# AlwaysSafe — user reviews > 134 indexed App Store user reviews of AlwaysSafe by Swann Communications Pty Ltd, rated 2.10/5 from 65 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alwayssafe/id1228477136/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alwayssafe/id1228477136.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 11 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 9 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 38 ## What do users think of AlwaysSafe? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to use app - 🔒 Great for older systems - 👍 AlwaysSafe app works well at home **Cons** - 🐛 Landscape mode doesn't work - 🐛 Connection issues, fails to connect - 🐛 Playback and recording issues - 🐛 Push notifications not working - 🐛 App crashes and freezes **Commonly reported bugs** - Landscape mode not working after iOS 18 update - App crashes when trying to connect to WiFi - Playback not working, can't view recorded videos - Push notifications stopped working - App freezes and becomes unusable **Most requested features** - Update app to support latest iOS versions - Add landscape mode support - Improve remote/mobile connectivity - Fix push notification issues - Enhance playback and recording features ## Newest reviews (16 of 134) ### 3/5 — Needs to be updated for ios18 and above *2026-08-09, version 4.14.1* Generally a good ap but now after updating to iOS 18 I can no longer rotate the screen view? ### 3/5 — Update *2025-08-24, version 4.14.1* I understand the app is for older cameras, but many Swann users still have older cameras that require an app update so the app functions well with the latest iOS versions. So can you please update this app as now with iOS 18 full screen viewing when selected or in rotation no longer works. Thanks. ### 1/5 — Useless app making your security investment worthless *2022-11-06, version 4.14.1* I’ve been pushed to write a review by the frustration this app is causing me. Basically push notifications don’t work making this a useless piece of software. It’s a shame because the hardware is still good but by not fixing the software will drive customers to other and more reliable brands. I guess the strategy is to make your product obsolete by not porting this to a newer software that works. ### 3/5 — Why *2022-11-01, version 4.14.1* What?? What is the point in having a password for a security camera ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work….just like Bidens sheep. *2022-10-06, version 4.14.1* Why would you even release an app that works 1% of the time? ### 1/5 — Notifications *2022-09-18, version 4.14.1* Hey guys what’s happened to push notifications?? I have NVW 490 and IOS With the Always Safe app and push notifications to the app seems to have stopped working! What’s going on? Sept. 2022 ### 1/5 — Push notifications failed, clunky recording and playback *2022-09-11, version 4.14.1* It doesn’t appear that Swann is still supporting this app, has potential to be fantastic but is very frustrating at present. Push notifications needs to be fixed. ### 1/5 — Not great *2022-08-30, version 4.14.1* Push notifications stopped working again. ### 1/5 — Playback does not work!! *2022-08-20, version 4.14.1* You call yourself an “AlwaysSafe” app but you can’t even get the playback to work… I don’t feel safe using this app ### 1/5 — No updates *2022-06-25, version 4.14.1* Been 3 years since app updated. Do not recommend. ### 1/5 — It’s rubbish- get a ring *2022-02-24, version 4.14.1* Rarely connects when it’s does eventually it’s slow and times out , needs major upd but as usual with Swann products unless you spend on latest gear and keep updating you get no support and rubbish apps, get a Ring, never had an issue with it yet… ### 1/5 — Could be a good app but it’s terrible. *2022-02-23, version 4.14.1* Won’t work on cellular service, only if you’re home on the network it’s connected to! Will tilt and pan on Wi-Fi but again, only works on home Wi-Fi!!! What’s the point??? ### 1/5 — Not reliable *2022-02-08, version 4.14.1* When it works it’s great, however it has been very unreliable at times. I would expect with todays tech they would be able to work the glitches out. ### 1/5 — Useless *2022-01-05, version 4.14.1* Playback doesn’t work so what’s the point. ### 1/5 — Hot use *2022-01-04, version 4.14.1* Hi I like the Application but my phone battery gets hot very quickly in use ### 1/5 — Impossible to troubleshoot, poor control *2021-12-04, version 4.14.1* 1. There is no link between error messages and what the cause or solution may be. Get “connection failure” after years of being able to connect. Wifi working fine for all other devices. 2. Why have different apps for devices from the same brand … AlwaysSafe (not working) and Swann Security (working OK)? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Can’t load *2026-04-14, version 4.14.1* It is nearly impossible to do video review on the app. I bought this system years ago so I can keep an eye on my house but the app sucks. It has not been updated in this whole time and I am unable to review videos when I need to. Very frustrating and wouldn’t recommend this system to anyone. ### 1/5 — Landscape mode *2025-05-04, version 4.14.1* Landscape mode doesn’t work most of the time. On rare occasions when it does work you can’t get back to portrait mode without force closing the app. ### 1/5 — Hopeless *2025-02-02, version 4.14.1* This app has lost the plot, in the last few months it is impossible to log onto the cameras. They just come up with o% internet connection. ### 1/5 — Video not expanding to larger view *2024-09-25, version 4.14.1* Ever since ISO 18 update I noticed the video view setting doesn’t expand larger to landscape view like before. ### 1/5 — AlwaysSafe updates *2024-02-23, version 4.14.1* Why can’t you update this app is was great but failing to connect to my ph can’t update the unit that alway never worked, so I feel you don’t bother with older models which we buy in faith that they will do the job for quite a few years. I feel this is a way of getting people to update with new a system. This app has been superseded for security cameras by Swann ### 1/5 — Poor support from Swann *2024-01-08, version 4.14.1* App is outdated and no backwards compatible support provided - very disappointing ### 1/5 — C- - P app and cameras *2023-01-19, version 4.14.1* Don’t believe the advertisement it untrue misleading . Swann products constantly glitches and the app well I can’t write to much as I will only start swearing 🤬. ### 1/5 — Connection failed *2023-01-05, version 4.14.1* This app is rubbish does not send alerts of motion detection and connection always fails. ### 1/5 — Too hard. Too late. Too over it. *2022-11-22, version 4.14.1* Just fails when it’s needed. Absolutely useless. ### 1/5 — No update ?? *2022-11-10, version 4.14.1* Not receiving push notifications anymore very frustrating, app has not been up dated for 3yrs ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — AlwaysSafe *2024-12-06, version 4.14.1* Great for older systems. Needs to be updated as flip screen to landscape stopped working since iOS 18.0. Still has stretch mode switch which I like. ### 5/5 — Just what I was looking for. Nice app for the iPad *2020-02-11, version 4.14.1* Easy set up, does exactly what it says it does ### 5/5 — Stopped working on mobile *2020-01-19, version 4.14.1* Hi my AlwaysSafe app works at home internet and WiFi but not when am at work or aboard? It stops no video?? What to do no info on line or Swann community ### 5/5 — Best cameras ever *2019-12-23, version 4.14.1* 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 worth the money app is amazing ### 5/5 — Thanks *2019-08-30, version 4.14.1* Thanks for listening - can this app be available too in roku? ### 4/5 — Won't Landscape after iOS 18 *2025-01-23, version 4.14.1* Since iOS 18, the landscape feature for viewing no longer works. I have emailed the company through the technical support, but never received a response. Not very good representation for their products. ### 4/5 — Almost Great *2024-11-16, version 4.14.1* Tried this app because my StreamView app stopped displaying in landscape position however after downloading this app I’m pretty sure it’s the StreamView app renamed as it’s exactly the same. Unfortunately it’s 4 stars from me because of its inability to display in landscape position. I do find this so annoying and kinda wish Apple would refuse all iPad apps into its store that fail to have both landscape and portrait mode. Do people actually view an iPad in portrait position because I rarely see anyone use it in that way. ### 4/5 — Needs to be updated for ios18 *2024-09-23, version 4.14.1* Generally a good ap but now after updating to iOS 18 I can no longer rotate the screen view? ### 4/5 — No recorded playbacks *2020-10-28, version 4.14.1* Since upgrading to IOS 14.1 any recorded event fails to playback. Playbacks work fine from the NVR itself not not via the app anymore. Before the upgrade everything worked correctly. ### 4/5 — ~~~~ *2020-01-08, version 4.14.1* The app is really easy to use and I love the 360 camera! But I was wondering how do we do playbacks? --- *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.*