SecureSmart vs Control4 for OS 3
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SecureSmart
Control your home security system remotely. Receive real-time notifications for events like door openings or motion detection. Automate smart devices with custom scenes and recipes to match your daily routines.
- Remote security system control
- Real-time event notifications
- Customizable zone configurations
- Smart device automation (scenes/recipes)
- Cloud video storage
- Flexible IP camera support
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About Alula At Alula, we believe that the best security solution is provided by the professional security dealer. And we know that today’s security customer expects more than just basic security. In order to deliver the best experience for the needs of today’s modern security customer, you need to design and develop the hardware, software, and services for a complete, end-to-end professional security system for the professional security dealer. The thoughtful technology in our products are designed to keep up with a changing world. Intuitive. Reliable. Innovative. Simplifying your business while saving you money. It’s what you deserve and what people expect. And we’re only scratching the surface of possibilities. Keeping people and property safe is your business. At Alula, creating the tools and support you need to do that, is in our DNA. It’s your home, you set the rules. The Alula App gives you what you deserve, reliability and control. Set rules for real-time notifications. Know instantly when doors and windows are opened or when motion is detected. Technology at your pace With event based “Scenes” and “Recipes”, your smart devices can support your way of life. Adjust the entire atmosphere in your home based on your day to day routines. Lights, cameras, garage doors and thermostats can adjust to greet you in the morning or when you arrive back home in the evenings. Alula Home Security Zone Configurations Alula uses zones in coordination with armed modes and zone configurations to determine how your security system responds when a sensor or detector is triggered. Customize your own zone configurations. Cloud Video Services Alula Cloud is an easy-to-use and affordable cloud video solution designed for businesses and homeowners. Now your customers can keep an eye on their home or business with the comfort of knowing their video is securely stored and can be retrieved from anywhere. - Cost Effective: Why purchase expensive hardware storage, especially if there are multiple sites that need surveillance. Easily manage all camera from one platform. - Easy to Use: Built for users who do not want to bother with complicated and expensive systems, with simple setup for dealers. - Flexible Camera Support: Alula Cloud video works with the largest number of leading IP Cameras. Select the right camera for each customer.
Control4 for OS 3
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a personal interface for your smart home. Control all connected devices, including lights, thermostats, security, and media, with a redesigned, personalized experience. Requires a Control4 Smart Home OS 3 system.
- Personalized user interface
- Control lights, thermostats, security
- Manage music and video
- Access favorites and room-specific settings
- Intuitive volume control
- Customizable room wallpapers
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This Control4 app is specifically designed to be used with Control4 Smart Homes running OS 3. It turns your iPhone or iPad into your personal user interface to control all your smart home devices. ------------ NOTE: Prior to using this app, your Control4 system must be updated to Control4 Smart Home OS 3 or later. If you are unsure of the software version on your system, check with your Control4 Dealer or login to your Control4 account at control4.com. ------------ Smart Home OS 3 was thoughtfully redesigned to make it more personal and the smart home OS of choice for families. It enables you to check on the status and control your entire smart home including music, video, lights, thermostats, security system, cameras, door locks, garage doors, pools, and much more. New features in OS 3 • Favorites give you fast access to the devices and sources that you use most • Quickly personalize the interface right from the app • Each room can have its own favorites for fast access to the things you use most • Hide icons that are less important, but easily access them through the room menu • Swipe between favorite rooms to quickly navigate around the home • Filtering lets you see all lights, locks and shades, or just those that are on, unlocked or open • All-new Active Media Bar shows what’s currently playing and gives you fast control of media • Easily adjust volume through a new, intuitive volume slider control • Background wallpapers for each room can now be easily changed right from the app Visit Control4.com to learn more, find a showroom near you, or find a independent professional integrator.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SecureSmart at 4.3 against Control4 for OS 3's 3.0. SecureSmart also leads on iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). Control4 for OS 3's advantage is ratings volume (573 vs 158). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SecureSmart holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 158 and 573 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 22% and 22% positive.
SecureSmart ships an update every 2 weeks, Control4 for OS 3 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SecureSmart | Control4 for OS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (158 ratings) — better | 3.0 (573 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 22.1% of reviews — better | 21.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 158 | 573 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 273 MB | 207 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alula Holdings, LLC | Snap One, LLC |
Customer experience
SecureSmart
Control4 for OS 3
User reviews
SecureSmart
From 158 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Works great for customers
- 👍 Integration with Alula
- 👍 Convenient remote arm/disarm
- 👍 Useful for programming/alerts
- 👍 Love the keypad feature
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Does not connect to alarm
- 🐛 Cannot arm/disarm alarm
- 🐛 Keypad removed from app
- 🐛 Update not user-friendly
Control4 for OS 3
From 573 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 🌟 Elegant and modern UI
- 🔒 Robust security features
- 👍 Customizable and personalized
- 🎨 Improved visual design
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow load times and reconnections
- 🔌 Unreliable connectivity
- 🤖 Lacking integration with smart home platforms
- 💰 Expensive and costly to maintain
Bugs and requests
SecureSmart
Reported bugs
78 issues- App crashes after login
- Does not connect after iOS 17 update
- Cannot arm or disarm
- Numbers too small, no color
- Disarm button removed
Show 73 moreShow fewer
- Doesn't work half the time
- App went offline
- Refuses to load on iPhone 7 Plus
- FaceID authenticates but won't arm/disarm
- App logged me out, won't let me log back in
- Not compatible with iOS 11.2.6
- Constantly offline, takes ten minutes to refresh
- Little delay when arming/disarming
- Arming/disarming via Face Unlock does not always work
- Keypad lock code used every time
- Locked me out of physical keypad
- Slow to load real-time info
- Takes 20-30 minutes to set/deactivate
- App lags, very glitchy
- Cannot tell if alarm is set until push notification
- Nothing happens when trying to remotely turn on/off alarm
- Almost never works for disarming or arming
- Close and relaunch multiple times before functioning
- Sporadically not working due to Do Not Disturb switch
- Requires going in and out several times before connecting
- Does not provide fully functional keypad
- Cannot bypass zones or turn on chime
- No audible sound when alarm activated
- Paid for upgrade, works 5% of time
- Slow to load, inconsistently arms and disarms, crashes
- Extremely unreliable
- Constantly says refreshing for hours
- Says disarmed when armed and vice versa
- Slow to connect and slow to never for viewing events
- Slower than molasses, waits over a minute for response
- So slow it appears not to work
- Doesn't work on Droid, works on iPhone
- Doesn't work most of the time
- Doesn't work at all if signal not full strength
- Constant authentication errors
- Freezes badly, rebooting phone is routine
- Displays alarm status disarmed all the time
- Takes FOREVER to confirm arming/disarming
- Requires restarting almost every time
- Does not communicate with alarm panel well
- Tells me alarm is off when it's not and vice versa
- Sat in house and watched panel, tried to disarm with NO success
- Shows home refreshing, reads disarming, nothing happens
- 90% of the time, it's 'refreshing'
- Sound setting for notifications doesn't work
- Lots of bugs
- Hangs up, doesn't authenticate properly
- Seldom displays system status
- Authentication errors, sometimes doesn't arm
- Stopped working, refreshing and hangs
- Very limited, no push notifications
- Takes way too long to send commands
- App crashes too often
- Security keypad display does not display updated information without a manual refresh
- App is extremely slow or hangs a lot
- App hasn't worked at all, says "refreshing" then goes blank
- Authentication error
- Prettier but plagued with issues
- Not being able to arm or disarm
- Every key press just says "transmitting please wait" then nothing
- Often shows an alarm panel state that is wrong
- Displays that it is "Disarming..." when it is not
- New version has problem with screen resolution on iPad
- Missing numbers 3, 6, and 9 on iPad keypad
- Screen doesn't scroll on iPad
- Arming with TouchID arms it in stay mode
- Shows devices refreshing on one of the two locks
- Changing thermostat temp goes back to previous setting
- Cannot get username/password sent
- Automatically closes app and refuses to open
- Syncing for the last 6 1/2 hrs
- Push notifications not implemented correctly in iOS 8
- App does not ask to accept push notifications on first start
Requested features
9 requests- Add progress bars or 'please wait' signs
- Add audible sound for alarms
- Add 4 function keys (ABCD)
- Fix TouchID arming issue
- Allow username/password reset
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Implement push notifications
- Improve user interface for better readability
- Add color to the interface
- Bring back the disarm button
Control4 for OS 3
Reported bugs
5 issues- Intercom and doorbell issues
- Thermostat controls not working as expected
- Inability to connect to the system remotely
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes
Requested features
5 requests- Apple Watch app support
- Better integration with Apple ecosystem
- Improved voice control and Alexa integration
- More customization options for users
- Faster and more responsive app performance
In-app purchases
SecureSmart
No in-app purchases
Control4 for OS 3
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SecureSmart free?
Is Control4 for OS 3 free?
Which has better reviews, SecureSmart or Control4 for OS 3?
Do SecureSmart or Control4 for OS 3 have ads?
Which is updated more often, SecureSmart or Control4 for OS 3?
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