# Hive vs Sky Smart Home

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Hive at 814 against Sky Smart Home's 2. Hive also leads on rating (4.2 vs 4.0) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hive holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hive has 814 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Hive's written reviews are positive against 13% of Sky Smart Home's.

Hive ships an update fortnightly, Sky Smart Home monthly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hive | Sky Smart Home |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (814 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive/id712829172/reviews)** | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sky-smart-home/id1643672580/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **814** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **18.4% of reviews** | 12.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 200 MB | 184 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Centrica Hive Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1171162560) | [Sky UK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/301250228) |

## What reviewers say

### Hive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive/id712829172)

Control your home's energy usage, from heating and EV charging to lighting and solar power, all from your smartphone. Save money and reduce your carbon footprint with smart scheduling, real-time tracking, and personalized insights.

**Highlights:** Smart heating control, EV charging management, Smart lighting and plugs, Solar energy generation and storage, Energy usage tracking and budgeting, Personalized dashboard, Smart actions and scheduling

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure system
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Integrates well with Alexa and Google

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable app performance
- 🐛 Scheduling problems
- 🔋 High battery drain on devices
- 👎 Paywall for basic features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Devices randomly going offline
- Heating/cooling schedules not working as expected
- Camera live view and recordings not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More granular scheduling controls
- Better integration with smart home platforms
- Improved camera functionality and recording


### Sky Smart Home

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sky-smart-home/id1643672580)

Monitor your home remotely with live HD video feeds from your front door. Securely store video clips for 30 days and share important moments. The app offers easy setup with step-by-step guidance.

**Highlights:** Live HD video streaming, Cloud video storage (30 days), Shareable video clips, Remote doorbell answering, Step-by-step setup guide

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy setup process for most users
- 💰 Good value for money/insurance bundling
- 📷 Decent video quality when working
- 🔋 Improved battery life compared to Ring (some users)
- 🌐 Works well on WiFi and remote 4G/5G connections

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnection issues from network
- 🔋 Poor doorbell battery life (2-5 days)
- ⏱️ Significant lag when viewing live feed
- 📱 App constantly logs users out
- 🔌 Weak WiFi signal range and connectivity

**Reported bugs**

- Error 401 code preventing app access
- Login access denied without password entry option
- Firmware update failures rendering app unusable
- App won't open - constant error messages
- Camera stuck on pink screen during setup

**Requested features**

- Landscape full-screen video viewing mode
- Separate notification types for doorbell vs motion detection
- Phone ring alert instead of beep for doorbell
- Customizable notification sounds
- Portable/wireless chime option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hive free?

Hive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sky Smart Home free?

Sky Smart Home is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hive or Sky Smart Home?

Hive is rated higher. Hive averages 4.2 out of 5 from 814 ratings, while Sky Smart Home averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Hive or Sky Smart Home have ads?

Neither Hive nor Sky Smart Home shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hive or Sky Smart Home?

Hive ships an update fortnightly, and Sky Smart Home monthly. Most recently, Hive was updated on October 30, 2026 and Sky Smart Home on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*