# ecobee by Generac vs SmartThings

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SmartThings at none against ecobee by Generac's 14. SmartThings also leads on chart position (#9 vs #68) and ratings volume (845K vs 203K). ecobee by Generac's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ecobee by Generac sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SmartThings asks for nothing beyond the download.

ecobee by Generac holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 203K and 845K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of ecobee by Generac's written reviews are positive against 31% of SmartThings's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ecobee by Generac ships an update fortnightly, SmartThings monthly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ecobee by Generac | SmartThings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (203K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ecobee-by-generac/id916985674/reviews)** | [4.6 (845K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthings/id1222822904/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 203K | **845K** |
| Positive reviews | 29.2% of reviews | **30.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #68 | **#9** |
| Size | 561 MB | 887 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ecobee Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/339159188) | [Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/359580642) |

## What reviewers say

### ecobee by Generac

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ecobee-by-generac/id916985674)

**Currently charting:** #68 Top Free · Lifestyle, #97 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Control your smart home devices, including thermostats, cameras, and sensors. Automate your home for comfort and peace of mind, and monitor entryways and cabinets with intelligent alerts. Save energy with custom schedules and find potential rebates.

**Highlights:** Control SmartThermostat, SmartCamera, and SmartSensor, Step-by-step installation guides, Customizable thermostat schedules, Home automation with Autopilot, Intelligent alerts for entryways and cabinets, Energy rebate search

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart Security Standard | $4.99 | per month |
| Smart Security Standard | $4.99 | per month |
| Smart Security Standard | $4.99 | per month |
| Smart Security Standard | $4.99 | per month |
| Smart Security Complete | $9.99 | per month |
| Smart Security Complete | $9.99 | per month |
| Smart Security Complete | $9.99 | per month |
| Smart Security Complete | $9.99 | per month |
| Smart Security Standard | $49.99 | per year |
| Smart Security Standard | $49.99 | per year |
| Smart Security Complete | $89.99 | per year |
| Smart Security Complete | $89.99 | per year |
| Smart Security Complete | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 🔒 Secure connectivity
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 👍 Helpful scheduling features
- 👍 Reliable hardware

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app updates
- 🕰️ Slow app response times
- 🔀 Confusing UI changes
- 🔋 Frequent disconnections
- 🤖 Unreliable voice assistant integration

**Reported bugs**

- Temperature settings not saving
- Sensor detection issues
- Frequent app crashes
- Broken widget functionality
- Account management problems

**Requested features**

- Multi-zone management options
- Customizable smart actions
- Flexible scheduling intervals
- Improved energy monitoring
- Seamless HomeKit integration


### SmartThings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthings/id1222822904)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Lifestyle, #168 Top Free (US App Store)

Unify and manage all your smart home devices from a single application. Connect hundreds of brands, create custom scenes and routines, and control your home remotely. Monitor energy usage and even get meal planning assistance.

**Highlights:** Connect and control devices from multiple brands, Create custom scenes and routines, Remote home monitoring and control, Automated notifications and status updates, Voice control with Google Assistant, Energy tracking and saving features, Smart cooking and meal planning assistance

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Remote control functionality
- 📚 Laundry cycle recommendations
- 🤖 Automation and scheduling capabilities
- 🔧 Customizable settings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and crashes
- ⏱️ Slow and laggy performance
- 🔍 Difficulty connecting and configuring devices
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive user interface
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to add or remove devices
- Inconsistent device status updates
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to control TV without remote
- Improved photo/artwork management for Frame TV
- More advanced automation and scheduling options
- Better integration with other smart home platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ecobee by Generac free?

ecobee by Generac is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SmartThings free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ecobee by Generac or SmartThings?

ecobee by Generac is rated higher. ecobee by Generac averages 4.8 out of 5 from 203K ratings, while SmartThings averages 4.6 from 845K ratings.

### Do ecobee by Generac or SmartThings have ads?

Neither ecobee by Generac nor SmartThings shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ecobee by Generac or SmartThings?

ecobee by Generac ships an update fortnightly, and SmartThings monthly. Most recently, ecobee by Generac was updated on October 16, 2026 and SmartThings on October 16, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ecobee by Generac or SmartThings?

ecobee by Generac currently peaks at #68 in the App Store charts, and SmartThings at #9. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*