# ecobee by Generac vs SmartHQ

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SmartHQ at none against ecobee by Generac's 14. ecobee by Generac's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ecobee by Generac sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SmartHQ 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 88K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of ecobee by Generac's written reviews are positive against 17% of SmartHQ's.

ecobee by Generac ships an update fortnightly, SmartHQ every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ecobee by Generac | SmartHQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (203K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ecobee-by-generac/id916985674/reviews)** | [4.6 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarthq/id992883749/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **203K** | 88K |
| Positive reviews | **29.2% of reviews** | 17.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#57** | #78 |
| Size | 563 MB | 259 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ecobee Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/339159188) | [HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1203332547) |

## What reviewers say

### ecobee by Generac

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

**Currently charting:** #57 Top Free · Lifestyle, #95 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


### SmartHQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarthq/id992883749)

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Control and monitor smart appliances from multiple brands in one app. Receive notifications, update software, and personalize settings. Get expert help and track energy usage.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Appliance notifications, Software updates, Personalized settings, Voice integration, Energy/water usage monitoring, AI cooking recipes, Product registration, Expert assistance, Proactive service alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and easy to connect
- 👍 Convenient notifications
- 👍 Helpful for laundry efficiency
- 👍 Automation and scheduling
- 👍 Integrated with Amazon

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Account verification issues
- 🐛 Connectivity problems
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🐛 Limited functionality
- 🐛 Intrusive data collection

**Reported bugs**

- Account verification loop
- Inability to connect appliances to WiFi
- Crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate cycle tracking
- Disconnection issues

**Requested features**

- Allow setting favorites as default
- Provide more granular control over appliance settings
- Integrate with smart home platforms
- Add more customization options
- Improve notification controls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ecobee by Generac free?

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

### Is SmartHQ free?

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

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

ecobee by Generac is rated higher. ecobee by Generac averages 4.8 out of 5 from 203K ratings, while SmartHQ averages 4.6 from 88K ratings.

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

SmartHQ shows ads; ecobee by Generac does not.

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

ecobee by Generac ships an update fortnightly, and SmartHQ every 4 weeks. Most recently, ecobee by Generac was updated on October 15, 2026 and SmartHQ on October 15, 2026.

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

ecobee by Generac currently peaks at #57 in the App Store charts, and SmartHQ at #78. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*