Apple Home vs Bosch Smart Home
Apple Home
apple.comBosch Smart Home
bosch-smarthome.comSide by side
| Figure | Apple Home | Bosch Smart Home |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | €4.17/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Smart Home Apps | 8.3 (#11) | 8.5 (#8) |
| Spec score · Home automation platforms | 8.2 (#11) | 8.1 (#14) |
| Spec score · Home Automation | 8.3 (#12) | 8.4 (#8) |
| Camera integration | Yes | Yes |
| Energy monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Local control | Yes | Yes |
| Matter | Apple describes Matter as a smart home standard that supports more accessories and cross-platform connections. | The Smart Home Controller II is ready for the Matter wireless standard, and Bosch [+M] products can integrate directly into Matter systems. |
| Matter support | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | The Home app lets people control smart home accessories across Apple devices. | Bosch Smart Home provides intelligent, connected and automated solutions intended to make everyday life easier and safer. |
| Support | Apple provides instructions for adding accessories and links to troubleshooting and organization help. | Bosch provides product help, application help, compatibility help, downloads, system requirements, software-update information and a contact form with initial AI-based assessment. |
| Voice assistant support | Yes | Yes |
Plans
In their own words
Apple Home
Apple Home is a free app for controlling smart home accessories across Apple devices. Its Home tab groups accessories into categories such as Lights, Security, and Climate and displays their status. It supports compatible accessories for lighting, security, comfort, and entry, along with Matter, cameras, energy monitoring, and voice assistants. The app can show up to four cameras at once, while guest access can grant time-limited permissions for door locks, garage doors, and alarm systems. Accessories can be added by scanning a code or bringing an iPhone or iPad near them; Apple says they cannot be added to Home on Mac. A HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV can serve as a hub for remote access and automation. Examples include turning on lights at a set time, closing blinds when leaving, or adjusting a fan as temperature rises. Siri can also control accessories. Apple says Home data is stored so it cannot read it, accessories are controlled by Apple devices rather than the cloud, and communications are end-to-end encrypted. The app requires Apple devices and compatible accessories.
Bosch Smart Home
Bosch Smart Home connects compatible home devices through the Smart Home Controller II and Bosch Smart Home app. The controller links Bosch and partner devices and is required for the system; Bosch states that exactly one controller is needed. Users can control devices remotely through the app, voice assistants, automations, scenarios, and preconfigured services. Listed integrations include Matter, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, BMW, Philips Hue, Osram LEDVANCE Smart+, and Home Connect. Home Connect supports Bosch, Siemens, and Gaggenau washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and coffee machines. The controller supports local control, Matter, Zigbee, camera integration, and energy monitoring. Bosch says personal data is stored locally on the controller rather than external servers, while remote-access data is encrypted in transit to a phone or tablet. The app requires Android 8.0 or later or iOS 15.5 or later; beta operating systems are unsupported. A free plan is available, with Home+ priced at €4.99 a month and no free trial.