Comparing High-End Home Automation Platforms: Savant vs Crestron vs Control4 vs Josh.ai
Choosing the best high-end home automation platform can be a point of stress for many during the build process.
So, in this article, we’re going to alleviate some of that stress by directly analyzing and comparing the four top options: Savant, Crestron, Control4, and Josh.ai.
Read on to learn about the particular strengths of each system, then see some examples of how they can be deployed in real-world scenarios. By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of how to choose the right platform for your home and lifestyle.
The Myth of the "Best" System
First, we need to emphasize that there is no universal ‘best system’ for smart home automation. Just as a painting is only as good as the artist who paints it, a home automation system is only as good as the person implementing it for you. Regardless of what system you choose, the quality of your integrator has the biggest impact on the final look, feel, and functionality of your system.
So, be sure you’re working with a partner that understands their craft, inside and out, and whose expertise supports your vision for your home.
Comparing Home Automation Platforms at a Glance
| Brand | Best For | User Interface | Customization Level | Primary Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savant | Whole home entertainment systems + home energy management. | Sleek, high end, and visually rich. Control devices by tapping on them in room photos with TrueImage. Remote access via the Savant app with essentials plan. |
Moderate degree of programmable customization. Prioritizes exceptional visual appeal and UI design, similar to Apple. | Lighting, AV, and energy management. |
| Crestron | Managing large estates with complex systems and conditional sequences. | Offers both standard and fully customized interface options. Customized interface quality is dependent on integrator skill. Remote access via Crestron’s cloud service or a custom setup. |
Highest degree of programmable customization, ideal for extremely unique or complex estates. | Large and complex estate management. |
| Control4 | Homeowners who want maximum brand flexibility + the option to create basic automations on their own. | Standardized, icon-based, and user friendly interface. Remote access via a 4Sight subscription. |
Standardized UI, but scenes can be programmed by integrators. Homeowners can also do basic customization via When >> Then. | Integrates with the widest range of brands and devices. |
| Josh.ai | Natural language voice commands. | Shifts primary control to voice commands picked up by small microphones throughout the home. Optional Josh remotes provide touchscreen controls. | AI accepts natural language voice commands and can convert them to custom automations. | Private, comprehensive voice command management. |
Savant – The Apple of Home Automation
Savant’s approach to home automation control is premium, polished, and beautiful. Its interface is built around a system called “TrueImage”. It uses a touchscreen to display dynamic photos of each room, where each light fixture can be controlled with a tap. Additional systems can also be controlled via their integrated app platform, including climate, security, shades, and AV.
Savant also offers unmatched energy management tools. Users can monitor their energy consumption with incredible granularity, down to the circuit level. This level of detail not only unlocks unprecedented insights into how and when you use energy, but it also allows you to implement sophisticated scene controls that manage your energy consumption based on real-time availability.
Crestron – The Gold Standard for Limitless Customization
Crestron is the ideal solution for expansive and complex estates, and whenever compromise is not an option. Even on properties that are 15,000 sq ft or more, Crestron’s scalability and predominantly local control keep everything running smoothly across every room and outbuilding.
Crestron Home is the standard interface, and it’s well-designed and easy to use. But where Crestron really shines is its SIMPL software, which provides a development environment for smart home integrators to create completely custom UIs.
Control4 – The Versatile All-Rounder
Control4 offers an approachable entry point to luxury home automation, with a system that’s designed to play well with numerous third-party devices. They also offer premium Halo universal smart remotes that provide a sleek, intuitive means to manage all your systems.
Control4 also offers homeowners a unique opportunity to implement and adjust scenes on their own via the When >> Then feature. This program allows for basic conditions to be set and adjusted without enlisting the help of a professional service call.
Josh.ai – The Privacy-First Voice Layer
Finally, there’s Josh.ai. To be clear, Josh.ai isn't necessarily a true "competitor" to any of the three previous controller systems. It’s more accurate to think of it as an additional layer that enables natural language voice control. Tell it to ‘close the shades in the living room and make the lights a little brighter,’ and it will do exactly that, no touchscreens or buttons required.
Best of all, it does this without posing any of the privacy risks that you see with Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Siri. Whereas those tech giants collect and sell your voice command data, Josh.ai states that “[We] will never use client information for marketing purposes or sell user data to third parties…[our] sole focus is on providing the best smart home experience possible.”
Find your "Lifestyle Match"
To pick the right home automation controller for your property, sit down and discuss your wants and needs with an experienced integrator who works with all options, like Architechne. Since everyone has different priorities, every solution should be tailored to the individual. Your partner can help guide you to the system that best matches how you plan to build and live in your home.
For example, say you want to build an impeccably designed estate with an extensive solar array to offset energy consumption. Savant would be a great choice, as it facilitates both exceptional environmental aesthetic control and highly granular energy management.
Or, say your goal is to build a massive compound full of high-end entertainment and technology. Virtual golf, a bowling alley, a home theater - the works. Crestron would be a great choice, since it scales well to cover large builds and is compatible with the security devices critical to monitoring and protecting your expansive estate.
Finally, say you’re just looking to remodel your 4-bedroom family home. You’re excited to incorporate a number of smart home devices during this process, and want a reliable, universal controller that offers programmable automations for a reasonable price. Control4 has just what you need, with solid performance and programming flexibility at a moderate price point.
But Wait, There May Be Changes on the Horizon…
As a reward to those who’ve read this far, we’ll end our analysis with an exciting teaser regarding voice controls. Currently, as we’ve laid out thus far, Josh.ai is the top pick for natural language commands without sacrificing data privacy. But it turns out Savant is also planning to roll out an in-platform natural language voice command feature in the very near future, and initial demonstrations look extremely promising. We’ll be keeping a close eye on how things develop, so you can rest assured that your integrator will always be up-to-date and ready to recommend the best option for your home.
Your Infrastructure is the Real Investment
In the end, whatever platform you choose, it won’t be what makes or breaks your luxury smart home’s design or functionality. The quality of the planning, pre-wiring, device selection, calibration, and programming all play a much bigger role in ensuring long-term satisfaction. Put another way, don’t focus too much on choosing the right brand - focus on choosing the right partner. A partner like Architechne, who works like a master craftsman, is commissioned to understand your vision and build a system meticulously tailored to your wants and needs.
Contact us today to design the low-voltage backbone that supports your smart home’s success, no matter what control platform you choose.
