Crestron vs Savant — Which Is Best?
Crestron and Savant Smart Home Systems Explained
Planning a smart home system for a residential property will almost certainly bring you to Crestron and Savant (and Control4 — covered separately in our full comparison). These are two of the leading players in the residential smart home market, and we are accredited dealers for both.
Either system will deliver whole-home audio video, lighting control and HVAC integration competently, but the quality of the installer matters as much as the choice of platform — we regularly perform remedial work on existing systems for new clients where the underlying design was the actual problem. A well-designed network is fundamental to both systems working properly: capacity for future expansion, fast infrastructure and genuinely reliable WiFi throughout. We take this seriously enough that one of our team is a qualified network designer and IP specialist, and we spend considerable time evaluating manufacturer hardware to specify the best equipment for any given budget. Without a sound network, neither platform will perform as it should.
Crestron
Crestron pioneered the home automation industry, supplying solutions for over 50 years — long before most people had considered home automation at all. The range is vast, from video distribution to audio amplification, with lighting control sitting between the two. Every Crestron solution is genuinely flexible: NVX video distribution can take virtually any source and route it to any or all displays simultaneously, and the audio system is fully modular, mixing stereo and digital signals across zones, combining zones for rooms needing more than one speaker pair, or dedicating an output entirely to a subwoofer. Lighting control follows the same principle — wired or wireless, any lamp type, no meaningful restriction. This flexibility is precisely why we rarely need to say no to a client request — we have controlled everything from fire pits to irrigation systems, saunas and steam rooms. The genuinely modular nature of Crestron lets us build a system of any size and complexity, supported by an experienced in-house programmer who develops bespoke solutions and provides ongoing support directly rather than through a third party.
Savant
Savant is the relative newcomer of the two, with a polished ecosystem built around exceptional interface design and deep Apple integration — the Savant Pro Remote and app feel notably refined, and Siri voice control is built in throughout the current platform. We tend to specify Savant for smaller projects than Crestron — ones requiring less customisation and fewer genuinely bespoke requests. Programming is generally more straightforward, which can translate into a lower installation cost than a fully bespoke Crestron system. The current Savant range covers whole-home audio video, lighting control and intercom integration competently, with streaming service integration handled cleanly through the Savant app. For clients who are committed Apple users and want an interface that feels like a natural extension of that ecosystem, Savant is frequently the more logical choice.
Summary
Both systems are excellent at what they do. We tend to recommend Crestron for clients with large homes who want a genuinely bespoke system built specifically around their brief. For smaller properties and clients who prioritise a slick, tightly Apple-integrated experience, Savant is often the better fit.
The factor prospective clients should actually be researching is the quality of the installation company itself — how long they’ve been operating (since 1998, for us), whether they employ their own programmers rather than subcontracting (we do), and whether they can demonstrably design good systems (our case studies and industry awards speak to that directly).
Frequently Asked Questions — Crestron vs Savant
Which is better for a large home — Crestron or Savant?
Crestron is generally the better fit for large homes with genuinely bespoke requirements, thanks to its unlimited programming flexibility. Savant suits smaller properties and projects that don’t need that level of customisation.
Does Savant integrate well with Apple devices?
Yes, exceptionally well. Savant’s interface and Pro Remote are built around a deeply Apple-influenced design philosophy, with native Siri voice control throughout the current platform.
Is Savant generally cheaper to install than Crestron?
Often, yes. Savant’s more configuration-driven approach typically requires less bespoke programming than a fully custom Crestron system, which can translate into a lower overall installation cost for comparable scope.
Custom Controls are accredited dealers for both Crestron and Savant, and have been installing both since well before either was a household name. Contact us for honest advice on which platform suits your project.
