Comparison

NorthStar Connect vs PHC Home Control

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

NorthStar Connect

Control your Honeywell security system, thermostats, lighting, and locks remotely. Receive alerts, view live video, and track assets in real-time, anytime, anywhere. Requires a compatible system and subscription.

Highlights
  • Arm/disarm security system
  • Control lights and thermostats
  • Lock/unlock doors
  • View live video and doorbell events
  • Receive event alerts
  • Locate vehicles or assets
  • Create smart scenes
Features
Read full description

The NorthStar Connect® Remote Services app gives you complete control of your Honeywell security system, thermostats, lighting, locks and more, plus the ability to receive text messages and email alerts, view live video and see your video doorbell events, locate vehicles or assets*— in real-time where ever you are 24 hours a day. Requirement: Compatible Honeywell security systems with a subscription to NorthStar Connect Remote Services. Please contact your security professional for additional information. Feature Highlights: · Arm or disarm your security system · Turn lights on or off · Adjust thermostat temperature · Unlock or lock doors · Control an August Smart Lock · Create Smart Scenes with a Wizard guide for convenience · View your live video and video events · See your SkyBell video doorbell events · Receive email and text alerts about events in your home or business including alarms, extreme temperature changes, motion detected in restricted areas, movement of valuable items, and more · Language support for: English, Latin American Spanish, French Canadian, Brazilian Portuguese · Secure Login with your fingerprint · Locate vehicles or assets · Create users and manage their security system codes · Test Drive Demo

About

PHC Home Control

Control your home's lighting and blinds with this app. It allows you to switch, dim, and manage your PEHA PHC system devices directly from your smartphone or tablet. The app automatically displays the current status of your connected devices.

Highlights
  • Switch and dim lights
  • Control blinds and shutters
  • Real-time status display
  • Automatic device detection via WLAN
  • Customizable building/function structure
  • No in-app configuration needed
Read full description

Die PHC APP ermöglicht das Schalten, Dimmen und Bedienen von Jalousien/Rollladen in einem PEHA PHC System mit dem Smartphone oder Tablett. Schalt- und Dimmzustände in der Anlage werden automatisch in der APP angezeigt. Das Bediengerät (Smartphone oder Tablett) erkennt automatisch via WLAN die PHC Anlage im gleichen Heim-Netzwerk. Die Gebäude- oder Funktionsstruktur kann in frei definierten TAB’s und Menüs dargestellt werden. Hierzu werden bei der Erstellung der PHC Anlage mit der PHC Software durch den Installateur die Funktionen einfach in den Ausgangsmodulen entsprechend kommentiert. !!! Die genaue Erklärung und Verwendung der Beschreibungssyntax finden Sie auf der PEHA Webseite www.peha.de Grundvoraussetzung für die Nutzung der PHC APP ist: • Die Nutzung von PHC Steuermodulen ab Version 3 mit Netzwerkanschluss • Firmware für das Steuermodul ab V3.28 • Max. 3 Steuermodule in einem Projekt • Integration der Steuermodule in das Heimnetzwerk Beim Starten der APP wird das PHC Projekt automatisch geladen und die Stati der anzeigbaren Funktionen aktualisiert. Eine Konfiguration innerhalb der APP ist nicht notwendig. Hinweis: Ein Zugriff von Außerhalb des Netzwerkes ist z.B. über die Einrichtung einer VPN-Verbindung möglich. Informationen hierzu entnehmen Sie bitte der Beschreibung Ihres Routers oder sprechen Ihren IT-Fachmann oder Internetprovider an. ---- The PHC APP enable you to switch, dim and control your shutters/blinds in a PEHA PHC system with a smartphone or tablet. Status information about switch or dim functions in your system will be displayed automatically in the APP. The user device (smartphone or tablet) can detect the PHC system via WLAN in the same home network. The building or function structure can freely defined and displayed in TAB’s and menus. It’s easy to define these descriptions in the output modules using the PHC commissioning software with your installer. The how to manual is available for download on the PEHA website: www.peha.de Requirements for using the PHC APP: • Use of PHC control units from Version 3 on with network connection • Firmware for control unit V3.28 or later • Max. 3 control units per PHC project • Integration of control units into your home network After starting the APP, the PHC project will be automatically loaded and the status information of the displayable functions will be updated. There is no need for a configuration inside the APP. Note: Access from outside your network can be done e.g. via a VPN connection. For setting up a VPN connection please read the manual of your router or ask your IT expert or internet provider

Screenshots

NorthStar Connect4 screens
PHC Home Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PHC Home Control at 75% against NorthStar Connect's 15%. PHC Home Control also leads on monetization model (free vs subscription) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NorthStar Connect ships an update every 5 weeks, PHC Home Control monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
NorthStar Connect versus PHC Home Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNorthStar ConnectPHC Home Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (10K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews14.8% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size225 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNorthstar Alarm Services, LLCHoneywell International, Inc.

Customer experience

NorthStar Connect

All ratings10,202 ratings
Positive80.8%
Neutral5.0%
Negative14.2%
Written reviews108 reviews
Positive14.8%
Neutral5.6%
Negative79.6%

PHC Home Control

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

NorthStar Connect

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Cameras going offline frequently
  • Unreliable motion detection
  • Alarm system malfunctions

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improved camera functionality
  • Better app stability and reliability
  • More responsive customer support

PHC Home Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

NorthStar Connect

No in-app purchases

None

PHC Home Control

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NorthStar Connect free?
NorthStar Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PHC Home Control free?
PHC Home Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do NorthStar Connect or PHC Home Control have ads?
Neither NorthStar Connect nor PHC Home Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NorthStar Connect or PHC Home Control?
NorthStar Connect ships an update every 5 weeks, and PHC Home Control monthly. Most recently, NorthStar Connect was updated on November 6, 2026 and PHC Home Control on November 2, 2026.

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