CentroControl vs HouseMate Home Control
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CentroControl
This app allows you to control various IP-enabled home devices, from lighting and heating to AV systems and cameras. It requires some technical setup using PC software or a pre-defined project. Customize your interface and create custom menus for commands.
- Control IP-enabled devices
- Customizable user interface
- Apple Watch menu structure
- Supports HDMI matrices, AV receivers, lighting systems, and IP cameras
- Two-way feedback for devices
- Requires PC software for setup
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Home Automation / Control System app. ** Please Note - some technical 'know how' is required to set this app up correctly using our Windows-only PC software or using a pre-defined project created by a DemoPad installer - please see www.demopad.com or contact your DemoPad installer before downloading ** This app is free if controlling a single generic 3rd party IP device, and/or if your system includes at least one DemoPad Centro hardware device. Otherwise an In App Purchase is required to unlock the app for use with 3rd party devices. CentroControl is a powerful home automation & control app which enables communication with various IP enabled devices. Our DemoDesigner PC software is used by installers to configure user interface screens & set up commands to be sent to external equipment. There is complete flexibility with the user interface. It is also possible to create a custom menu structure for commands using Apple Watch. You can communicate with almost any IP device, including the following: HDMI Matrices AVoIP systems AV Receivers HDL Lighting / Heating Systems Lutron Homeworks / GrafikEye Systems Rako Lighting Systems Crestron systems Global Cache units - infra-red, RS232, contact closure interfaces Keene Electronics IR units Insteon Fibaro IP camera servers - for displaying live camera feeds Legrand MyHome / Arteor control systems Clipsal CBus Lighting systems Lightwave RF iLight / iLumin Lighting Systems RTSP video feeds and many other IP devices...with custom 2-way feedback
HouseMate Home Control
This app, paired with specific hardware, allows users to control various home devices and their iOS device through a unified interface. It supports infrared, HomeKit, and other technologies for comprehensive environmental control.
- Unified environmental control interface
- Infrared device operation
- HomeKit accessory control
- Switch and joystick compatibility
- Nurse call pager integration
- EasyWave and Z-wave device support
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Imagine being able to control everything from one device: Turn on your room lights and close the curtains. Change channels on your TV and turn up the heating. Answer a phone call and send some texts. Browse the Internet, play some music or watch YouTube. HouseMate hardware in combination with an iOS device enables you to do this and much more. HOW DOES IT WORK? HouseMate is a combined hardware/app solution that enables a switch user to fully control their iOS device and use it to operate other equipment in their home or work environment using a combination of InfraRed, HomeKit, IFTTT and other technologies. TELL ME ABOUT THE HARDWARE The hardware is controlled using the built-in switch or by connecting an external switch or joystick. It can also be interfaced to R-Net and DX wheelchair control systems. It is powered by a rechargeable Li-Ion battery and contains a powerful omni- directional InfraRed transmitter and a Bluetooth radio module. The hardware communicates the switch presses to the iOS device. With Switch Control enabled the user can use scanning to control their device. If the user launches the HouseMate App a grid of environmental control options is presented. If the user chooses an option then the HouseMate App will either run a HomeKit scene, control a HomeKit accessory or instruct the HouseMate hardware to transmit a pre-recorded InfraRed signal. HouseMate can be fitted with a radio frequency Nurse call pager. This alarm can be activated at anytime by pressing the switch for a defined period of time. Importantly this feature is independent of the iOS device and Bluetooth connection. A further possibility is the control of EasyWave or Z-wave devices. On request HouseMate can be fitted with an internal EasyWave or Z-wave transmitter. TELL ME ABOUT THE APP The HouseMate app that has been specially designed for switch access and can be downloaded free from iTunes. It will run on any iOS device running 8.4 or higher. The app presents a grid of environmental control functions using icons and text. When the user chooses an icon the app either executes a HomeKit function or instructs the hardware to transmit a signal. The HouseMate app communicates with the HouseMate hardware using Bluetooth Smart. Rather than having to switch between different apps the HouseMate app enables you to have all your environmental control functions in one easy-to-use, graphically based interface. WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES? Hardware features: -Control of any device that can be operated by InfraRed signals including light switches, power sockets, bed controls and door openers. -Powerful InfraRed learn/transmit hardware. Single codes, toggle codes, macros and safety codes can be recorded. -Pre-recorded database of common InfraRed signals including GEWA, Possum, Siemens KNX, FellerBeamIt, UPC and SKY. -Control of EasyWave devices with optional built-in EasyWave transmitter. -Control of Z-wave devices with optional built-in Z-wave transmitter. -Single switch, two switch and joystick inputs. Interface cables for R-Net and DX wheelchair control systems. -Long-life rechargeable Li-Ion battery with mini USB charger. -Audible low battery warning, Bluetooth connection, InfraRed transmit and charging status LEDs. Software features: -Comprehensive, graphic based, environmental control. -Large database of icons as well as the ability to choose images from the camera roll. -Designed to be used in conjunction with the scanning features of iOS Switch Control. -Can be used to run HomeKit scenes and control HomeKit accessories. -Control over third party apps using iOS Switch Control. -Can be used in conjunction with IFTTT based services. -HouseMate can be downloaded free from iTunes with automatic updating as new versions become available. -Can be installed on iPads or iPhones running iOS 8.4 or higher.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: HouseMate Home Control at 5.0 against CentroControl's 3.8. HouseMate Home Control also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). CentroControl's advantage is ratings volume (14 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. CentroControl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HouseMate Home Control asks for nothing beyond the download.
HouseMate Home Control holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CentroControl has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of CentroControl's written reviews are positive against 100% of HouseMate Home Control's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CentroControl | HouseMate Home Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (14 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 51 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Demopad Software Ltd | Brian Dillon |
Customer experience
CentroControl
HouseMate Home Control
In-app purchases
CentroControl
- Allow Multiple 3rd Party Devices$149.99
HouseMate Home Control
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is CentroControl free?
Is HouseMate Home Control free?
Which has better reviews, CentroControl or HouseMate Home Control?
Do CentroControl or HouseMate Home Control have ads?
Which is updated more often, CentroControl or HouseMate Home Control?
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