Platform Guide
Control4 vs. Savant: which one fits the house?
Two great platforms with different personalities. We're an authorized dealer for both, so here's how we actually help clients (and their architects) choose.
The short answer
Pick Control4 for the widest device support and the best value. Pick Savant when the interface is the brief: a design-led client, an AV-heavy home, a household that lives on iPhones. Both work with Lutron lighting and shades, and both should be settled during design development, before drywall.
Side by side
| Control4 | Savant | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Homes that need the widest device support and the best value per room | Homes where the interface itself is the brief: design-led clients, AV-heavy homes |
| The app | Clean and reliable; does what you expect | The best-looking interface in the category, built Apple-first |
| Third-party devices | The broadest list: cameras, intercoms, climate, streaming, audio, locks | A narrower list, focused on the gear it does very well |
| Keypads and touchscreens | Wide range of styles, colors and finishes | Fewer models with a distinctly premium feel |
| Lighting and shades | Works with Lutron (our standard for lighting and shades) | Works with Lutron (our standard for lighting and shades) |
| Phones | iPhone and Android treated equally | iPhone first; Android works |
| Cost | Usually the lower of the two for the same scope | Usually the higher of the two for the same scope |
For Architects, Builders & Designers
What the choice changes on your plans
Less than you'd think, which is why it can wait until design development. Here's where it shows up.
Keypad and touchscreen locations
Sizes, faceplates and finishes differ between the two, which changes backboxes, wall elevations and what the interior designer signs off on.
Equipment room
About the same either way: a ventilated rack location with power and a clear path for the wiring backbone.
Pre-wire
Nearly identical. Data, speaker and control wiring are planned the same way, so the platform can still be settled during design development.
Lighting control
Lutron is designed in parallel, so the lighting and load schedule for the electrician doesn't wait on the platform decision.
One more thing: the platform matters, but the person programming it matters more. A great programmer on either system beats a mediocre one on the other, every time.
How we help a client choose
- We ask what they're optimizing for: flexibility and value, or the interface itself.
- We look at the plans: how much AV, how many rooms, what has to integrate.
- We price the same scope both ways, so the difference is real numbers, not a guess.
- The architect and designer get the keypad and touchscreen details for the decision they make.
Common questions
Is Control4 or Savant better?
Neither is better for every home. Control4 is the stronger choice when you want the widest device support and the best value. Savant is the stronger choice when the look and feel of the interface matters most, or the home is heavy on audio and video and the family lives on iPhones. LA Techs is an authorized dealer for both, so we recommend the one that fits the house and the household.
Which costs more, Control4 or Savant?
For the same scope, Savant usually costs more than Control4. The bigger cost driver on either platform is the scope itself (how many rooms, how much audio and video, theater and outdoor areas), not the logo on the keypad.
When does the platform need to be chosen on a new build?
During design development, before drywall. The pre-wire and equipment room are nearly the same for both, but keypads and touchscreens differ in size and finish, so the architect and interior designer need the decision before wall elevations are final.
Do Control4 and Savant work with Lutron lighting?
Yes. Both work with Lutron HomeWorks and RadioRA lighting and shades, which is how LA Techs designs most lighting control. The lighting design can move ahead while the client is still choosing the control platform.
Can a Control4 or Savant system be serviced by another company later?
Yes. Both are sold and supported through dealer networks, so the home isn't tied to one company forever. What matters most is the quality of the original programming and documentation.
Not sure which one fits?
Send us the plans and we'll price it both ways.