Control4 vs. Savant vs. Crestron: which home automation platform fits your home?

Control4

Best for: Most clients most of the time. Homes $2M–$8M, custom builders, homeowners who want great UX without going crazy on price.

Pros:

• Largest third-party device support
• Excellent mobile app
• Strong dealer network and support
• Most affordable of the three

Cons:

• 4Sight subscription for remote access (~$99/year)
• Less polished UI than Savant at the high end

Savant

Best for: Design-forward homes $5M+, clients who care about aesthetics as much as function, lighting-heavy projects.

Pros:

• Most beautiful UX of the three — feels like a premium product
• Excellent Savant Pro app
• Strong lighting integration (owns USAI Lighting)
• No mandatory subscription

Cons:

• Smaller third-party device library
• Typically more expensive than Control4 for equivalent scope

Crestron

Best for: Reference builds $10M+, commercial-grade integration, clients who want fully custom UIs, boardrooms and mixed-use.

Pros:

• Infinitely customizable — programmers can build anything
• Unmatched commercial and institutional presence
• Deep AV/control expertise

Cons:

• Requires dedicated Crestron programmer (expensive hourly)
• Most expensive by a large margin — control layer alone can exceed $50,000 before devices
• Overkill for most residential

Cost differences on an equivalent project

Whole-home automation for a 7,000 sqft home with theater, 6 lighting zones, 6 music zones, 8 shades, 4 HVAC zones:

• Control4: $35,000–$50,000 control layer
• Savant: $45,000–$65,000 control layer
• Crestron: $70,000–$120,000 control layer (plus ongoing programmer time)

The honest answer

For 80% of the luxury homes we install in Plano, Frisco, Prosper, and Southlake, Control4 is the right platform. It does 95% of what Savant and Crestron do, for 60–70% of the price, with a great app and mature dealer support. We'll recommend Savant when design aesthetics and lighting integration are a client's top priority, and Crestron only on reference-tier projects where the budget is genuinely there for commercial-grade customization.