Comparison

HCA vs Control

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HCA

Control your home's lighting, thermostat, and automation devices remotely. Monitor sensors, trigger programs, and manage keypads. Uses geofencing for automated actions when entering or leaving areas.

Highlights
  • Remote device control
  • Sensor status monitoring
  • Program execution
  • Keypad control
  • Geofencing automation
  • Log viewing and filtering
  • Custom icon synchronization
Features
Read full description

HCA is a companion app for the Home Control Assistant Server desktop application. It is a client that connects to your HCA Server home automation system over WiFi or Cell network. I have no affiliation with the makers of HCA Server - I'm just a user providing this app for free to people who already own HCA Server. With this app, you can: - Control your home lighting, thermostat and other automation devices remotely. - Check on the status of motion and door/window sensors and your alarm system. - Trigger the execution of HCA programs to expand your remote automation capability. - Control the keypads throughout your home. - Use GeoFences to cause an HCA program to execute when entering/leaving an area. - View the HCA log and filters - Synchronize your custom icons from the HCA server to the app. - View your custom HTML pages generated by the HCA Server - Much, Much more! NOTE: For geofences, the users location is NEVER transmitted to the server or anywhere else outside of the app. It is used only by iOS to track the geofence. The app only sends the user-supplied name of the geofence to the server. For a video showing how to setup and use the app, see here: Part 1: https://youtu.be/IRWOgmouC_c Part 2: https://youtu.be/-On3jNJHW6M Please provide feedback on what features you would like to see implemented next! *** Please give us a rating in the app store ***

About

Control

Transform your mobile device into a versatile network command center. Control smart home devices, send custom commands, and manage your network with a single tap. Features include HTTP server, MIDI control, and collaborative grids.

Highlights
  • HTTP Server capabilities
  • Bluetooth MIDI control
  • Multi-protocol command sending
  • Customizable grid layouts
  • Action chaining
  • Real-time collaboration
Features
Read full description

Control-It turns your iPhone or iPad into a pocket-sized command center for everything on your network. Toggle your lights, open your garage, send HTTP requests, or dispatch MIDI messages—all with a single tap and zero extra hardware. Now with HTTP Server capabilities, MIDI sessions and MIDI input and a Bluetooth MIDI Bridge, Control-It is more powerful than ever. What You Can Do - NEW: HTTP Server: Turn your device into a powerful server to trigger actions remotely via simple HTTP requests. - NEW: MIDI Engine: Seamlessly connect and control Bluetooth MIDI devices without cables. - NEW: Bluetooth Bridge: Not on the same WIFI network as your other devices? Setup a Bluetooth Bridge and control devices without WIFI. - Collaborative Grids: Sync grids instantly with your team. Real-time collaboration is now faster and more reliable. - Multi-Protocol Control: Fire commands over HTTP, TCP, UDP, OSC, and MIDI. - Grid Builder: Create custom layouts for fast, organized control. - Chain Actions: Trigger entire sequences of commands with a single button press. - Smart Responses: Parse & display HTTP responses using JSONPath rules. Why You’ll Love It - Fresh New Look: A modernized, sleek user interface designed for clarity and ease of use. - 100% Free: No subscriptions, no paywalls, and no "Pro" tiers. Every feature is yours, forever. - Instant: Commands leave the phone the moment you tap. - Adaptable: Mix protocols, layouts, and workflows to fit shows, studios, and living rooms alike. - Mobile-First: Built for dark stages, full hands, and those who need reliable tools on the go. - Community-Driven: Upload your grids and actions to the "Shop" or find new ones made by others in the community. Grow with Us Control-It was born backstage, between camera cuts, lighting cues, and last-minute changes. It’s created by a Production Director and made for anyone who needs tools that simply work. Have an idea? Email the Developer with your requests. Privacy Policy: https://micah1crandell.github.io/control_it/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://micah1crandell.github.io/control_it/terms.html

Screenshots

HCA3 screens
Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Control at 5.0 against HCA's 4.7. Control also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). HCA's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Control holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HCA ships an update every 4 months, Control every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
HCA versus Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHCAControl
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (6 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdvanced Quonset Technology, IncMicah Crandell

Customer experience

HCA

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Control

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

HCA

No in-app purchases

None

Control

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HCA free?
HCA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Control free?
Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HCA or Control?
Control is rated higher. HCA averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Control averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do HCA or Control have ads?
Neither HCA nor Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HCA or Control?
HCA ships an update every 4 months, and Control every 6 weeks. Most recently, HCA was updated on June 8, 2026 and Control on September 19, 2026.

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