# Imou Life vs DMSS

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DMSS at 89% against Imou Life's 38%. DMSS also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Imou Life sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and DMSS sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DMSS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DMSS has 79K ratings behind it against 4.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Imou Life's written reviews are positive against 89% of DMSS's.

Imou Life ships an update every 2 weeks, DMSS every 10 days. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Imou Life | DMSS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imou-life/id1071165451/reviews) | **[4.8 (79K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dmss/id1493268178/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4.8K | **79K** |
| Positive reviews | 38.0% of reviews | **88.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#102** | #202 |
| Size | 775 MB | 472 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Huacheng Network(hk) Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1734340803) | [DongBin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1757539852) |

## What reviewers say

### Imou Life

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imou-life/id1071165451)

**Currently charting:** #102 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Monitor your home and loved ones with this app designed for smart IoT devices. View live feeds, communicate remotely, and receive intelligent alerts with AI-powered human detection. Secure your data with encrypted transmission and cloud storage.

**Highlights:** Remote live view and playback, Two-way audio communication, Intelligent alerts with AI human detection, Encrypted video and audio transmission, Cloud video storage, Device access sharing with custom permissions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic plan Monthly -1camera | $3.49 | per month |
| Basic plan Monthly (1 camera) | $3.49 | per month |
| Basic plan Monthly (2 camera) | $5.99 | per month |
| Basic plan Monthly -2camera | $5.99 | per month |
| Imou Protect Plus Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Plus Plan Monthly (1 camera) | $6.99 | per month |
| Basic plan Monthly (3 cameras) | $7.99 | per month |
| Plus Plan Monthly (2 cameras) | $9.49 | per month |
| Pro*1cam*Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Basic plan Monthly (4 cameras) | $12.00 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent image quality
- 🔒 Reliable security features
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 👍 Great value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and offline issues
- 🐛 Unreliable notifications and motion detection
- 🐛 Playback and recording problems
- 🔒 Poor customer support and lack of troubleshooting options
- 💰 Subscription model and hidden costs

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes after recent updates
- Inability to log in or access cameras remotely
- Incorrect time stamps on recorded footage
- Unresponsive or missing controls in the app

**Requested features**

- Improved motion detection and activity zones
- Continuous recording option without subscription
- Two-way audio support
- Ability to disable ads and subscription prompts


### DMSS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dmss/id1493268178)

**Currently charting:** #202 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Monitor your home security with real-time video surveillance and instant alarm notifications. Play back recorded footage, share access with family, and manage devices like intercoms and access control systems remotely.

**Highlights:** Real-time live video view, Video playback by date and event, Instant alarm notifications, Device sharing with permissions, Alarm hub for various sensors, Visual intercom and access control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Basic Plan | $3.49 | one-time |
| Monthly Basic Plan - Dual-lens | $6.90 | one-time |
| Monthly Pro Plan | $6.99 | one-time |
| Monthly 4G Data Plan | $10.00 | one-time |
| Monthly Pro Plan - Dual-lens | $13.90 | one-time |
| Annual Basic Plan | $34.99 | one-time |
| Annual Basic Plan - Dual-lens | $69.90 | one-time |
| Annual Pro Plan | $69.99 | one-time |
| Annual 4G Data Plan | $90.00 | one-time |
| Annual Pro Plan - Dual-lens | $139.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app for security camera monitoring
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use interface
- 🔒 Real-time alerts and ability to view cameras anytime
- 🔍 Top-notch image quality and streaming speed
- 👍 User-friendly and reliable system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues and app crashes
- 🐛 Playback functionality can be unreliable or difficult to use
- 🐛 Notifications and alarm settings can be inconsistent
- 🐛 Time/date display issues, especially with daylight savings
- 🐛 Difficulty finding and reviewing specific recorded events

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent connection and playback issues
- Notifications not working as expected
- Time/date display problems
- Crashes and freezes when using certain features

**Requested features**

- Ability to turn cameras on/off individually within the app
- Faster forward/rewind options for playback
- Custom notification sounds
- More flexible scheduling and notification settings
- Improved integration with other smart home/security devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Imou Life free?

Imou Life is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is DMSS free?

DMSS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Imou Life or DMSS?

DMSS is rated higher. Imou Life averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4.8K ratings, while DMSS averages 4.8 from 79K ratings.

### Do Imou Life or DMSS have ads?

Neither Imou Life nor DMSS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Imou Life or DMSS?

Imou Life ships an update every 2 weeks, and DMSS every 10 days. Most recently, Imou Life was updated on November 8, 2026 and DMSS on November 8, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Imou Life or DMSS?

Imou Life currently peaks at #102 in the App Store charts, and DMSS at #202. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*