# Alcidae - Smart Life — user reviews > 128 indexed App Store user reviews of Alcidae by Alcidae Inc, rated 1.80/5 from 149 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alcidae-smart-life/id1310128663/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alcidae-smart-life/id1310128663.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 13 · 4★ 10 · 3★ 10 · 2★ 17 · 1★ 99 ## What do users think of Alcidae? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 📷 Affordable and functional cameras - ✅ Device works reliably when app functions properly - 🎯 Good motion detection and playback features - 🐕 Helpful for monitoring pets and home security - ⚡ Fast WiFi connectivity when stable - 🔧 Responsive customer service (historical) **Cons** - 🐛 App crashes and freezes constantly - 📵 App stuck on loading/splash screen frequently - 📢 Excessive intrusive advertisements throughout app - 🖱️ Ads trigger on accidental touches, redirecting to third-party apps - 📞 Customer service no longer available via phone - 🌐 Poor WiFi connectivity and frequent disconnections - 🔐 Misleading product descriptions and deceptive marketing - 🚫 Unreliable app performance after updates - 🔄 Requires constant app reinstallation to function - 📱 iOS compatibility issues and crashes - 🌍 Interface primarily in Chinese, not user-friendly for English speakers - 🔌 Device stops working unexpectedly - 🎙️ Audio functionality broken or non-functional - ⚙️ Integration failures with smart home systems (Alexa, Google Assistant) - 🔑 Password reset functionality broken - 📧 No email support available **Commonly reported bugs** - App freezes on startup/splash screen - App crashes on iOS 12 and newer versions - Login screen freezes and won't load - App won't open after recent updates - Orientation change causes screen minimization/maximization issues - QR code detection not working - Camera won't add or recognize after updates - Network error messages (2.1.8005, 2.1.8018) - Internal server errors on login - Audio not working most of the time - 360 rotation feature stopped working on iOS - WiFi connection fails during setup - Video loading takes excessive time - Recording date and day of week misalignment - Garage door opener stops responding - App won't recognize devices after reinstall - Alexa and Google Assistant integration broken - Certificate issues preventing API calls - App crashes after 2-3 uses requiring reinstall **Most requested features** - Video playback speed control for SD card recordings - Camera angle control through US App Store version - Select all button for clearing messages - Door open/close notifications - Improved iOS 13+ compatibility - Better smart home integration - English language support in app interface ## Newest reviews (17 of 128) ### 3/5 — No customer service now?!? *2025-10-20* The cameras work pretty well and are affordable. The app has had issues and interruptions the past few years but has been updated enough to be stable. However, what happened to the customer service? What happened to Danyale or Danielle? None of the USA telephone numbers work anymore. Your in-app support request is ludicrous—pages of Chinese text! How do you expect customers to navigate that? We can’t even send emails to you now. How do we report issues? ### 2/5 — App Crashed *2025-08-07, version 4.0.4* I installed the latest version on iOS 12 and the app crashed. Please fix it. ### 4/5 — My device is not working *2025-07-05* My device stop working about 3 months ago and I am helpless I love it and rely on it so much for safety and convenience! I tried to fix it my self but it didn’t work! I deleted and tried to reinstall and that didn’t work too! I am tying to reach out and can’t get any kind of support please help me ### 4/5 — At least it works *2024-11-25, version 3.1.18* At least it works, that is all matters ### 1/5 — 花钱买了你的监控摄像头，看监控还得替你看广告赚钱？ *2024-11-24, version 3.1.18* 太差劲，不会再买下一次！ 我花钱买了你的监控摄像头，当我要看监控时还得弹出广告来，我还要替你赚取广告费？ ### 1/5 — 跳廣告的方式真令人噁心 *2024-11-17, version 3.1.17* 跳廣告的方式真令人噁心，打开APP的一剎那一不小心就無提示的打開第三方APP，流氓軟件一個。是用户买摄像头没给钱吗？ ### 1/5 — Reset can’t happen *2024-09-13, version 3.1.15* If you ever need to reset because of a phone number or email you no longer need you cannot reset anything. [Alcidae][{{.sign}}]Enter {{.pin}} into app in the next {{.min}} mins. I hit send me a code to reset and this is what I get. Useless. Done it multiple times and still won’t work. Trash. Don’t waste your time or money ### 1/5 — Deceiving tactics *2024-07-01* The packaging on your Garager 2 clearly says “OPTIONAL” cloud services and the app provides an option for SD card. However, the camera doesn’t have a slot for an SD card or any place to connect an external drive. That leaves your pay-for cloud services as the only option to view, review or store any videos captured by the camera. If I can’t trust your advertisement, how can I trust you with my personal data? ### 1/5 — Stopped working *2024-06-05, version 3.1.13* Was a good cam until the 360 rotation stopped working on iOS. ### 1/5 — Not able to connect *2024-04-19, version 3.1.12* It’s not linking my camera to the wifi network ### 2/5 — 2分是给之前的版本 希望能尽快再完善下 *2024-04-01* 之前用的时候一直挺好的 后来不记得是哪一次更新之后 就变了 1. 再也没有某某时间点在监控区域内的动了的提示了 让人不知道什么时候摄像头里出现了人 我想看小宝宝都不知道要拉到几点去才能看到 2.画面比例放大了 比例怪怪的 调不回之前那样 3.画面声音时有时无 喇叭声音就更不用说了 要么我听不到监控里面的声音 要么摄像头的另一头听不到我的声音 ### 1/5 — Cannot hear anything *2024-03-07, version 3.1.12* Cannot hear anything most of time when I am using this app even no background noise. It only works after I restart my phone. But still broken after I reopen this app. Totally unusable ### 1/5 — 这是我用过的最烂的监控设备，无论是硬件还是软件上。 *2024-01-07* 作为一个监控完全不能发挥监控的作用，全天监控视频不能选特定时间查看；固件升级了十多次了还是没升级成功；动态监控现在完全不提醒等等各种问题。我真是不知道怎么想的看了推广买了这破监控，把你这用推广的钱好好用来弄出产品不好吗？海雀相关的产品我是以后绝对不会再使用了的。 ### 1/5 — 垃圾 *2023-12-25, version 3.1.9* 不論app ，ui，使用難度。一個字，垃圾！千萬別再使用！ ### 1/5 — Not Adding or recognising Garager 2 camera *2023-12-03, version 3.1.6* At the beginning it was working as it should be. After latest update, it even don’t recognise or add Garager 2 camera . Not even detecting QR code at the device. ### 1/5 — Super buggy integration *2023-11-03* Doesn’t work with Alexa. Please fix ASAP More funny with Google, it doesn’t allow calling the API due to certificate issues. I believe no one has tested this feature ### 1/5 — 录像日期和星期几都对不上，持续了很久了 *2023-09-27, version 3.1.2* 这么久都没人改。 ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Garbage *2026-03-15, version 4.0.10* Don’t use or buy this app ! I have a camera and it literally will not connect . There are three ways to connect and none of them work . ! It’s a waist of money and time and no customer service ### 1/5 — 太牛了👍广告灵敏度满分 *2025-12-04, version 4.0.8* 从没见过广告如此恶心的软件，开app晃动跳转检测堪比最精密的仪器，里面广告也是一大堆，谁买谁恶心 ### 1/5 — 到处都是广告 *2025-08-26, version 4.0.6* 从开屏到里面到处都是广告 轻轻一碰就跳转 ### 1/5 — wont work *2025-07-19, version 4.0.4* Worst commect ### 1/5 — 很差！開屏廣告非常多！關閉不了！ *2025-01-30, version 3.2.0* 廣告太多，還都是搖一搖跳轉的廣告，無法關閉！小米比海雀好太多了 ### 1/5 — Worst app and product *2025-01-29, version 3.2.0* The recent update made Garage 2 stopped working. Please fix. ### 1/5 — Bricked by bad software *2025-01-28, version 3.2.0* Hardware feels and seems to be good to great. Some of the absolute WORST software development and implementation I have ever experienced! It’s almost as though they have two app update teams. One team meets “minimum system requirements” and the other must reside at a primate exhibit at the local zoo! ### 1/5 — Stopped working *2025-01-22, version 3.2.0* After the latest update the system stopped working for apple products. I hope they fix this soon, there’s not even a number to call for support. ### 1/5 — 开屏广告 *2025-01-17, version 3.2.0* 开屏广告很恶心，动一下手机就跳转到第三方广告，以后不会再买这个牌子的了 ### 1/5 — Too many advertisements *2025-01-14, version 3.2.0* Too many advertisements bad app ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Previous review in error by me *2025-05-22* Need to ask internet how to reset WiFi not app. Add new device. The rest works out. ### 5/5 — New update *2025-04-04* New update help fix the bugs, thank you, it’s my favorite garage door opener! Thank you , new update rocks 5 stars ### 5/5 — 升级之后连不上摄像头，缓冲百分比到最后会提示“点击重试” *2023-11-01* 另外，删除提示消息的时候，不能全选删除，只能一条一条删除，不太方便，望改进 ### 5/5 — A lifesaver *2023-06-13* I leave my dog at home and I use these to monitor her movements and help me open and close dog doors. They have been a lifesaver and saved me tons. A few times when I’ve had software issues mostly due to Apple their customer service has been aFast and effective. ### 5/5 — Fixed *2022-12-22, version 3.0.1* App issued fixed. Working great now. Thanks support for reaching out. ### 5/5 — 不能用蓝牙耳机通话 *2022-09-22* 摄像头不能通过蓝牙耳机通话的功能什么时候优化一下呢 ### 5/5 — 闪退 *2020-12-31* 一点画面就闪退，连接困难，网络测试其他设备正常使用，打开软件Wifi就断开 ### 5/5 — IOS update needed maybe? *2019-10-12* Love the app but might need update for IOS 13.1.2 as camera still works great but garage door opener signal appears to not want to respond since Apples new update. Great device when working. ### 5/5 — 已经好几个月没有更新了 *2018-10-28* 网络自动断线问题赶快优化一下 ### 5/5 — Had problems in starting but works good *2018-06-17, version 1.1.0* Love it 😊 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-23.*