Control4 Reviews 4,028

The system is fine when it works but the slightest disruption of connection from outrages or any other issue causes failures in either one zone or another. Every time you turn the system on it's questionable that it will function. I would refrain from purchasing this system, and highly recommend seeking a more reliable alternative. I intend to remove this mess from my house and eat the loss as it is no longer worth my time to address it's failures.

The first star represents thew system's functionality when it works. The second is for the cosmetic appeal of the remotes.

This product and service are absolutely horrendous. I paid thousands to install this system, and the service tech has really struggled. When I wanted simple answers to AC interface connections, he had no answers. The Control4 "customer advocacy" rep gives some ludicrous response that says, "Go back to the rep; if you had a problem with Sony, you would not talk to them". Wrong, I would, and they would respond. Simply a horrifying product and service; I can't believe I changed out from Crestron. RUN AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE FAST.

Can't believe this company is still doing business. They have no customer service. The dealers only sell new equipment. Every piece of equipment is in £1,000s and more. Often the new replacement equipment does not work with all the existing set-up and we need to change more stuff. I wish I had checked the reviews before having this rubbish installed.
There are so many alternatives today. Wifi, lighting, door bell, etc. working remotely at affordable prices is so common these days.

I have had a Control4 system for my A/V system (large house, 5 TV's, 3 outdoor patios, etc.). All the gear is in one location inside a data closet. The technician that installed it provided very poor support and almost never was I able to actually talk to him. I changed a TV about a year and a half ago and was never able to get it controlled by the Control4 system. Bought another TV in December and talked with another technician who finally came from afar to try to get the TV's controlled (instead of using a bunch of remotes). He arrived 3 hours late and tried to download a firmware update but ran out of time. We didn't get the TV under control and lost control of the two Direct TV receivers in the process. He tried to sell me more hardware for my wifi /internet system. The last thing I want is more Control4 gear because whenever something goes wrong I have to wait months for someone to fix it. The equipment seems to be good quality but the weakness of the whole system is dependance on the independent technicians. I think Control4's business model is weak and leaves the customers that have purchased and installed their hardware with little to no options.
Update on April 10, 2023:
I have finally decided to scrap the Control4 system. I can't maintain it myself and cannot get a technician to service it. The last technician tried to hold me hostage to buy $4,000 worth of additional Control4 hardware before he would do any service. This is not service. It is a dis-service. Not sure how Control4 can keep doing business this way. They provide no help to support their gear whatsoever.

We bought a "smart" home that uses Control 4 home automation system to control the light, door, front door security camera, and indoor climate. The problem is that you can't manage the system unless you pay the annual license fee. Any reset after power excursion, or s/w upgrade will need to go through the dealer. Worst yet, when Control 4 introduce new products, they don't support yours any more. I am still using iPhone 8+ after 6 years, but you won't find any people to support you from Control 4. Their 866 785-9409 toll free number is a joke, not even a robot answering the call.

We have had Control 4 for 3 months and would not go there if we had our time again. The documentation is so far non-existent (although it is coming apparently), the system is sometimes not functional from the iPhone … App won’t go live so you can’t open the door. Things like the remote response to front door are flakey and only work sometimes.
Generally unimpressed campers and the whole system seems better at sucking money out than providing reliable performance.

days ago
NEW
Critical: Value
We have a whole house Control4 system installed by the builder. Supposedly a $100,000++ system. We are helpless to do any programming or changes on our own. Now, as of 2023 our installer will charge $20/ month for a support contract….keep in mind we pay them for monitoring our security system too. So, now I’m a hostage…can’t run my home with out them. All I wanted was to know how to add SiriusXM to the control panel…nope….have to pay a ransom.

It’s amazing the number of things they can’t do remotely too. So they charge over $150 to come out plus an hourly fee. The system is buggy. Recently I found out one issue was because an update hadn’t been done…oh, and they can’t push updates like most technology companies..they have to send a tech.

Want to change the name on a light switch? Have to call Control4.

Alexa does integrate but it is kludgy. Want to turn off all lights, you say “Alexa, turn on goodnight” (Control4 dictates the terminology and each light has its own name..all 40+ of them in my house)”. Then Alexa says, “goodnight isn’t responding” then about 30 seconds later the lights may go out. It usually takes about two tries to get the lights off. Control4 says it has something to do with my internet, but my internet is fast and the router et al was installed by them. Amazingly, after suffering with that for almost two years the problem went away after the latest update.

Speaking of lighting…There are Alexa ‘scenes’ set up by them but there are so many that I can’t remember all their names and their names are very convoluted. Like these:
UPSTAIRS OVERHEAD LIGHT,
UPSTAIRS OVERHEAD LIGHT MORNING
UPSTAIRS GAME ROOM LIGHT
ETC
Frankly I gave up…I just use the Alexa app, created a few basic scenes to use….or I just turn them off the old fashioned way by using the switch. Oh, speaking of the switches, if you have reading glasses you’ll need them. The switch has a small name on it that is impossible to see in the dark.

If your technical, as I am (set up two other houses with Lutron and ring) you are helpless with this system. You can not get into the software which controls this system. Oh and they warn you that if you change the name of a switch or scene you won’t be supported.

I was told that I can find lots of help via c4forums.com. Have you ever tried to look thru forums for answers…it’s almost impossible.

I could go on and on. Please save your sanity and your pocketbook, don’t invest in a Control4 system, you will be very disappointed.

Poor Customer service.

Unprofessional communications.

Outdated interface - no overall view of system and home.
Much fewer features than the apple home kit.

The control4 system has a lot of good functionality but unfortunately they do not deal with the consumer directly. You have to go through an authorized dealer to install and configure it. If anything goes wrong, you’re at the mercy of the dealer to respond (or not) so you may be stuck with a $5k paperweight. I’ve tried several times to get anyone to talk to me but they refer me back to the installer who doesn’t return calls.

Absolutely disgraceful that if you want to swap out a piece of kit such as a satellite receiver then you need a Control4 agent to re-programme the system. Considering I was not told this at purchase I will never buy this Control4 equipment ever again.

OK / 6yrs later and I’ve literally given up with Control4. It now scars the house as a hugely expensive mistake, in a very expensive custom install made in 2017, followed by a minor upgrade in 2019 when for some reason I was resistant to letting go of what I’d previously wanted to work.

The vision of the technology falls hugely short of what you get, the app that promotes the narrative that a a touch of a button you’re hearing your music is a total waste of space on your device……

I urge anyone not to spend money with Control4 until existing owners are greeted with what was sold to them. You have been warned

To make changes to a system I purchased/own I am forced to pay a dealer to make any modifications by the hour regardless of how long it takes them, add devices, add rooms and rearrange things by room.
I get the idea of a not a DIY but to lock an owner out so they can’t even see what the dealer did or make changes is ridiculous.

You have to pay a subscription for external access, fine. But pay a fee to get ‘Home edition’ software just to make any changes but still not allowed to add new devices without paying a dealer to do it.

This product is an over-engineered heap of junk. It can not be recharged reliably in the magnetically seated recharger. It just runs out of juice periodically and no matter how much you jiggle it around, clean the contacts, or restart it, it just won't recharge. Then suddenly, out of the blue a week later it starts working. Yeah. It's junk.

I normally don’t write reviews but I seriously would avoid control4 at all costs. We have had it for 10 years & have paid a ton of money. Even the remotes on the TV are from the dark ages & break down often & have to be replaced. Often for $200-$300 apiece. We also installed a security system called Luma & paid $8K for this system & cannot view videos or load the system. It is suppose to be totally interactive with Control4 and it does not work. Control4 seemingly is stuck in a time warp circa early 2000’s. They are clunky & candidly, should be rendered obsolete. Sort of like getting a typewriter instead of a new laptop.

I hate the fact that you need a dealer to do anything with this system. I’ve had it since 2016 and it’s never fully worked. Trying to get a dealer to actually do anything is impossible.

Not a good system.I have had it 4years.Nothing but trouble. Cost me $500 to have it hooked up. Two years later I changed Internet companies. Cost me 600 to get it hooked back up. Didn’t work properly charged me 200 to look at it again. Still had issues charged me 400 to come again. Now it doesn’t work With my iPad and no surround sound they said they would come look at it again but would have to charge me for a service call and $125 per hour.This could go on forever. I think I will find another company.

Have control 4 it doesn't work. Havasu wiring put it in. The remote is outdated doesn't work cameras don't have motion playback. The whole system sucks.

In the Uk you go through registered dealers. This means you pay re seller prices which means the same kit that can be bought in the US direct is more than double the price = monopoly. The excuse for this is control4 want to guarantee customer service and professionalism. They call your agent a home pro. My experience in this respect has not been great. They fail to adequately coordinate with your core electrician choosing only to send through a 150 page document and when things are not done correctly simply refer to this as a get out - why not be more proactive. Then we move to commissioning, yes they come and connect and commission, then no heads up on system use, where are my remotes for Instance, how do I access the centralised speaker system, why isn’t voice on my app. Ok I’ll just give them a call and ask = all money paid, can’t get an answer. No replies to emails, text, voice mail. There is little or no hand holding, lots of excuses, extremely expensive to ask for or change anything. A for instance, this is a 2nd home, we spoke on the phone numerous times to ensure my heating controls where compatible, so I buy Heatmiser. I ask when they have commissioned how I access heatmiser remotely - answer - not in your quote. What the heck is going on. If there was a way for their reseller model to be changed then somebody should do it. A failure of customer service in the extreme, a massively over priced product and a scam the way it is sold in the UK. If I had my time again, KNX & Lutron, never C4 - boom. So t get me started on compatible automated blinds = pointed to Q motion another reseller monopoly. Total scam, my mistake though, should have seen this coming

I despise this stupid system. What’s wrong with a normal light switch? Too smart for its own good. Not user friendly. Half the time I try to turn a light on and the switches are so flimsy they do not work. The print on the switches is very small so if you’re over 40 and can’t figure out which of the 6 scenarios you want for your damn kitchen, good luck. So frustrating. Can’t wait to rip mine out. Very much an Emperor’s New Clothes situation.

UPDATE: Control4 responded and asked me to share my contact info via a link, but didn’t actually provide the link. so that’s something else that didn’t work properly…..

I agree with the other bad reviews. I had the system for 7 years and fought it constantly. Dealer follow up fairly prompt but expensive and seldom solved the problems for long. I’m the only in in my house that could make it work. The rest just gave up and watched or listened on their mobile devices. Finally the control 4 box had a total failure so instead of replacing it i went to the Savant system. Very happy with it so far after a couple months. My advice, do not buy control 4.