ViCare vs Homematic IP
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ViCare
Remotely manage your home heating system with an intuitive interface. Monitor system status, adjust temperatures, and set schedules to save energy and ensure comfort. Offers convenient shortcuts for common actions like hot water requests or vacation mode.
- Remote heating system control
- Temperature adjustment
- Daily scheduling for energy saving
- System status monitoring
- Hot water and away shortcuts
- Holiday program settings
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ViCare - the best way to connect to your Viessmann heating system. New possibilities to control your heating system via the internet offers the ViCare app. With the simple graphical user interface of ViCare, the operation of the heating system is very intuitive. Feel secure Warmth and reassurance in one ● In one view, get an instant check if everything is in order Save costs Set your preferred room temperature and save money when you’re away from home ● Simple, convenient operation of your heating system ● Store daily schedules and automatically save energy costs ● Set basic functions at the touch of a button on your smartphone Core functions (depending on heating system): ● Displaying the status of your heating ● Capability to set up the most important functions of your heating system ● Store your daily routine to automatically save energy costs ● View outside temperature history ● Shortcuts e.g.: I want hot water or I’m away ● Holiday program Please note: We publish the functions gradually! You can expect several small updates in the next weeks and months. There will be always something new to discover. Comments or feedback? Share your thoughts with us and other users in our Viessmann Community! https://www.viessmann-community.com/ ____________ Important: The ViCare app can be used in conjunction with an internet-compatible Viessmann heating system or in conjunction with the Viessmann Vitoconnect WLAN module or a Viessmann heating system with an integrated Internet interface. Functions available in ViCare are depending on functions available on boiler itself. ____________ Terms of use: https://climate-solutions.com/vicare/terms-of-use/US/en.html
Homematic IP
Control your home's climate, security, lighting, and shutters with this smart home app. It offers energy savings, enhanced comfort, and automated routines. Voice control integration and secure, anonymous data handling are also provided.
- Climate control for energy savings
- Home security monitoring
- Automated lighting and dimming
- Shutter and blind control
- Customizable automation rules
- Voice control integration
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The constantly growing product range of Homematic IP includes devices for climate control, security, weather, light and shutter control applications as well as various accessory components. The climate control devices offer demand-based room-by-room control of radiators throughout the entire house, enabling users to save up to 30 % on their energy costs. And also floor heating systems can efficiently be controlled with Homematic IP products. No movement goes unnoticed with the security components. Users are informed whenever windows and doors are opened. One look at the app is enough to find out that everything is all right at home. Comfort is enhanced with switching and dimming actuators for light control as well as products for automation of shutters and blinds. All Homematic IP devices for brand switches can be easily integrated into the design of existing switch series using our adapters. For operation, a Homematic IP Access Point in connection with the Homematic IP app (no recurring costs) is required. Once installed, the system can be controlled comfortably via app, remote control or wall-mounted push-button. In addition, the combination of almost all devices and conditions of various application areas is possible. Therefore, the Homematic IP app offers pre-programmed functionalities as well as the configuration of individual automation rules. There are virtually no limits to the users’ creative leeway. Another benefit is offered by controlling the system using voice control services like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Single devices are configured by the Homematic IP cloud service, which is run exclusively on servers located in Germany and therefore complies with European and German data protection guidelines. All data stored in the Homematic IP cloud is completely anonymous. However, it does not permit any conclusion about the user’s identity and the individual usage behaviour. Furthermore, all communication between the Access Point, cloud and app is encrypted. As neither during nor after installation of the app you will need to provide private data such as name, email address or mobile phone number, your anonymity is protected 100%. Heating and climate control Homematic IP offers demand-based control of radiators room-by-room in the entire house, enabling increased living comfort and energy savings of up to 30 %. The Homematic IP Window / Door Contact detects open windows and doors and automatically turns down the heating during ventilation. Afterwards, your heating will be controlled automatically and makes the everyday life easier. Light and shade Comfortable switching and dimming of lights creates a sense of well-being in your home. Thus, a comfortable atmosphere for your TV evening is created via the app as the ceiling light is dimmed to a desired brightness level while the floor lamp is switched on. Also, the sense of security is increased with an illuminated driveway or house façade in the evening. Shutters and blinds darken rooms, create a sense of privacy and increase the security. The actuators are controlled comfortably via individual week profiles, also depending on the sunrise and sunset. Furthermore, active shutters and blinds make the home look inhabited even if you are not at home. Security and alarms In alarm mode, users are informed whenever windows and doors are opened. Motion detectors offer reliable monitoring in inside and outside areas while sirens and smoke alarms trigger an alarm in case of break-ins or fire. Just a quick glance at the app is all it takes to see that everything is as it should be at home.
Screenshots
Verdict
ViCare and Homematic IP both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Homematic IP's written reviews are positive against 41% of ViCare's. Homematic IP also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). ViCare's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 54). On price, rating, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. ViCare sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Homematic IP asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for ViCare against 4.5 for Homematic IP. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ViCare has 1.3K ratings behind it against 54, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of ViCare's written reviews are positive against 80% of Homematic IP's.
ViCare ships an update every 9 days, Homematic IP every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | ViCare | Homematic IP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (1.3K ratings) — better | 4.5 (54 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.7% of reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K — better | 54 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 727 MB | 236 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Viessmann IT Service GmbH | eQ-3 AG |
Customer experience
ViCare
Homematic IP
Bugs and requests
ViCare
Reported bugs
4 issues- App fails to load or gets stuck on loading screen
- Settings changes not syncing properly with boiler
- Incorrect time zone and DST adjustments
- Frequent loss of connectivity to boiler
Requested features
4 requests- Add a simple 'boost' or 'quick on' heating mode
- Provide more granular control over heating and hot water schedules
- Enable integration with smart home platforms like Alexa or HomeKit
- Improve data visualization and historical energy usage tracking
Homematic IP
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ViCare
- Monthly1 Month trial$3.991 Month
- Yearly1 Month trial$33.991 Year
Homematic IP
No in-app purchases









