Hive

Control for a Hive-equipped home

Hive is a home-control app from Centrica Hive Ltd for people who use compatible Hive devices. From a phone, you can manage connected heating, lights, smart plugs and other devices, and bring commonly used controls together on a personal dashboard.

Heating and everyday routines

With a Hive thermostat, the app lets you set heating schedules, raise the temperature with a boost and use options such as Holiday Mode and Frost Protection. Compatible radiator valves can give you room-by-room control. You can also create smart actions for devices, which is useful when you want a routine to run without adjusting each control separately.

Energy use and charging

Hive’s Trends tools can show usage history and budgets, and offer suggestions for managing energy use. If you have Hive EV charging, the app provides charging controls and updates; some charging options depend on your equipment and electricity tariff. The useful scope of the app therefore depends on which Hive products you own. It is not a general-purpose controller for every brand of smart-home device.

What to know before choosing it

Hive has more than 1,000,000 installs, but its Google Play rating is 2.26 out of 5 from 55,745 ratings. That low score is worth weighing against the convenience of keeping compatible home controls in one place. If your household already uses Hive equipment, the app may make regular tasks easier; if you are starting from scratch, first check that the devices and services you want are supported.