A sauna heater is run by built-in knobs or a separate digital control. To use it from your phone you need the brand's Wi-Fi control and app, such as MyHarvia, HUUM or SaunaLogic. Here is how the options compare and what remote start involves.
Sauna heaters are controlled either by knobs built into the heater or by a separate digital control panel. To run a heater from your phone you need that brand's Wi-Fi control, such as Harvia's Xenio WiFi or Fenix with the MyHarvia app, HUUM's UKU with the HUUM app, or Finnleo's SaunaLogic2. The heater itself is not app-ready on its own.
| Type | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in knobs | Thermostat and timer dials on the heater, such as on many compact wall heaters | Simple home saunas, lowest cost |
| Separate digital control | Wall-mounted panel with display, set temperature and time; heater has no knobs | Most mid-range and larger heaters |
| Wi-Fi control | Digital panel that connects to a phone app over your home network | Starting the sauna remotely, schedules, monitoring |
| Commercial controls | Heavy-duty panels with longer run times and multiple heaters | Gyms, hotels, condo amenity saunas |
Most major brands now offer an app, each tied to its own control:
| Brand | App | Control needed |
|---|---|---|
| Harvia | MyHarvia | Xenio WiFi or Fenix |
| HUUM | HUUM | UKU |
| Saunum | Saunum Leil | Saunum control unit |
| Finnleo | SaunaLogic | SaunaLogic2 |
| Helo, Tylö | Helo Control, Tylö Elite | Elite control |
App support also appears in the sauna heater brand comparison.
Starting a heater when nobody is in the room raises the risk of something left on or near it. Sauna controls deal with this in different ways, for example by requiring a door switch or a confirmation that the room has been checked before a remote start. Many North American controls also limit how long the heater runs in one go. These features are part of how the heater is certified, so set them up as the manual describes rather than bypassing them.
If your heater already uses a separate digital control from the same brand, swapping in that brand's Wi-Fi control is often possible; check the compatibility list in the control's manual. Third-party smart plugs and relays are not a substitute: a sauna heater draws far more current than such devices are rated for, and bypassing the heater's own control can disable its safety features. If your heater has built-in knobs only, phone control usually means a new heater; see sauna heater repair and troubleshooting for when replacement makes sense.
Yes, if the heater works with the brand's Wi-Fi control, such as Harvia Xenio WiFi or Fenix (MyHarvia app), HUUM UKU (HUUM app) or Finnleo SaunaLogic2. Heaters with built-in knobs usually cannot be connected.
Wi-Fi comes from the control rather than the heater. Harvia, HUUM, Saunum, Finnleo, Helo and Tylö all sell Wi-Fi controls with phone apps for compatible heaters.
No. Full-size sauna heaters are hard-wired and draw far more current than smart plugs are rated for, and bypassing the heater's control can disable its safety features.
Controls certified for remote start include safety measures such as door switches or room-check confirmations. Set them up as the manual describes and never leave anything on the heater.
Last checked November 8, 2026. Facts come from the brands' own sites and documents. How we check
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