# Elgato Smart Power vs Controller for HomeKit

The clearest difference is rating: Elgato Smart Power at 5.0 against Controller for HomeKit's 4.1. Elgato Smart Power also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 17.0). Controller for HomeKit's advantage is review sentiment (28% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Controller for HomeKit sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Elgato Smart Power asks for nothing beyond the download.

Elgato Smart Power holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Controller for HomeKit has 2.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Elgato Smart Power's written reviews are positive against 28% of Controller for HomeKit's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Elgato Smart Power ships an update every 2 months, Controller for HomeKit every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elgato Smart Power | Controller for HomeKit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elgato-smart-power/id879063046/reviews)** | [4.1 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **28.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 219 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Eve Systems GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/329886714) | [acasa Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/974663980) |

## What reviewers say

### Elgato Smart Power

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elgato-smart-power/id879063046)

This app helps you manage your portable battery by sending timely refill reminders and integrating with your calendar. It provides detailed information about your battery and allows you to locate it by playing a sound.

**Highlights:** Automatic PowerMinder notifications, Calendar integration for reminders, Detailed battery information display, Locate battery via sound playback

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Controller for HomeKit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727)

Enhance your smart home experience with advanced control and automation. Visualize your home with floor plans, track device performance with charts, and create complex automations tailored to your needs. Organize devices, store setup codes, and monitor your entire smart home ecosystem.

**Highlights:** Floor plan visualization with LiDAR, Device performance charts, Complex automations and workflows, Custom notifications, Smart folders and filters, Setup code storage, Device maintenance and logs

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Controller Essentials | $4.99 | per month |
| Essentials Lifetime - Plus Addon | $4.99 | per month |
| Controller Plus | $8.99 | per month |
| Essentials Lifetime - Plus Addon | $39.99 | per year |
| Controller Essentials | $39.99 | per year |
| Controller Plus | $79.99 | per year |
| Controller Plus Lifetime | $179.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful automation features
- 📚 Helpful backup and restore functionality
- 🔍 Detailed logging and troubleshooting
- 🧠 Advanced HomeKit control and customization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crash-prone
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive UI

**Reported bugs**

- Backup and restore issues
- Disappearing automations and accessories
- Compatibility problems with iOS 16.2
- Slow performance and unresponsiveness

**Requested features**

- Improved documentation and tutorials
- Better integration with Apple Home app
- Support for more HomeKit device types
- Ability to customize automation triggers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elgato Smart Power free?

Elgato Smart Power is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Controller for HomeKit free?

Controller for HomeKit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Elgato Smart Power or Controller for HomeKit?

Elgato Smart Power is rated higher. Elgato Smart Power averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Controller for HomeKit averages 4.1 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do Elgato Smart Power or Controller for HomeKit have ads?

Neither Elgato Smart Power nor Controller for HomeKit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elgato Smart Power or Controller for HomeKit?

Elgato Smart Power ships an update every 2 months, and Controller for HomeKit every 2 weeks. Most recently, Elgato Smart Power was updated on October 24, 2026 and Controller for HomeKit on October 26, 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.*