# SecureSmart — user reviews > 68 indexed App Store user reviews of SecureSmart by Alula Holdings, LLC, rated 4.30/5 from 157 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/securesmart/id842850593/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/securesmart/id842850593.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 119 · 4★ 10 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 5 · 1★ 19 ## What do users think of SecureSmart? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Works great for customers - 👍 Integration with Alula - 👍 Convenient remote arm/disarm - 👍 Useful for programming/alerts - 👍 Love the keypad feature - 👍 New version fixed complaints - 👍 Good live camera view - 👍 Fast home automation - 👍 4-digit PIN feature - 👍 Garage door openers added - 👍 New look is easier to see - 👍 Event log tracking - 👍 Excellent and easy to use - 👍 Intuitive and great graphics - 👍 Works perfect after redownload **Cons** - 🐛 App crashes frequently - 🐛 Does not connect to alarm - 🐛 Cannot arm/disarm alarm - 🐛 Keypad removed from app - 🐛 Update not user-friendly - 🐛 Numbers too small, no color - 🐛 Disarm button gone - 🐛 Doesn't work half the time - 🐛 App went offline - 🐛 Needs update for 2018 tech - 🐛 Refuses to load/frozen - 🐛 FaceID authentication issues - 🐛 Logged out, cannot log back in - 🐛 Not compatible with iOS - 🐛 Constantly offline, slow refresh - 🐛 Little delay arming/disarming - 🐛 Locked out of physical keypad - 🐛 Slow to load real-time info - 🐛 Useless, takes too long to set/deactivate - 🐛 Glitchy, can't tell if set - 🐛 Nothing happens when trying to arm/disarm - 🐛 Almost never works for arming/disarming - 🐛 App sporadically not working - 🐛 Prior version slow, new version fails to connect - 🐛 Does not provide fully functional keypad - 🐛 No audible sound for alarms - 🐛 Paid upgrade works 5% of time - 🐛 Slow to load, inconsistent arm/disarm - 🐛 Extremely unreliable, alarm goes off - 🐛 Says refreshing for hours - 🐛 Says disarmed when armed & vice versa - 🐛 Garbage, slow to connect/view events - 🐛 Slower than molasses, long response time - 🐛 So slow it appears not to work - 🐛 Doesn't work on iPhone - 🐛 Doesn't work most of the time - 🐛 Constant authentication errors, freezes - 🐛 Displays alarm status disarmed all the time - 🐛 Takes forever to confirm arming/disarming - 🐛 Requires restarting almost every time - 🐛 Does not communicate well with panel - 🐛 Shows alarm off when it's on & vice versa - 🐛 Doesn't work at all, shows refreshing - 🐛 "Refreshing" 90% of the time - 🐛 Sound not playing for notifications - 🐛 Lots of bugs - 🐛 Hangs, doesn't authenticate/refresh - 🐛 Authentication errors, doesn't arm - 🐛 Very unreliable, authentication errors - 🐛 Stopped working, refreshing and hangs - 🐛 Very limited, no push notifications - 🐛 Takes too long to send commands - 🐛 Crashes too often - 🐛 Keypad display not updated without refresh - 🐛 Extremely slow or hangs a lot - 🐛 Doesn't work at all, refreshing then blank - 🐛 Authentication error - 🐛 Prettier but plagued with issues - 🐛 Not being able to arm or disarm - 🐛 Often shows wrong state, authentication error - 🐛 New version screen resolution problem on iPad - 🐛 Arming with TouchID arms in stay mode - 🐛 Even worse after update, useless - 🐛 Cannot get username/password sent - 🐛 Automatically closes app, refuses to open - 🐛 Syncing for hours - 🐛 Optimized for iPhone 5, not iPhone 6 - 🐛 Push notifications not implemented correctly **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes after login - Does not connect after iOS 17 update - Cannot arm or disarm - Numbers too small, no color - Disarm button removed - Doesn't work half the time - App went offline - Refuses to load on iPhone 7 Plus - FaceID authenticates but won't arm/disarm - App logged me out, won't let me log back in - Not compatible with iOS 11.2.6 - Constantly offline, takes ten minutes to refresh - Little delay when arming/disarming - Arming/disarming via Face Unlock does not always work - Keypad lock code used every time - Locked me out of physical keypad - Slow to load real-time info - Takes 20-30 minutes to set/deactivate - App lags, very glitchy - Cannot tell if alarm is set until push notification - Nothing happens when trying to remotely turn on/off alarm - Almost never works for disarming or arming - Close and relaunch multiple times before functioning - Sporadically not working due to Do Not Disturb switch - Requires going in and out several times before connecting - Does not provide fully functional keypad - Cannot bypass zones or turn on chime - No audible sound when alarm activated - Paid for upgrade, works 5% of time - Slow to load, inconsistently arms and disarms, crashes - Extremely unreliable - Constantly says refreshing for hours - Says disarmed when armed and vice versa - Slow to connect and slow to never for viewing events - Slower than molasses, waits over a minute for response - So slow it appears not to work - Doesn't work on Droid, works on iPhone - Doesn't work most of the time - Doesn't work at all if signal not full strength - Constant authentication errors - Freezes badly, rebooting phone is routine - Displays alarm status disarmed all the time - Takes FOREVER to confirm arming/disarming - Requires restarting almost every time - Does not communicate with alarm panel well - Tells me alarm is off when it's not and vice versa - Sat in house and watched panel, tried to disarm with NO success - Shows home refreshing, reads disarming, nothing happens - 90% of the time, it's 'refreshing' - Sound setting for notifications doesn't work - Lots of bugs - Hangs up, doesn't authenticate properly - Seldom displays system status - Authentication errors, sometimes doesn't arm - Stopped working, refreshing and hangs - Very limited, no push notifications - Takes way too long to send commands - App crashes too often - Security keypad display does not display updated information without a manual refresh - App is extremely slow or hangs a lot - App hasn't worked at all, says "refreshing" then goes blank - Authentication error - Prettier but plagued with issues - Not being able to arm or disarm - Every key press just says "transmitting please wait" then nothing - Often shows an alarm panel state that is wrong - Displays that it is "Disarming..." when it is not - New version has problem with screen resolution on iPad - Missing numbers 3, 6, and 9 on iPad keypad - Screen doesn't scroll on iPad - Arming with TouchID arms it in stay mode - Shows devices refreshing on one of the two locks - Changing thermostat temp goes back to previous setting - Cannot get username/password sent - Automatically closes app and refuses to open - Syncing for the last 6 1/2 hrs - Push notifications not implemented correctly in iOS 8 - App does not ask to accept push notifications on first start **Most requested features** - Add progress bars or 'please wait' signs - Add audible sound for alarms - Add 4 function keys (ABCD) - Fix TouchID arming issue - Allow username/password reset - Implement push notifications - Improve user interface for better readability - Add color to the interface - Bring back the disarm button ## Newest reviews (18 of 68) ### 2/5 — Update not user friendly *2020-12-09* Numbers are so little you almost need a magnifying glass. No color. The disarm button is gone. Needs more work to be more user friendly. ### 2/5 — Arming.... FAIL. Now with DUPLICATE notifications! *2018-05-07* New Feature!!! Now with DUPLICATE iOS notifications (for no reason)! FaceID authenticates but won’t actually ARM/DISARM. App only works with the keypad. iPhone X users out of luck with FaceID. ### 1/5 — Just awful *2018-02-17* This app has to be just an afterthought.... 1) app is constantly offline 2) can take ten minutes to “refresh” 3) does not easily report open zones ### 4/5 — Great app, not perfect *2018-02-05, version 2.5.6* Overall the app works really well. It has a little delay when arming and disarming but it seems like most of these types of apps do. The arming and disarming via Face Unlock does not always work, and needs to be optimized. When that fails I just import the keypad code which always works. ### 2/5 — Needs to be improved *2018-01-24, version 2.5.6* All you see is a keypad and text in the top green area. Its not graphical at all! All apps currently in the AppStore have designed buttons to arm and disarm the alarm. This is using your keypad lock code every time. We are in 2018 and it looks like it is an app from when the internet started. Just a page with a keypad and a calculator display. Needs to be updated to current designs. Granted, it still works with the key pad, just needs to be graphically friendly. ### 4/5 — Like it but *2018-01-20* App works (worked) fine. Very convenient to arm or disarm the alarm from outside the home. But, after an update last week, I was logged out and have no idea how to get logged back in. The company that installed my system two years ago did all of this for me. I do not recall my User ID nor Password. Can someone with developer let me know who I can contact to log in again or at least point me in the right direction? ### 1/5 — Useless *2017-12-05, version 2.5.3* App is junk. It locked me out of my physical keypad because of a comms error. And it’s slow to load real-time info. ### 1/5 — Not so Smart app *2017-10-22, version 2.5.2* Don’t waste your time. Safetouch should be ashamed to be represented by such a useless app. Wonder how Secure it really is! ### 1/5 — App is horrible. Expect to stay late every night. *2017-09-17, version 2.2.6* This app is useless. Usually takes 20-30 minutes to set/deactivate the alarm. App lags whether you are on wifi or not. Very glitchy. Can't tell if the alarm is actually set until you get the push notification. If you have any other options, avoid this system. ### 1/5 — Completely useless! *2017-05-15, version 2.2* This app is completely useless! Wish I could give it zero stars. Tried to use it multiple times over the last few days to remotely turn off/on my alarm and NOTHING HAPPENS!!! I even tried it now - from inside my house - and NOTHING HAPPENS! What the heck is the point in just being able to see if my alarm is set or not? This was supposed to allow me to arm/disarm it remotely. EMC will be getting a call from us soon. ### 1/5 — Almost useless *2017-05-02, version 2.1* This app almost never works for disarming or arming my system. I have to close a relaunch it several times before it will function properly. ### 3/5 — Do Not Disturb Glitch *2017-04-10, version 2.1* I just realized that the app not working sporadically is due to the do not disturb switch being on. As soon as you turn it off, the app will work fine and secure or un-secure your system. ### 2/5 — Don't upgrade: worse than before *2017-04-08* Prior version of app was slow at connecting to my alarm, but at least it eventually connected. This version requires going in and out several times before it will connect. Ran 4 structured experiments and found this affects both wifi and LTE from the mobile device, and both wifi and GSM in the alarm transponder side. The app is definitely the problem, as backhaul transmissions I sniffed appear fine. Latency on the wire explains the slowness, but not the failure to connect. I recommend staying with prior version until developers solve this problem. 4/7/17 ### 3/5 — Improvement Needed *2017-04-05, version 2.0.55* The app does not provide a fully functional keypad as advertised. I'm using it with a Honeywell Vista panel and many of the keypad features do not work. I can arm and disarm, but cannot bypass zones or turn on the chime. Push notifications are great, but there is no audible sound when an alarm is activated. It would be idea to have the 4 function keys available as well (ABCD). ### 1/5 — Poyea *2016-12-24, version 2.0.54* This has been a nightmare. Paid for an upgrade for this app service and it works maybe, maybe 5% of the time. Paying extra per month for this app option and it is terrible. Won't arm. Won't disarm. When it does arm, you have to close down the app and re-open to even see if it is armed. ### 1/5 — Needs some work! *2016-11-17, version 2.0.52* This app is pretty rough. It is slow to load, inconsistently arms and disarms, and crashes. Almost useless. ### 1/5 — Extremely unreliable *2016-11-02* We decided to have this app for our security system to replace a remote and so far this app is extremely unreliable. My alarm has gone off more times in the past 2 weeks than in previous couple of months. The app constantly says it's refreshing, for hours, which means that we cannot turn off/on the alarm during this time, even if we shut down the app or restart our phones. The app has also said it is disarmed when in fact it is armed and vice versa, which has caused us to set off the alarm multiple times. We decided to have this app for convenience and so far it has been ridiculously inconvenient. ### 1/5 — Txautomater *2016-09-26, version 2.0.43* This app is garbage. Go back to ipFob if you can. It is slow to connect and slow to never for viewing events. Every customer I have told to download have threatened to cancel because of the poor functionality of this app. Load them with the previous ipFob app and immediately they change their mind. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Crashing *2024-11-15* After logging in I go to cameras and the app crashes ### 1/5 — Not working in iOS 17 *2023-09-21* The last update took a great simple app and overly complicated it. Now it does not connect to my alarm system after iOS 17 update. ### 1/5 — Poor app *2021-07-17* I can’t arm or disarm my alarm from the app. The keypad is removed from app ### 1/5 — Garbage *2021-07-10* Zero stars Had to give it 1 star to submit ### 1/5 — Really horrible *2019-02-13* Doesn’t even work half the time. It’s time to find another service. I wouldn’t use this again. ### 1/5 — Just Awful!!! *2018-12-02, version 2.6.2* It was working fine until it went offline.... had to call and get the username and password, still nothing!!!! This is app is a load of crap on top of crap!!! ### 1/5 — 2018 technology? *2018-12-02* Desperately needs an update... this is 2018. ### 1/5 — Refuses to load *2018-09-20* App used to be great but refuses to load on my iPhone 7 Plus. I’m using current iOS and deleted app and reinstalled it but the app is frozen on “waiting for connection”. Hope it’s fixed soon☹️ ### 1/5 — After Update No Longer Works *2018-04-03* This app worked well until the update. It logged me out and won’t let me log back in. Now there is no way to use the app anymore. ### 1/5 — Not compatible w/ ios 11.2.6 *2018-03-02* Please fix it, it does not work with lastest ios. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works great *2022-12-29* I use this app with all my customers and they love it! I personally use it for my own home security system as well, love the integration Alula offers. They’ve really been on their game lately, can’t wait to see what new things they’ll have to offer in the future! ### 5/5 — WORKS AND LOOKS VERY NICE!!! *2016-10-06* I install alarm systems and have used both the option and this newer updated app. I agree that ipfob is faster but not by much from my experience. If you don't hook up the cat5e cable to the alarm panel then it will be pretty slow depending on placement of the cellular bat module. I always add internet to the alarm panel and use the cell as a backup and the speeds are way better. Overall I use this app everyday and never have issues with it. Get yourself a better installer that knows how to install the products to perform better:) ### 5/5 — iAreMondo *2016-09-11, version 2.0.43* This app has been a life saver when it comes to programming and trouble call alerting. ### 5/5 — Love Keypad *2016-09-11, version 2.0.43* I love being able to bypass the office door and add a code all while at work. My last company only had an on/off function. ### 5/5 — Can I put ten stars! *2016-01-08, version 2.0.37* This is the best, easy app ever! So simple to use and no issues! Keep up the great work ipdatatel! ### 5/5 — Excellent App *2015-09-01, version 2.0.29* I love this app. It is very easy to use. I highly recommend it! ### 5/5 — Super easy *2015-08-29, version 2.0.29* Intuitive, easy to use, great graphics...love it. Installed on 2 iPads and iPhone. ### 5/5 — Much Better! *2015-08-26, version 2.0.29* The new 1.1.30 version has fixed a lot of what others have been complaining about. Better looking keypad, good live IP camera view, and super fast home automation. The 4 digit pin is a great feature, plus it looks like they just added garage door openers! ### 5/5 — Love the new look *2015-08-25, version 2.0.29* I love the new app! The new display makes things so much easier to see at a glance! ### 5/5 — Great App *2015-08-18, version 2.0.29* Works great when arming and disarming my panel. I can check who comes and goes from the event log where ever I am. --- *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 2026-08-25.*