# Media Remote vs Controller for HomeKit

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Media Remote at none against Controller for HomeKit's 10. Media Remote also leads on iOS requirement (7.1 vs 17.0). Controller for HomeKit's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.7) and review sentiment (27% vs 0%). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Controller for HomeKit sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Media Remote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Controller for HomeKit holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Controller for HomeKit has 2.7K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Media Remote's written reviews are positive against 27% of Controller for HomeKit's.

Media Remote ships an update every 2 months, Controller for HomeKit every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Media Remote | Controller for HomeKit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/media-remote/id909180599/reviews) | **[4.1 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **2.7K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **26.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 210 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [E-lead Electronics](https://appshunter.io/developer/598224006) | [acasa Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/974663980) |

## What reviewers say

### Media Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/media-remote/id909180599)

Control your E-LEAD head unit from your iPhone. Adjust volume, change radio stations, and select music or videos to play, even from the back seat. Requires specific E-LEAD products and an iPhone personal hotspot.

**Highlights:** Connect to E-LEAD head units, Volume adjustment, Radio station control, Select songs and videos, Backseat control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| 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 Essentials Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |
| Controller Essentials Lifetime | $139.99 | 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 Media Remote free?

Media Remote 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, Media Remote or Controller for HomeKit?

Controller for HomeKit is rated higher. Media Remote averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Controller for HomeKit averages 4.1 from 2.7K ratings.

### Do Media Remote or Controller for HomeKit have ads?

Neither Media Remote nor Controller for HomeKit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Media Remote or Controller for HomeKit?

Media Remote ships an update every 2 months, and Controller for HomeKit every 10 days. Most recently, Media Remote was updated on October 5, 2026 and Controller for HomeKit on October 18, 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.*