# Defender Empower — user reviews > 109 indexed App Store user reviews of Defender Empower by Empowerment Technologies Inc., rated 4.60/5 from 1,679 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defender-empower/id1607518150/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defender-empower/id1607518150.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,397 · 4★ 129 · 3★ 43 · 2★ 28 · 1★ 82 ## What do users think of Defender Empower? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Great camera quality - 🔒 Reliable security system - 👍 Easy to set up and use - 👍 Useful app features **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent app crashes - 🔋 Battery life issues - 👎 Poor customer service - 👎 Unreliable camera connectivity - 👎 Difficult to navigate app **Commonly reported bugs** - Cameras randomly going offline - App not showing all camera feeds - Playback not working as expected - Notifications not triggering consistently **Most requested features** - Add two-way audio capability - Improve playback and recording functionality - Provide PC/desktop app support - Enhance motion detection and alerts ## Newest reviews (10 of 109) ### 2/5 — Camaras don’t pick up a lot *2026-08-17, version 6.4.0* We aren’t getting notifications when people pull into the lot. ### 2/5 — App needs urgent attention *2026-08-09, version 6.4.0* Honestly I never write reviews no matter if they are top notch or bad. However defender empower has earned itself a spot in the worst division all on its own. The cameras are pretty easy to install and are decent of its value and then comes the bottom tier software. In order for you to access their library you’ll need to take 5 additional steps just to look the videos you download and if you want to put a video on 2x speed forget it they don’t even have a option. Defender makes you regret not spending the extra bucks for even a working application ### 4/5 — CCTV camera is great with a small drawback *2026-06-19, version 6.4.0* This is a good and reliable CCTV monitoring system. However its capability to identify humans is somewhat limited. It pretty much identifies every shadow or shade falsely as a human leading to too many false alerts. But overall it gives a sense of security as I am able to monitor my home remotely which is a great benefit. ### 3/5 — False human detection alarm *2026-05-30, version 6.4.0* There are too many false human detection alarm ### 3/5 — Zoom *2026-05-07, version 6.4.0* Well at the beginning it good app so you can zoom in and out if you want to see something closer but I didn’t work one’s in blue moon you can zoom in other ways camera is best quality according to the pictures video quality is best only needs improvement in app thanks ### 4/5 — Adding additional users difficult *2026-04-13, version 5.8.1* Additional user access difficult. Documentation not real easy to navigate. Great video coverage and app generally easy to use. ### 3/5 — Comes in handy *2026-02-26, version 5.8.1* Pretty good app with options. The only bad thing is, I can never get the playbacks to work to see pass footages. ### 2/5 — Customer service can use some improvements. *2025-12-29, version 5.8.1* It’s so hard to contact support. They don’t have a phone number you can call them at. You can schedule a call that you may or may not receive. I waited for 2 weeks for a phone call (appointment was schedule) I took the day off of work as I knew I had to be home to troubleshoot. No phone call received. That’s part 1. Part 2 is about the user interface/app and the camera system itself. The quality doesn’t seem to be as what they advertised. Actual footage is not as good as videos advertised on their website. Sometimes cameras stop working for no reason. Just a black screen. One time I fixed myself by having to change a 50 foot long cable. Another time during winter I didn’t want to deal with changing the cable as it was freezing and lots of snow but somehow the camera started working after 4 days by itself. Very strange. The app and user interface isn’t that friendly. Could use some improvements to be up to date. Overall I’ll give this company and camera set a 2 out of 5 stars. ### 4/5 — Works well. *2025-12-25, version 5.8.1* System works great but difficult to find replacement cameras. Started with 8 cameras 3years ago. Down to 5. I Wish the settings would allow for a start and END time for detecting human bodies. ### 1/5 — Recording issue *2025-12-23, version 5.8.1* Be very careful with buying the device, it says they have recording capabilities but doesn’t work. Even customer care is helpless. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Frustrated Senior citizen *2026-08-09, version 6.4.0* I switched from the Ring camera to the Defender because of the reviews I about your product. Well I haven’t had much success with it I am unable to get the camera to stay online or see a live shot of my property ### 1/5 — Can not live view over 5G network *2026-07-03, version 6.4.0* If you want to live view, connect yo any wifi network. 5G LTE network will frozen after 1 second. ### 1/5 — Should be like first APP *2026-06-29, version 6.4.0* Defender 4K first APP Better ### 1/5 — Can not live view over 5G network *2026-06-25, version 6.4.0* If you want to live view, connect yo any wifi network. 5G will frozen after 1 second. ### 1/5 — App playback *2026-06-16, version 6.4.0* The camera app truly is one of the slowest things in the whole process it freezes a lot when you use the playback feature so have to restart the app and do it all over again until it chooses to playback the video. I regret even going with this system because even doesn’t offer any type of replacement parts for the bullet NVR cameras I got ### 1/5 — Overall Confusing *2026-06-06, version 6.4.0* The entire experience from installation, troubleshooting and app use has been horrible. I regret purchasing this product. The instructions are 100% confusing, and appear to have been written by someone in IT and not for end users. I gave up and had ChaGPT help me figure it out. Troubleshooting is nonexistent because the documentation and app are not designed for people to understand. Use of the app is 0 out of 100. There is no way to get directly to your cameras, there is no way to pause a camera, the alerts are not helpful, it only alerts for humans so unlike other cameras I cannot tell when my dog has gone out to the patio or yard. Just don’t waste your money. I wish I could return it. ### 1/5 — Regret *2026-05-26, version 6.4.0* I am really regretting why I bought this Defender camera system. Their customer service are really painful when I have any issue and I asked to resolve. They ask again and again so many things to verify and make me to check so many technical things which I have no knowledge. It feels like they’re trying to make me tired and at the end I give up and stop asking them a question and each time it’s happening the same way and they are getting success on it and I am losing my side. I have bought extended warranty but still it feels like I have no control on my device or I have no support even though they are responding on regular basis. It feels like they are just responding but not resolving. I can keep going and going, but I have no time to waste my time. Thank you. ### 1/5 — Defender Vision: Short Lifespan, Long Frustration *2026-05-19, version 6.4.0* I purchased two Defender Vision camera systems, one for my home and one for my business. Unfortunately, both failed after only about a year and a half. First my home system went out, and shortly afterward my business system failed too. The most frustrating part? Trying to get help. Good luck getting support or finding troubleshooting steps that actually solve anything. I spent a lot of money thinking I was investing in security and reliability, only to end up with two systems that became expensive paperweights. Very disappointed, money down the drain. I would never purchase this brand again and cannot recommend it based on my experience. ### 1/5 — Junk cameras and app *2026-02-08, version 5.8.1* Nothing ever works, customer service sucks, it’s all a huge waste of money. I would never recommend anything from defender. ### 1/5 — Problematic *2026-01-10, version 5.8.1* Hardwired defender sentinel camera system hardwired worked for 2 years and randomly went offline one day. Have tried updates, deleted apps and redownloading with no luck to get the system to work off my phone. All cameras offline ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Application TRÈS FIABLE *2026-07-27, version 6.4.0* Facile à utiliser et support à la clientèle très courtois, patient et disponible ### 5/5 — Mike *2026-07-02, version 6.4.0* I’ve had 4x Cameras for over three years. They haven’t been without fault, but customer service was great and the system still works well and reliably records. The fact I can do this without a subscription is exceptional. Highly recommend. ### 5/5 — Kiwi mart *2026-06-05, version 6.4.0* Excellent ### 5/5 — Defender *2026-06-03, version 6.4.0* Best camera ever ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2026-05-23, version 6.4.0* Works well - peace of mind ### 5/5 — Excellent product *2026-05-18, version 6.4.0* This product is worth to buy. The quality is amazing and easy to use n install.. ### 5/5 — Great! *2026-04-21, version 5.8.1* App works well with my defender cameras. No glitches so far. The notifications received when motion is detected is on point and not delayed as well. ### 5/5 — 3 PTZ Cameras *2026-04-17, version 5.8.1* I’m happy with the clarity and the range of view. ### 5/5 — Defender Empower *2026-03-19, version 5.8.1* Love the system. Been using for over 10+ years and simply the best. Great quality. Reliable. Love it. Would recommend it. ### 5/5 — Greatest app *2025-12-23, version 5.8.1* It works really well --- *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 2026-08-26.*