SmartThings vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against SmartThings's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

SmartThings
This App
STRATIS 2.0
Contender
Trane® Home
Contender
Pura
Contender
TP-Link Tapo
Contender
Core Identity
DeveloperSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.GoogleStratIS EMS, LLCTRANE U.S. INCPuraTP-Link Systems Inc.AkzoNobelPaper World CreationiScape Holdings Inc.Planner5D, UAB
CategoryLifestyleLifestyleLifestyleLifestyleShoppingLifestyleLifestylePersonalizationLifestyleLifestyle
PlatformAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroidAndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOS
Store Metrics
Rating4.6 / 54.6 / 54.1 / 54.8 / 54.7 / 54.8 / 53.7 / 54.6 / 54.6 / 54.4 / 5
Ratings Count749,4651,289,9647,843146,786171,57818,0261614,85828,86435,639
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree$45FreeFree
Release DateJun 20, 2017Aug 27, 2013Jan 22, 2020Jul 6, 2011Aug 4, 2017Sep 16, 2019Jul 8, 2016Apr 2, 2012May 28, 2011Apr 30, 2013
Last UpdatedApr 30, 2026Apr 27, 2026May 8, 2026Apr 16, 2026Apr 10, 2026May 13, 2026Apr 14, 2026Apr 22, 2026Mar 25, 2026May 18, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentnegativemixed--mixedpositive--terribleterrible
Score35/10065/100--85/10075/100--15/10025/100
Praises
  • Convenient remote control functionality provides a useful alternative when physical controllers are misplaced or broken
  • Centralized device management
--
  • Automated scheduling and remote control features provide significant convenience for home scent management
  • High quality fragrance variety creates an inviting and pleasant atmosphere in residential spaces
  • Affordable hardware pricing provides high value for home surveillance without requiring monthly subscription fees
--
  • Professional landscape designers value the point and place tool for quick client visualization
  • High quality graphics and realistic visual rendering capabilities keep design enthusiasts engaged during sessions
Complaints
  • Persistent connection failures and device pairing errors prevent reliable control of home appliances and televisions
  • High latency in device execution
  • Android dashboard instability
--
  • Forced marketing advertisements upon app launch prevent immediate access to device controls
  • Persistent connectivity issues cause diffusers to drop from the network following recent updates
  • Intrusive in-app advertisements frustrate users who have already purchased hardware and expect a clean experience
--
  • Aggressive paywall prevents any meaningful testing of core design features before subscription
  • Confusing subscription management and billing practices lead to unauthorized charges for users
  • Deceptive subscription practices and unauthorized charges during the trial period frustrate new users significantly
  • AI-powered floor plan generation produces inaccurate and unusable layouts that break existing project designs
Requests
  • Simplified device control interface that avoids complex home diagrams and mandatory recipe suggestions
---
  • Transparent fragrance containers would allow users to verify actual liquid levels manually
  • Desktop application support for Mac and Windows to enable monitoring via larger screens
---
  • Transparent and accessible cancellation workflows to prevent unwanted annual subscription charges for new users
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • System-level integration with Samsung hardware creates high switching costs
  • 100s of third-party brand integrations expand the addressable IoT market
  • Editors' Choice badge across five markets sustains organic install velocity
  • System-level Android integration replaces default assistant triggers
  • 21-language voice library functions as a B2B distribution moat
  • Property-wide network connectivity ensures device reliability
  • B2B2C distribution model secures captive resident user base
  • SOC 2 Type 2 security certification builds institutional trust
-
  • Proprietary fragrance refill subscription model creates recurring revenue
  • Multi-device management increases hardware footprint per user
  • Curated brand partnerships provide high-margin distribution
  • Hardware-first pricing lowers entry barriers
  • Vertical integration ensures low-latency performance
  • Multi-assistant support expands addressable market
--
  • AR-based visualization tool provides a clear differentiator for design-focused users
  • Integrated PDF proposal generation creates a B2B lock-in for landscape professionals
  • 8,400-item catalog provides deep design versatility
  • Cross-platform cloud sync increases user switching costs
  • High-fidelity rendering engine supports professional-grade output
Weaknesses
  • 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates platform-specific instability
  • Persistent pairing errors drive high churn
  • Interface bloat obscures core remote functionality
  • Premium Nest Aware subscription pricing above category median
  • 0.5★ Android-iOS rating gap on majority Android base
  • 0.9★ rating gap between iOS and Android
  • Reliance on property-specific hardware limits device expansion
  • High friction for resident onboarding
-
  • Intrusive ad-walls at launch block core functionality
  • Persistent connectivity regressions post-update
  • Inaccurate fragrance level reporting triggers premature vial replacement
  • In-app advertising degrades user experience
  • Connectivity bugs require manual power cycling
  • Lack of native desktop viewing interface
--
  • $29.99/month subscription entry point exceeds the median for lifestyle utility apps
  • 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates poor platform parity
  • High-frequency billing complaints suggest a broken cancellation flow
  • Premium tier at $9.99/month above category median
  • Persistent project data loss incidents
  • Opaque subscription cancellation workflows
Pricingfreefreemiumfreefreefreemiumfreemiumfreepaidfreemiumsubscription
MomentumMaintenanceActiveMaintenance-IntenseActive--MaintenanceActive
Update Cadence5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~44d avg5 versions, ~10d avg2 versions, ~1d avg-5 versions5 versions, ~12d avg--5 versions, 4 majors/6mo, ~19d avg5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~10d avg

Compare SmartThings head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by SmartThings, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0