming on Twitch, YouTube, Kick and TikTok. Bring chats, events, text-to-speech, OBS control and more together on your phone. Your stream. In your pocket. CHAT FOR TWITCH, YOUTUBE, KICK & TIKTOK pocketChat brings Twitch, YouTube, Kick and TikTok together in one color-coded chat. Send messages to Twitch, YouTube or Kick – or all three at once. You can currently read TikTok chat, but sending messages is not yet supported. pocketChat displays BTTV, FFZ and 7TV emotes on Twitch, 7TV emotes on Kick, and BTTV and 7TV emotes on YouTube. Moderate your Twitch and Kick chats, delete messages, hand out timeouts or ban users. YouTube events include Super Chats, Super Stickers, channel memberships and Jewels. STREAM EVENTS & EVENT TTS Keep track of donations, subs, gift sub bombs, follows, cheers, raids, Hype Trains and more. pocketChat integrates Twitch EventSub, Kick, YouTube, TikTok, StreamElements, Streamlabs, TipeeeStream, Ko-fi and PayPal. Have events from Twitch, Kick and YouTube, plus donations from TipeeeStream, StreamElements, Ko-fi and PayPal read aloud automatically. Enable each event type individually, customize announcements and vary the wording based on event values – for example, singular or plural for gifted subs. Choose a voice for each event and add sounds imported from your device. Filter your events or replay past ones. Follow events and chat together in a customizable view. TEXT-TO-SPEECH Let your stream speak directly in the app – without extra third-party software. Choose from free on-device TTS, Amazon Polly and ElevenLabs. Chat messages can be read aloud automatically. Viewers can also trigger TTS messages with Bits, donations or Channel Points. OBS Start and stop your OBS stream from your phone. Switch scenes, show or hide sources and toggle filters. Control your microphone and audio with live status indicators. A regularly updated OBS preview shows your stream output. POCKETDECK Create a customizable stream deck with your own OBS buttons: switch scenes, toggle sources and filters or combine multiple actions. Control chat modes such as sub-only, emote-only, follower-only or slow mode – in a dedicated tab or a compact popup. REALTIMEIRL Share your GPS location live with RealtimeIRL (rtirl.com). Privacy zones prevent location sharing in places you define, such as your home. Location sharing can start and stop automatically based on your bitrate. GPS accuracy and movement filters are adjustable. MOBLIN REMOTE CONTROL Control Moblin over local Wi-Fi: streaming and recording, quick mute, instant replay, clips, scenes, bitrate, zoom, microphone, filters and reactions. Monitor temperature, battery and bitrate, and open a stream preview when needed. MORE FEATURES PocketOverlay: Show location, weather, time, speed, distance and bitrate on stream. Show or hide individual values and manage your distance traveled. BelaBox / SRT Stats: View live bitrate per network interface and streaming status. Start or stop your stream. DJI and GoPro cameras: Connect compatible cameras, control RTMP streams and check battery levels. Alert Box: Display StreamElements, Streamlabs, TipeeeStream, Blerp or custom overlays directly in the app. Browser tab for any website with persistent logins. Chat history when connecting, an ignore list for bots and spam, and a keep-alive tone for Bluetooth speakers. YOUR DATA STAYS WITH YOU pocketChat uses its own backend API. Your OAuth tokens stay protected on the server. FEEDBACK & SUGGESTIONS Got feedback or a feature request? Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/AT9yqm6ZTj
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: pocketChat at none against Homecast App's 2. pocketChat also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly). Homecast App's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. Homecast App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. pocketChat asks for nothing beyond the download.
Homecast App ships an update monthly, pocketChat every 2 days. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.
| Parameter | Homecast App | pocketChat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 40 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert Parker | Sven Schroder |
In-app purchases
Homecast App
- Homecast Standard Plan$9.991 Month
- Homecast Cloud Plan$19.991 Month
pocketChat
No in-app purchases









