What PorchIQ does, and what it doesn't
A plain list of what PorchIQ is for, what stays on your own computer, and the jobs we leave to other products.
People ask us the same few things before they install PorchIQ, so here is the straight answer to each.
What PorchIQ does
- One app for the whole house. Cameras, locks, lights, climate, energy, sprinklers, the pool and the weather, on one calm screen for your phone, tablet, wall screen or computer.
- Explains what’s happening in plain words. “Both garage doors are shut and the back door is locked” instead of a grid of icons.
- Runs the routines you describe. Tell it what you want in a sentence, check the automation it writes, then turn it on.
- Watches your cameras with AI that runs at home. On Enterprise, narration, Find and Rewind run on your own computer.
- Works with what you already own. PorchIQ sits on top of Home Assistant, which connects thousands of devices.
- Keeps working when the internet doesn’t. Everything runs in your house.
What stays in your house
Camera footage and snapshots, what the AI says about them, who’s home and when, your automations and your device history all stay on your own computer. We see only what a subscription needs: your account email, billing through Stripe, and a daily license check. The privacy page has the full list.
What PorchIQ doesn’t do
- It isn’t a monitored alarm service. Nobody watches your house for you or calls for help. If anyone is in danger, call your local emergency number first.
- It doesn’t sell or share your home’s data, and there is no cloud AI looking at your cameras.
- It doesn’t make your devices. You keep the brands you like, and PorchIQ connects to them.
- It never acts on risky things alone. Unlocking a door or opening the garage always asks first.
- It doesn’t lock you out if you stop paying. Your house drops to basic mode: controls, live cameras and safety confirmations keep working.
Who it’s for
Homeowners who want their smart home to feel like one product instead of six apps, without sending their life to someone else’s servers. If you already run Home Assistant, PorchIQ gives it a front door. If you’ve never heard of Home Assistant, PorchIQ sets it up for you.
Questions we didn’t answer? Ask us in the chat at the bottom of any page.
