# BroadLink e vs openHAB

The clearest difference is rating: openHAB at 5.0 against BroadLink e's 2.4. openHAB also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 18%). BroadLink e's advantage is ratings volume (139 vs 3) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

openHAB holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BroadLink e has 139 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of BroadLink e's written reviews are positive against 33% of openHAB's.

BroadLink e ships an update every 5 weeks, openHAB every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BroadLink e | openHAB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (139 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/broadlink-e-control/id793152994/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openhab/id6505005945/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **139** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 17.9% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 66 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Broadlink Co.,Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/714823084) | [openHAB Foundation e.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1170718421) |

## What reviewers say

### BroadLink e

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/broadlink-e-control/id793152994)

Remotely manage your home appliances by controlling smart plugs. Turn devices on or off from anywhere using your smartphone.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Smart plug management, Turn devices on/off, Home automation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well with Broadlink items
- 👍 Customizable remote controls
- 🔒 Secure remote access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and bugs
- 🔋 Unreliable connectivity
- 👎 Lack of updates and support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when selecting devices
- Timers not working as expected
- Compatibility issues with iOS 15
- Remote access not functioning

**Requested features**

- Alexa/Google Assistant integration
- Apple Watch app
- Improved timer/scheduling functionality
- Better UI/UX for newer devices


### openHAB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openhab/id6505005945)

This app acts as a companion to an open-source home automation system, allowing users to control and integrate various smart home devices. It offers remote access, enhanced notifications, and a customizable interface for managing your smart home ecosystem.

**Highlights:** Seamless integration with openHAB UI, Remote control via openHAB Cloud, Enhanced push notifications, Apple Watch companion app, Natively supports iPhone and iPad, Connects to over 3000 devices

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BroadLink e free?

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

### Is openHAB free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BroadLink e or openHAB?

openHAB is rated higher. BroadLink e averages 2.4 out of 5 from 139 ratings, while openHAB averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do BroadLink e or openHAB have ads?

Neither BroadLink e nor openHAB shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BroadLink e or openHAB?

BroadLink e ships an update every 5 weeks, and openHAB every 3 weeks. Most recently, BroadLink e was updated on October 9, 2026 and openHAB on October 5, 2026.

---

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