Futurehome

The moment you open the Futurehome app for the first time, you are greeted with a clean dashboard and a prompt to connect your Smarthub. The interface is snappy, living up to the developer's claim of "very fast loading speed." However, the initial impression of a smooth smart home experience quickly gives way to a more complex reality.

Setting up the app requires a Smarthub from Futurehome, which acts as the bridge between the app and your smart devices. The app supports Z-wave and Zigbee protocols, allowing it to work with a wide range of devices. The dashboard is simple and user-friendly, with room navigation that makes it easy to find and control specific devices. Automations can be set up with a few taps—for example, you can create a rule that turns on the lights when the sun goes down. The app also includes climate control features that use sensors to maintain your desired temperature.

When Automations Meet Subscription: A Lock-In Effect

One of the most powerful features of the Futurehome app is its automation system. Users can create complex rules that trigger multiple actions based on time, motion, or other conditions. For instance, you can set up a "Good Night" mode that turns off all lights, locks the doors, and lowers the thermostat with a single tap. This level of control is what makes the app appealing to smart home enthusiasts.

However, the automation system is tightly coupled with the app's subscription model. In mid-2025, Futurehome AS, the developer, filed for bankruptcy and subsequently introduced a mandatory annual subscription fee of approximately $117 for continued access to core features. This includes not only cloud services but also local control features that previously worked without a subscription. Users who had already purchased hardware were suddenly faced with a paywall to continue using their devices. This has led to significant backlash, with many users taking to forums and review sites to express their frustration.

The lock-in effect is particularly pronounced for users who have invested time in setting up complex automations. If they choose not to pay the subscription, they lose access to these automations, as well as to features like push notifications and the timeline. This creates a difficult decision: either pay the annual fee or lose the functionality that made the system useful in the first place. The company's FAQ page states that without a subscription, users "lose access to controlling devices, configuring; automations, modes, shortcuts, and energy services."

Real-World Performance: Bugs, Support, and Reliability

Beyond the subscription controversy, the app's performance in daily use is mixed. On the positive side, the app is indeed fast, with minimal lag when switching between rooms or controlling devices. The interface is intuitive, and the timeline feature provides a useful log of events. However, users have reported various bugs and reliability issues. For example, some users have experienced problems with the modeswitch feature, where the app fails to update the status of devices correctly. Others have reported that the door control feature does not work reliably, with the app showing incorrect status or failing to open or close the door.

Support has also been a point of contention. Multiple users have noted that the support team does not respond to queries, and that bugs are not fixed with updates. The company's user forum was shut down in June 2025, further limiting the avenues for users to seek help. The Trustpilot rating for the company is a dismal 1.8 out of 5, with many reviews citing the subscription model and lack of support as major issues.

Another common complaint is the paywall for sensor data. Users who have invested in smoke detectors, temperature sensors, and solar panel monitors have found that they can no longer access this data through the app without a subscription. This has been described as a "betrayal" by some users, who feel that the company is holding their data hostage.

Technical Details and Platform Availability

The Futurehome app is available for both Android and iOS devices. The Android version requires Android 7.0 or higher and has a file size of approximately 63 MB. The iOS version requires iOS 15.6 or later and has a file size of around 88 MB. The app supports multiple languages, including English, Norwegian, and several others. The app's privacy policy indicates that data is encrypted in transit, but the company may share personal information with third parties.

The app's version history shows regular updates, with the latest version being 7.30.28 on Android and 7.8.20 on iOS. The changelog for recent updates is vague, listing only "performance improvements and fixes." This lack of transparency has frustrated users, who are left guessing whether specific bugs have been addressed. The company's GitHub repository for the FIMP API suggests that there is some level of developer engagement, but the overall impression is that the app is in maintenance mode rather than active development.