Control4 is a smart home automation system that brings lighting, heating, blinds, security, music, TV and door entry into one app, one remote and a set of wall-mounted touch panels. Instead of a different app for every device, the whole house runs from one place.
We’ve been installing Control4 since we started in 2009 and we’re a Control4 Gold Dealer, so here’s a plain-English guide to what it is, how it works and whether it’s right for your home.
What is a Control4 system?
A Control4 system is a network of devices in your home that all talk to one central controller. The controller runs the Control4 software and holds your home’s programming: which lights are in which room, what “Goodnight” should do, when the heating comes on, what happens when someone presses the doorbell.
You interact with it through:
- The Control4 app on your phone or tablet, at home or away.
- Touch panels on the wall or on a table.
- Keypads that replace light switches with engraved scene buttons.
- The Control4 remote for TVs, cinema and music.
- Voice control through Alexa or Google, if you want it.
How does Control4 work?
Every device in the house, from lights and thermostats to TVs and cameras, is connected to the controller either by cable, by Control4’s own wireless network, or over your home network. A Control4 dealer designs the system, installs it and then programmes it around how you live.
That programming is the bit that matters. Control4 isn’t a box you buy and plug in. It’s a platform that a certified dealer configures for your house. Two homes with identical hardware can feel completely different depending on who designed and programmed them.
Some examples of what good programming looks like:
- Press “Welcome” and the gate opens, the drive and hall lights come on and the heating moves to comfort mode.
- Press “Movie” and the lights dim, blinds close, projector and amplifier power up and the film starts.
- Press “Goodnight” and every light goes off, doors lock, the alarm sets and the landing lights go to a low night level.
- Ring the doorbell and the camera appears on the TV you’re watching and on your phone.
What can Control4 control?
Lighting – Control4 lighting, or Lutron systems integrated with Control4. Smart lighting.
Heating and cooling – room-by-room climate control and air conditioning. Smart heating and cooling.
Music and TV – multi-room audio, video distribution and home cinema. Multi-room audio, home cinema.
Security – CCTV, alarms and door locks. Read our guide to Control4 security.
Door entry and gates – video intercom and access control. Intercom and access control.
Blinds and curtains – motorised window treatments on scenes and timers. Electric blinds and curtains.
Control4 vs app-based smart home kit
Off-the-shelf smart home products work well for a room or two. The problems start when a house has twenty different brands, each with its own app, updates and logins. Control4 sits above all of them and makes them work together, with one interface for everyone in the house, including guests, children and grandparents who don’t want to learn ten apps.
The trade-off is that Control4 is professionally installed and supported. For larger homes, that’s usually the point. If you’re weighing up options, our article on Control4 vs KNX and standard home automation goes deeper.
How much does Control4 cost?
It depends entirely on the size of the home and what you want to control. A single room or a lighting-only project costs a fraction of a whole-home system with cinema and multi-room audio. Our Control4 cost guide and budget builder gives realistic numbers.
There’s also the Control4 Connect subscription, which enables remote access and some integrations. We explain what it includes in our Control4 Connect guide.
Why the dealer matters
Control4 is sold and installed only through authorised dealers, and dealers are graded on training, certification and track record. As a Control4 Gold Dealer, we design, install, programme and support systems in-house, with our own electricians and network engineers. Control4 Dealer London.
FAQ
Is Control4 worth it? For homes with several systems to control (lighting, heating, AV, security) it’s usually worth it because it replaces a pile of separate apps with one system that everyone can use. For a flat with a couple of smart bulbs, probably not.
Can I install Control4 myself? No. Control4 is installed and programmed by authorised dealers.
Can Control4 be added to an existing home? Yes. Wireless Control4 devices make retrofits possible without major rewiring.
What if my Control4 dealer has gone out of business? Systems can be transferred to a new dealer. We do this regularly.