Best home automation apps for Apple Watch in 2023
While Apple Watch already comes with Siri and a smaller version of the Home app, many third-party apps can make it faster and easier to control and manage your smart home. Want to quickly access the live view from your HomeKit cameras or create an automation to turn off the lights while you’re away? There’s an app for everything! You’ll find them in this list of the best home automation apps for Apple Watch.
- IFTTT
- HomeDash
- Home+ 6
- Pushcut
- Controller for HomeKit
- Thermo clock for Nest & Ecobee
- HomeCam for HomeKit
- HomeRun 2 for HomeKit
1. IFTTT – Editors’ Choice
The IFTTT app lets you connect and automate your smart home gadgets with a simple, no-code interface. It includes over 700 services and comes with over 100,000 built-in automation tools. Thus, you do not need to program your devices. Plus, you can integrate its features with Siri, Reminder, and Health apps. Plus, you can access features through Apple Watch widgets and extensions.
I liked its location feature, which allows you to automatically turn on the lights and play songs based on your position. In addition to automatic home security alerts, you will also receive personalized weather forecasts. If you are using services that are not available in IFTTT, you can connect them via Webhooks.
pros
- Connect all apps and devices
- Use Social Media Automation
- Create your own workflows
Minuses
- Services are limited to the free version
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $3.99)
2. HomeDash is a paid Apple Watch app for home automation.
The HomeDash app helps you manage multiple HomeKit and Matter devices of the same category. You can create interactive dashboards and groups to control your smart home from one place. In addition, it allows you to save and categorize automations in different folders. Once you have programmed one of your HomeKit devices, you can apply those settings to other devices.
This way, all of your bundled devices, such as light bulbs or fans, will work the same way, saving you time and effort. In addition, I liked the simple and user-friendly interface of the application. You can also create automations using HomeKit device settings and launch them directly from Spotlight search. As such, HomeDash is a prerequisite for taking advantage of critical HomeKit features with outstanding reliability and performance.
pros
- Create one dashboard for multiple devices
- Useful Widgets
- Supports spotlight search
Minuses
- Missing widget settings
- Organization tiles need improvement
Price: $9.99
3. Home+ 6 – Individual triggers
Home+ 6 is a solid alternative to the Apple Home app as it offers the most features for automating, controlling and managing HomeKit devices. It allows you to access the functions of a smart home gadget. You can set detailed triggers and develop robust automations. In addition, you can back up all settings and automation data.
The app makes it easy to manage multiple accessories at the same time using the Groups feature. What’s more, you can also mark services, groups, and scenes as favorites so you can access and manage them instantly from your home screen and lock screen widgets. So if you have Eve accessories, this is the perfect Apple Watch home automation app.
pros
- good settings
- Set detailed trigger automation
- Backing up HomeKit device settings and data
Minuses
- Expensive
Price: $14.99
4. Pushcut is a unique Apple Watch app for home automation
The Pushcut app lets you create automation shortcuts on your iPhone and Apple Watch. It combines advanced widgets and notifications with strong automation actions. So you can create custom HomeKit interfaces, shortcuts, and custom workflows for your smart home devices. The best part is that it offers a widget editor to create personalized widgets to display dynamic data.
In addition, you can set up smart alerts and reminders triggered by your custom shortcuts, HomeKit schedules, locations, web services (such as IFTTT, Zapier, Flow, etc.), home servers, and more. In addition, notification action buttons allow you to launch HomeKit Scenes directly. The only problem is that the Apple Watch can’t open shortcuts.
pros
- Smart push notifications
- Creating Widgets and Local Triggers
- Powerful API
Minuses
- Most features are paid
- Steep learning curve
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
5. HomeKit Controller – Restore your smart home
The Controller for HomeKit app acts as a hub for all your smart home devices. You can manage your rooms, create scenes, set automations, and control your devices. In addition, you can disable, archive, and automate backups for easy management. This way, if any device is faulty, you can troubleshoot and restore settings.
In addition, the application shows logs for monitoring HomeKit activities. Also, when creating a new automation, you can copy actions from an existing one, or use smart folders to select complex settings. The workflow allows you to program procedures for repetitive actions. I liked the support for custom icons to personalize the look and feel of the home setup.
pros
- Troubleshooting HomeKit Devices
- Watch live from the security camera
- Creating Homekit Bookmarks
Minuses
- Fighting Temperature-Based Automation
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $5.49)
6. Thermo Watch for Nest & Ecobee – No iPhone Needed
If you’ve installed Nest and Ecobee thermostats, you can control and manage them with your Apple Watch thanks to the Thermo Watch app. Plus, it includes Siri Voice shortcuts for hands-free control. The best part is that you don’t need an iPhone to use the app, as it can work with an Apple Watch LTE or Wi-Fi connection.
The app offers controls such as quick heat up or cool down, temperature adjustment, Home/Away status setting, and more through the Digital Crown. In addition, special watch complications can receive information from the HomeKit thermostat. You can also use the iOS and Apple TV widget to control the thermostat.
pros
- Controlling thermostats with the Digital Crown
- Support for Siri voice commands
- Special watch complications and dials
Minuses
- Adding Ecobee devices is problematic
Price: $2.99
7. HomeCam for HomeKit – Control your security cameras
The HomeCam app lets you watch live feeds from all your cameras and control your HomeKit gadgets at the same time. You can get real-time temperature, humidity and air quality information when you put the camera in full screen mode. Based on the data, you can control and automate your other HomeKit devices.
Also, full screen mode allows you to talk to people using the speaker and microphone of the camera. The best part is that all your entries are password protected. In addition, the Live Notifications widget keeps you up to date on all activities. You can access cameras in real time using Siri and set up alerts.
pros
- Manage camera settings
- Siri support
- Multiple layers of data on a camera channel
Minuses
- Doesn’t work properly with HomeBridge
Price: $4.99
8. HomeRun 2 for HomeKit – Making Apple Watch Complications
The HomeRun 2 app for HomeKit lets you control your home automation right from your wrist. You can create custom Apple Watch extensions and widgets to assign tasks to your smart home devices. So you can fully enjoy HomeKit actions and scenes. In addition, the simple user interface makes it easy to set up complications.
In addition, Grids allow you to organize scenes and activities based on routine time. This way, when you get up, the complication can represent your morning scene, but at night, it must represent your nightly chores. In addition, widgets on the iPhone home screen allow you to focus on activities according to your preferences.
pros
- Customizable Apple Watch complications
- Widgets on the Apple Watch and iPhone home screen
- Create routine automation
Minuses
- Can’t mark your procedures
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.49)
Control your home right from your wrist!
Apple Watch integration with the smart home system has revolutionized the way we live, making it more convenient and efficient. From lighting and temperature control to security and entertainment control, Apple Watch apps for HomeKit help you create a smarter, more efficient home.
In addition, there are several Apple Watch home automation apps for certain smart home gadgets such as Philips Hue, ecobee, Honey Well, etc. Therefore, I suggest using manufacturer-recommended official apps for these devices to improve user experience. What HomeKit apps do you use on your Apple Watch? Let me know in the comments below!
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