For a connected showerhead-plus-handshower setup, start by pricing the complete Moen S3102 + TS3302 system. Consider Anthem or Anthem+ for a coordinated KOHLER design, and ThermaTouch2 for a steam-led room. GROHE SmartControl is the deliberate no-app alternative. These six setups cover different system sizes and priorities; a controller, a concealed valve and a complete shower are not the same purchase.
Two-outlet connected shower with app/voice control, thermostatic valve and two saved controller presets.
Valve only; add the TS3302 controller and shower fittings.
Premium KOHLER system that can coordinate water, steam and connected shower components.
Control only; K-27756, valves and shower fittings are separate.
Waterproof touchscreen for steam, lighting, sound and media; confirm current Digital Shower Valve availability before specifying water control.
Search for the TT7V2-BK control, not an older TT7 or a complete shower kit.
| System | Best for | Platform | Outlets | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moen Smart Shower 2-Outlet (S3102 + TS3302) | Best Overall | Connected digital thermostatic | 2 | Controller + app + voice |
| Moen Smart Shower 4-Outlet (S3104 + TS3304) | Best Multi-Outlet | Connected digital thermostatic | 4 | Controller + app + voice |
| KOHLER Anthem Digital Control + K-28209 Valve | Best Digital Control | Digital thermostatic | 2 with K-28209 | Wall digital control |
| KOHLER Anthem+ System | Best Premium Connected | Connected digital shower / wellness | Up to 12 water/steam outlets | Digital control + system module |
| ThermaSol ThermaTouch2 7-inch | Best Shower + Steam | Smart shower + steam control | Depends on digital shower valve/system | 7-inch waterproof touchscreen |
| GROHE Grohtherm SmartControl 29142000 | Best No-App Alternative | Mechanical thermostatic control | Up to 3 | Push/turn physical controls |
Best Overall
S3102 valve only; add the compatible TS3302 controller and shower fittings separately.
S3102 valve shown. TS3302 controller and shower fittings are separate.
The two-outlet Moen setup is the most straightforward connected option here for a conventional showerhead-plus-handshower design. The S3102 is the concealed digital valve; TS3302 is the matching visible controller. That distinction matters more than the appearance of the controller, because neither part alone buys a functioning two-outlet shower.
Saved preferences and app or supported voice control can reduce the repeated adjustment involved in finding a familiar shower setting. They do not eliminate warm-up time in the supply pipes or guarantee lower water use. Buy the system because preset control and remote starting suit the household, not because a generic smart-home label promises automatic savings.
Alongside the valve and controller, plan the showerhead, handshower, pipework, power and future service access as one system. The S3102 is only the concealed valve, so do not budget it as though it were a complete shower. This is still the cleanest smart setup here for a two-outlet layout because every extra component has a clear job.
Two is the sensible limit when two separate water destinations meet the plan. A larger valve does not create more useful pressure at an ordinary showerhead, and unused ports are not a benefit by themselves. Choose S3104 only when the design includes more independently controlled destinations and the supply can support the intended combinations.
Moen’s setup guidance calls for a supported 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Check coverage and setup requirements before the wall is finished, not after the electrician and plumber leave. Internet connectivity and electrical power are separate dependencies; ask for a demonstration of local operation and the supported backup arrangement for the exact installation.
Best Multi-Outlet
S3104 valve only; add the compatible TS3304 controller and shower fittings separately.
S3104 valve shown. TS3304 controller and shower fittings are separate.
The S3104 and TS3304 combination belongs in a multi-outlet design: for example, an overhead head, handshower and additional spray zones. Its purpose is coordinating more water destinations. It is not a reason to replace the two-outlet system when the bathroom has no use for the extra ports.
Draw which outlets should run together, not just a list of every fitting you like. That tells the installer what supply and hot-water demand to assess. Two nominally similar systems can feel very different if one is supplied adequately and another is connected to pipework or a water heater that cannot support the chosen combination.
The larger valve still needs its matching controller, power, accessible installation and actual outlet fittings. Additional spray zones also add pipework and waterproof penetrations. Compare an installer-approved complete system against another complete system; comparing the price of a bare four-port valve with a two-port valve omits much of the purchase.
Ask which port serves each fitting, whether the proposed combinations are permitted, how the valve will be serviced, and how the system behaves during loss of internet or power. Those answers should be specific to the current equipment and installation. Do not substitute an accessory intended for another Moen smart-water product simply because it has a similar name.
S3102 remains the cleaner choice for a straightforward two-destination shower. The four-outlet setup earns the extra complexity only when the room layout, water supply and daily routine genuinely need more independently controlled destinations. If two outlets cover the plan, I would save the money and keep the system simpler.
Best Digital Control
K-28214-CP control only; pair it with the compatible Anthem digital thermostatic valve, such as K-28209.
Anthem control shown. A compatible digital thermostatic valve is required separately.
Anthem combines a visible K-28214 control with a compatible digital thermostatic valve. The two-port K-28209 configuration is the starting point discussed here; other Anthem valve configurations serve larger systems. The practical benefit is control over water settings and destinations through a coordinated digital platform, rather than a collection of unrelated trim pieces.
Standard Anthem is not merely the “offline” version of Anthem+. It is the better fit when the project is primarily about precise digital water control. Anthem+ makes more sense when you want the broader KOHLER ecosystem around steam, lighting or audio as part of the same room experience.
Anthem is attractive when you are building a water-focused KOHLER shower and want the controls, valves and fittings specified together. Decide how many independently controlled outlets are needed before buying the valve. A compatibility list is not a shopping list that requires buying every available module.
Stay with a suitably configured Anthem water-control system when extra lighting, steam or audio coordination is not part of the plan. Consider Anthem+ when a supplier can map those additional functions to the correct compatible modules and explain how they are controlled. The more integrated system is not automatically a better-value shower for someone who will use only one spray.
The K-28214-CP is the visible control, not the concealed valve. Pair it with the correct Anthem digital thermostatic valve and plan service access before the wall is closed. This is a proper digital-shower installation, not a simple trim swap.
Best Premium Connected
K-28214-ASC-CP control only; the K-27756 and required valves/modules are separate parts of the Anthem+ system.
Anthem+ control shown. System controller, valves and shower fittings are separate.
Anthem+ is the premium route when water control is one part of a larger connected shower experience. Its value comes from coordinating compatible functions such as steam, lighting or sound within a deliberately designed system. It is a poor way to buy a simple showerhead upgrade.
Write down the actual experience you want: which water outlets operate, whether steam is required, which lighting or audio equipment is included, and who uses the presets. Then have the supplier map each function to the appropriate control, valves and modules. A beautifully photographed touchscreen does not establish that all of those functions are included in its box.
The headline control price is only one part of the project. Concealed equipment, power, plumbing, compatible accessories and the construction needed to keep them serviceable may dominate the difference between a water-only shower and an integrated room. Get competing quotations for equivalent functions rather than comparing packages with different outlet counts or missing modules.
A standard Anthem configuration can be the more proportionate choice for water control without the broader feature set. Moen can also be a simpler starting point for two or four connected water destinations. Neither alternative needs to mimic every Anthem+ function to be better suited to a smaller project.
The K-28214-ASC-CP control is only the front end of Anthem+. The system earns its premium price when it is paired with the right valves and modules for the experience you actually want. If the project stops at basic water control, standard Anthem is the smarter buy.
Best Shower + Steam
ThermaTouch2 control shown; confirm the compatible valve and steam-system components.
ThermaTouch2 makes sense when the room is being designed around steam, lighting, audio or media—not when you simply want a smarter showerhead and handshower. The waterproof touchscreen and personalized profiles are valuable in a true spa-style bathroom, but they are overkill for a conventional two-outlet shower.
Stick with the ThermaTouch2 generation and the TT7V2 control when building this system. Older seven-inch ThermaSol controls can look similar while supporting different valves, steam equipment and connections, so mixing generations is a poor place to save money.
The screen is not the component that physically mixes and distributes shower water. Ask the supplier to confirm the currently orderable Digital Shower Valve combination and any required power or connection equipment. The same discipline applies to HydroVive and steam-generator options: compatibility does not mean those products are included.
For a planned ThermaSol steam room, a coordinated interface can be more useful than mixing unrelated controls for each function. For a normal connected shower, the Moen two-outlet setup avoids much of that additional specification work. Choose the room experience first, then the control platform; do not buy a media screen and design the bathroom around unused capabilities.
The control is only one part of the room. Before construction starts, have the complete valve, steam, power, audio/lighting and service-access plan locked down. ThermaTouch2 is excellent when the whole system is intentional; it is a bad impulse purchase if the rest of the bathroom has not been designed around it.
Best No-App Alternative
This is the visible 29142000 trim only. The Rapido SmartBox 35601000 behind the wall is required separately.
29142000 trim shown. Rapido SmartBox 35601000 is a separate required component.
Grohtherm SmartControl 29142000 is the deliberate nonconnected choice. Its strength is direct physical operation: push to switch an outlet on or off and turn to adjust volume, with thermostatic temperature control. If app or voice commands are the reason you want a smart shower, this is the wrong product despite the SmartControl name.
The visible 29142000 trim needs the Rapido SmartBox 35601000 behind the wall. Buy GROHE SmartControl only if you want direct physical push-and-turn control and are happy to build around that concealed rough-in; it is not a universal trim that fits an arbitrary existing valve.
A physical control can be easier to explain to guests and avoids adding a phone, wireless setup or cloud account to the daily routine. That is a meaningful ownership benefit, not a claim that mechanical components never need service. The valve and thermostatic elements still require appropriate installation and future access as specified.
Moen is the relevant choice when saved settings and supported remote control are the purpose of the upgrade. GROHE is the relevant choice when temperature and multiple spray sources should be controlled directly at the wall. These are different preferences, not two products that can be ranked by the number of smart-home features alone.
A preset temperature stop is not a guarantee against every scalding risk and does not replace proper commissioning. Have the installer explain the controls and permitted operating conditions. Choose this trim for its physical interface and matched plumbing system, not as a universal retrofit for an existing concealed valve.
A showerhead or panel can display water temperature without actually controlling the hot/cold mix. Decide whether you want a display, thermostatic physical control, digital water control or a genuinely connected system. A display-only product will never give you the behavior of a concealed digital valve, no matter how “smart” the marketing sounds.
A digital system can be convenient, but replacing an already satisfactory mechanical shower is a construction decision as well as a gadget purchase. If you mainly want a different spray pattern, a compatible showerhead change may address the problem without moving to a new valve platform. GROHE SmartControl is the relevant no-app alternative here; its name should not be confused with connected-home functionality.
An outlet is a controlled water destination, not simply the total number of visible spray nozzles. Ask the designer to draw the proposed routing and permitted simultaneous combinations. Two outlets suit many showerhead-plus-handshower projects. Four or more become useful when the layout actually needs independently controlled destinations and the water supply can serve them.
Steam, lighting and audio introduce their own compatible modules and installation requirements. Anthem+ and ThermaTouch2 deserve consideration when those functions are integral to the room. They are not automatically better-value versions of a two-outlet connected shower. Ask which functions are included in the quotation and which are merely supported by optional equipment.
For Moen, match S3102 with TS3302 or S3104 with TS3304. For Anthem, select the control and the valve configuration needed by the design. For GROHE 29142000, include the compatible Rapido SmartBox rough-in. For ThermaTouch2, have the supplier confirm the currently available matching control, Digital Shower Valve and any steam equipment. These examples show why a controller photograph is not proof of a complete kit.
The bill of materials should identify power and any required protection, pipework and connections, control cables, brackets, access panels, outlet fittings and optional accessories. It should also show the construction work needed to keep the system serviceable. Do not infer an electrical circuit specification from a competitor’s guide or a different product in the same brand family; use the exact current installation documents.
Specify the exact code and finish for every visible control, handshower, arm and trim, and keep the concealed valve code with the project records. Matching finishes do not make valve systems interchangeable, and a similar-looking older controller is not a safe substitute for the required generation.
A useful quotation says what is missing as well as what is included: controller, valve, shower fittings, electrical work, tile repairs, commissioning, network setup or steam accessories. This makes quotations comparable and exposes false bargains. A slightly higher complete package can be less expensive overall than a lower-priced control that leaves most of the system to be purchased separately.
List the combinations that people will actually use and ask the installer to assess supply and available hot water under those conditions. Valve capacity is a ceiling under stated conditions, not a promise that every household can run all outlets at maximum flow. A digital controller cannot create extra hot water or correct undersized supply infrastructure.
Place concealed equipment where it can be serviced in the way the manufacturer permits. Ask to see the access plan on the drawing. Hiding equipment behind permanently finished surfaces can make routine replacement disproportionately disruptive. Treat water and electrical work as coordinated professional installation rather than a general-purpose do-it-yourself wiring exercise.
Moen Smart Shower uses a 2.4 GHz network connection. Make sure the signal reaches the installed location and that the household—not just the contractor—owns the final account and pairing credentials. A future router change should be a five-minute setup task, not a service call.
Request separate demonstrations of operation without internet and of the response to loss of electrical power. Do not assume that local operation, cloud services and optional battery backup behave identically across products. Record which functions remain available and the exact supported backup accessory, if one is part of the design.
Have the installer demonstrate ordinary on/off control, temperature adjustment, outlet selection and any presets. Check that guests can use the shower without a phone. Temperature limits and thermostatic features need correct installation and setup; neither a product label nor a voice assistant is a blanket guarantee against scalding.
Pay for additional outlets when the room uses them, app features when somebody will actually use them, and integrated steam or audio when those are planned experiences. Do not pay simply to maximize the length of the feature list. A household that always uses one showerhead may benefit more from good physical controls and a well-designed supply than a complex touchscreen installation.
Compare the complete installed cost, including service access and the future replacement of controls or valves. A smart shower is a platform decision, not just a trim decision, so long-term parts support matters almost as much as the touchscreen you see every day.
The simplest way to choose is to match the platform to the room you actually want. Moen is the strongest connected-water choice, Anthem is the cleaner digital-control platform, Anthem+ and ThermaSol belong in more ambitious spa-style rooms, and GROHE is the best fit when you want premium physical control without an app. For a conventional non-digital setup, a standard shower valve is still the more sensible buy.
For a conventional showerhead plus handshower, the Moen two-outlet system is the simplest connected platform here. It still requires the S3102 valve, matching TS3302 controller and proper electrical/service planning.
Not necessarily. Some systems can pause flow or offer eco modes, but actual water use still depends on outlet flow rates and how long you shower. Moen Smart Shower does not display water usage, so do not buy it expecting built-in consumption tracking.
It depends on the system. Moen offers an optional battery backup; without backup, a power failure shuts the smart valve down.
No. Grohtherm SmartControl is a thermostatic physical-control system without Wi-Fi/app connectivity. It is included as the best no-app alternative.
