Features:

  • Named "Top 6 Smart Home Hub" by Digital Trends
  • The "brain" of your wireless smart home/security system works with most brands & models including Nest, Schlage, Yale, kwikset, first alert & more
  • Lock your door, turn off lights, change thermostat automatically with easy one-touch settings; view cameras on your phone from anywhere. Control over 200 sensors, locks, lights, etc. In one home
  • Use phone or tablet or laptop to setup and operate. Easy wizards for adding new devices. More protocols, memory and processor power than VeraEdge
  • Robust Tech support; strong community of users globally; no monthly fees or contracts required to setup your smart home with this system
My review after one year

I bought the Veraplus over a year ago to replace the green Vera. I'm still using the green Vera to automate an off-grid chicken coop. The Veraplus controls five light switches (including two dimmable), a fan, an in-wall outlet, a dead bolt lock, a thermostat, and a couple plug-in outlets. The user interface on the Veraplus came with version UI7, which is prettier than the UI5 on the green Vera. I rarely go into the user interface, unless adding a new device. I typically control the devices via scenes (ie. turn on front hall light when door is unlocked before sunrise), or through an app on my phone, or using verbal commands to Echo. I don't use the new Echo / Vera collaboration that is offered by both companies. Instead, I use a Linux computer and bridging software to mimic the Hue control. I'm sure the Echo / Vera collaboration method works just as well. The voice control is the best part of home automation. My only struggle is setting up a scene with logic that is more complex than what can be done by the Veraplus wizard. I have found a third party app to help with this, but I struggle with their terminology.

VeraPlus is a Winner!

VeraPlus is my choice for superb home automation at an affordable price. I've been a customer of Vera since back when the company was known as Micasaverde. Back then, it was more of a device for hobbyists. Now, more than seven years later, VeraPlus is a proven home automation controller that easier to use than ever. It works with hundreds of Zwave devices, including those with the Zwave Plus standard. VeraPlus can also handle Zigbee devices (my home is 100% Zwave). Customer support is easy to reach, through the controller itself, or by email or telephone. I have two controllers in two separate locations and I can check on -- and control -- my properties remotely from anywhere. Lock the doors, set the temperature, turn on the lights. Zwave sensors monitor temperature, movement, and even look out for water leaks. If temperatures dip below freezing, my VeraPlus is programmed to shut off water to the house. System updates are more frequent and robust than they used to be, a sign the company stands behind its product. Best of all, VeraPlus works with no subscription fees. And you can customize settings and automation scenes that you just can't accomplish with SmartThings, Wink or EchoPlus. VeraPlus is the way to go.

Long time Vera customer. Since 2008.

Starting in 2008 I purchased a Vera2 and not too long after that I upgraded to the Vera3 and subsequently to Vera Edge. It has been a long haul and there have been many challenges over the years. Fast forward to today. I am using the Vera Plus. The Vera Plus is extremely fast compared to it's predecessors. The system is very responsive and has no latency issues. Some of my older devices occasionally need re paired but overall this system is awesomely reliable. I control the HW heater, swimming pool, locks, thermostats, sensors, alarms, indoor lighting. landscape and outdoor lighting. I do everything with scenes and plugins. in the ten years I have had Vera, I have not written any code to program them. Also I have never paid any money for monitoring services. The use of MiOS servers for self monitoring is included in the price. If you want a paid monitoring service, purchase the Vera Secure model. Z-wave is a mesh network, and the more devices you have the better. If you only have locks and no other devices, you are probably going to have problems. Secure devices like locks and thermostats don't act as repeaters so a hacker won't be able to intercept those signals. The least favorite feature is security camera integration. I recently built a Blue Iris Server and use it to view and control the cameras but I am still able to view the cameras in Vera. The combination is awesome as Blue Iris is probably the best software on the market for mixing camera brands and types. In summary, with any home automation system, be prepared to read, study and tinker around until you get it right.

Great...but not for everyone

There is a learning curve. It is not going to be a plug and play system such as wink. I definitely prefer this system to the more mainstream systems because of the versatility that it offers. I am pretty sure the bad reviews are people that are frustrated that it is not immediately intuitive. I have used nearly every type of system including the very expensive proprietary systems, but I still prefer Vera. It isn't for everyone, but if you are somewhat technically inclined, it's a good choice.

which set up great but did not have the functionality of the Vera ...

I bought this controller to replace a Vera 2 unit that had been in service since 2011. There were numerous opportunities to upgrade with trade ins, but this unit was rock solid for me, and after it was upgraded to UI5 it rarely would give trouble. For years I was able to control via PC or my Android phone, but this past December my Android phone died, but the Vera 2 unit kept going. I was given a hand me down IPhone to which I had an adjustment period to deal with. One of the problems was that the apps for Vera 2 on IOS did not function correctly as they did on Android. I felt that I should upgrade so I can use the home automation with the slightly used phone I was given. I went out and bought a Wink hub 2, which set up great but did not have the functionality of the Vera 2, but I lived with the quirks until I noticed the nodes started to fall off the network. I would in-pair and then re-pair at least several times a week which got old quick. I knew I had made a mistake going to the Wink, so I unpaired everything from it and put the Vera 2 back in service. I used it with my PC for a few weeks, and then decided to purchase the newest Vera which IOS had an app that worked with it. I bought the Vera plus, knowing it had the latest user interface UI7, and being Vera it had to be similar to the Vera 2 unit. After I received my new unit I plugged it in and set up all the nodes, next I set up scenes like I had on my Vera 2 unit and to my surprise it was a snap. Having worked with Vera before it was very familiar to me, and I was used to where and when things needed to be tweeked. All my existing nodes paired, including a Remotec repeater that I could not ever get to work correctly, except after it paired with the new unit. As other reviewers have commented, this unit is for people who take home automation as a hobby, and want to expand and learn it, but if you want something simple and just want basic security for locking and unlocking doors, turning on and off lights, then try Samsung Smart things or the Wink hub 2. I can honestly say that I know I will have many years of performance with this unit, since it is built off the older units platform. One drawback to Vera is that their documentation is not the greatest, but they were only a phonecall away for some tech assistance.

Great unit, best customer service around.

I have used their controllers for about 5 years now, and have installed 3 separate systems. My personal system has around 90 individual nodes from multiple manufactures and about 98% of the time the controller works as promised. Updates usually do come out with added third party equipment that is able to run on their system, and once every few months I power cycle the unit to keep it's memory clear and it keeps working well. Their service is hands down some of the best I've dealt with. I had a problem after a firmware upgrade and had to call their service line. Turns out, I needed a specialist for my situation. Within an hour or so a tech called me and after some typical "restart the unit" conversations it was clear that something more was going on with the unit because he was unable to access it remotely from his station in their offices. Nor was I able to do anything from my personal computer using the regular GUI I had become so accustomed with. I allowed the tech to remotely access my computer at home where he was able to log into the unit, determine the problem and fix it all while I watched. Turns out, since I had upgraded from an older unit to a new one, and then updated the firmware a number of times that somewhere in there whole blocks and sections of code that controlled the unit had gone missing. It probably happened when I lost power during a firmware upgrade... Nevertheless, I was on the phone with the tech and watched him upgrade, repair and manually type in lines of code into my unit for about 90 minutes and all the while he was friendly and helpful, and explained what he was doing and why while I watched. It turned into a little education session and it was clear the tech knew more than just the standard GUI user interface. The unit works great now, and after 5 years of experience I would recommend their products to friends and family, and commend their customer service.

More than just a toy

Bought this mostly as a toy to experiment with. Since then I have all my downstairs lights remote controlled so I don't have to go downstairs to turn them off (I'm handicapped so going up and down stairs is extremely difficult). Push of one button, they all go off. 10.00p and they all go off along with my fountain. Finding more and more to do with it all the time. So far, only using it with Z-Wave. Works good with remote app when I have it connected to the internet. When I run it only on an internal LAN or no LAN, it still works. I have a second router so I can connect from my cell phone or computer without having to connect to the outside. Of course this won't allow me to access it from around the world, but it also doesn't allow anyone else to hack it. It also works when the internet is down which Samsung SmartThings wouldn't do. Paired with a scene controller, it does everything I want plus.

Great Product Support, and a Huge Upgrade

After having a Vera 3 for a number of years (scouring the internet to get different devices to work) I decided it was time to buy the newer unit. It was advised, because some newer Aeon devices did not work well with the Vera 3 running UI5. When I followed all the instructions on the Vera website to make the upgrade to the new unit- BOTH units stopped functioning. This pretty much made me give up on Z-Wave, and Vera. Again, I used Google to try and resolve the issue (probably did more harm than good). I placed a trouble ticket with Vera (On a holiday weekend). Within 2 days, my new controller was up, and running, with very little input from me (they securely logged in remotely, and fixed whatever was wrong) They have restored my faith in their product, and the FREE service they provide! Thanks!

Exceptional Customer Service!!!

OK, so I purchased this unit 6 months ago and didn't take the time to write a review. But today I had such a great experience with customer service I thought I would take the time to write one now. First of all the unit has been working flawlessly. I did a firmware update and my network must have dropped out and I totally bricked the unit. Nothing worked. I called the toll free number, chose customer support, and a human answered. That in it's self is amazing. She held my hand, walked me through some resetting steps, and when that failed she remoted in and took care of everything herself. As well as a callback to let me know she was done and everything was working. And it was. So, great product, superior service, and I challenge anyone who didn't give this product 5 stars to check the directions, call with issues, and rerate the product. I guaranty you will give it 5 stars as well. Does everything it says and more! I will use this for life!

Pleasantly surprised

I was not completely sure about making this purchase considering a couple of the reviews. I was looking for a Vera to integrate Z-wave with my ELK M1G security system so that I could incorporate water sensors and a water shutoff valve for my home (used the Dome DMWV1) with the benefit of avoiding a flood buy mostly to lower my home insurance premiums. Connected Vera to my network - no problem, created login and accessed from website and from my iphone - no problem, upgraded firmware - no problem. Connected Dome Valve - minor problem but just had to keep hitting button quickly to get it to recognize in Vera. Added water sensor (Fibaro FGFS-101), no problem. Added scenes to tell valve to close when water detected, no problem, email notification - no problem. Integrating into ELK Security system with back and forth communication - no problem. Very handy that I can now shut off my water when leaving my house by pushing function button on security panel and if I forget I can use either my EKeypad (ELK) app or Vera app to shut off. All in all a few hours to set everything up but never ran into any serious problems. This hardware seems to be quickly moving beyond a science project.

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