Polymer vs UniCam
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Polymer
Manage your 3D printer remotely from your mobile device. Monitor print progress with live camera feeds, view status updates, and control printer functions. Offers an optional upgrade for advanced features and multiple printer support.
- Live camera streaming
- Print status monitoring
- Start, stop, and pause prints
- Control heater temperatures
- File management and viewing
- Remote access integration
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(Formerly known as OctoClient for OctoPrint.) Polymer is the simplest way to manage a 3D printer, right from your mobile device. It works with any 3D printer with OctoPrint. You can start and monitor prints from anywhere*, and manage your printer with its advanced controls. It is built to be at home on iOS, sporting a beautiful, intuitive design. Here's what some users have to say: – "Works great. Love it. Wouldn’t own a 3D printer without it." – "Simple, straightforward, works like a charm." – "Must have for any 3D printer owner!" Extended feature list: MONITOR YOUR PRINTS ------------------------ • Live camera streaming: watch your print progress remotely. • Status monitoring: view the print completion, heater temperatures, time elapsed and estimated time remaining. • GCODE view (iPad only): follow your printer's moves as the print progresses. CONTROL YOUR PRINTER -------------------- • Start, stop, and pause prints • Home axes • Set heater temperatures • Extrude and retract filament • Set fan speeds • Set feed and flow rates • Disable motors • Multiple printer support • Add your own custom commands • Send and receive GCODE command messages to your printer • Use OctoPrint system commands • Control your printer's power supply FILE MANAGEMENT -------------------- • File viewer: view all your files and folders. See analysis results for your models (such as estimated print time), and view their print history • Create folders • Upload files to OctoPrint or your printer SD card REMOTE ACCESS ------------------ • Integration with the OctoEverywhere service for hassle-free, secure, remote access. ------------- * Using Polymer outside your local network requires configuring a remote access method. See polymer3d.app/remote for setup guides. This is an independent app that is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by the OctoPrint project or its creator. OctoPrint is a registered trademark owned by Gina Häußge.
UniCam
Transform old phones into smart security cameras with AI-powered alerts. Customize notifications to detect specific events, monitor live streams, and communicate remotely. Supports a wide range of IP cameras and offers a privacy-focused design.
- AI Event Analysis for custom alerts
- Repurpose old phones as cameras
- Universal IP camera support
- 24/7 live streaming
- Two-way audio and siren
- Pan-Tilt-Zoom control
- Apple TV integration
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Turn any spare iPhone or iPad into an AI-powered security camera — and tell it, in your own words, exactly what matters. AI EVENT ANALYSIS Type what you want to know — "alert me if a person enters the backyard", "notify me when the baby climbs out of the crib", "tell me if the dog gets on the couch" — and whenever your mobile camera records motion, UniCam's AI reviews the recording and notifies you only when it matches. No more alert spam. Just the moments you asked for. SIRI AND EVENT SEARCH Ask Siri to open a camera, search your events, turn alerts on or off or set up AI Analysis. Say “Show Front Door in UniCam” or “Search UniCam events.” In Events, type “dog in the garden” and UniCam finds the matching events from the last 7 days. KEY FEATURES: * AI Event Analysis: AI reviews the motion recordings from your mobile cameras and alerts you only about what you asked for * Multi-Purpose Mobile Camera: convert old phones into baby monitors, pet cams, dashcams, or security cameras — no extra hardware needed * Universal IP Camera Support: connect ONVIF, RTSP, MJPEG, and HLS cameras from Hikvision, Dahua, Reolink, and many more * 24/7 Live Streaming: watch from anywhere over WiFi, LTE, or 5G — on iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV * Instant Motion Alerts: get notified the moment movement is detected * Two-Way Audio: talk to family or pets, or deter intruders with the built-in siren * Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) Control: manage supported IP cameras remotely with full directional and zoom control * Smart Camera Discovery: auto-detect IP cameras on your local network for quick setup * Groups: see your cameras side by side in a mosaic and build custom multi-camera views * Picture-in-Picture: keep watching your camera while you use other apps * Event timeline: see a thumbnail of every event and play back its recording * Privacy-Focused Design: your data remains secure and private PERFECT FOR: * Baby Monitor: watch your little one with live video and smart, AI-filtered alerts * Pet Camera: check in on your pets and talk to them while you're away * Home Security: turn any device into a WiFi security camera for enhanced protection * Nanny Cam and Dashcam: flexible monitoring wherever you need it APPLE TV INTEGRATION: Stream your mobile and IP cameras directly to your Apple TV for a larger viewing experience. Perfect for comprehensive home monitoring — your baby, pets, and home security on the big screen. QUICK AND EASY SETUP: Create your home security system in minutes with guided onboarding and in-app tutorials — no technical skills required. ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTION: Repurpose old devices as WiFi cameras or monitors with no hidden costs. Compatible with iOS, iPadOS, and Apple TV. UNICAM PRO FEATURES: * Unlimited Device Connections * Multiple Simultaneous Streams * Enhanced Audio with Walkie-Talkie and Siren * HD Video Quality UNICAM MAX FEATURES: * Everything in PRO, plus AI Event Analysis with custom prompts SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS: Upgrade to UniCam PRO for premium features like HD viewing and unlimited devices, or UniCam MAX to add AI Event Analysis. Subscription auto-renews unless canceled 24 hours before the period ends. Manage subscriptions in Account Settings. ONVIF AND IP CAMERA SUPPORT: UniCam is compatible with a wide range of IP cameras, including those following the ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) standard, ensuring seamless integration with cameras from various manufacturers. WHY CHOOSE UNICAM? UniCam is the only camera app you need: AI-filtered alerts that tell you what actually matters, ONVIF and RTSP support for your existing cameras, and the power to turn spare phones into smart cameras. Download now and let AI keep watch for you. Privacy Policy: https://unicam.app/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://unicam.app/terms-of-service/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Polymer at 81% against UniCam's 33%. Polymer also leads on ratings volume (1.7K vs 53) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Polymer sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and UniCam sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Polymer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polymer has 1.7K ratings behind it against 53, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Polymer's written reviews are positive against 33% of UniCam's.
Polymer ships an update monthly, UniCam every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.
| Parameter | Polymer | UniCam |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.7K ratings) — better | 4.5 (53 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.7% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.7K — better | 53 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 98 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lachlan Bell | nittbit |
Customer experience
Polymer
UniCam
User reviews
Polymer
From 1.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Excellent interface and design
- 🚀 Responsive and efficient
- 💡 Great features for controlling 3D printers
- 🔒 Secure connection to OctoPrint
- 🎨 Beautiful and clean UI
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔍 Missing some advanced features like plugins
- ⏱️ Slow response times in some cases
- 🔔 Lack of notifications for print completion
UniCam
From 53 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy camera setup
- 🚀 Fast app performance on Apple TV
- 💡 AI notifications are useful
- 👍 Good for hybrid systems
- 👍 Works well with ONVIF/RTSP
Room to improve
- 🐛 Pan/Tilt not straight on iOS
- 🐛 Lost account/purchases after update
- 🐛 Login issues after payment
- 🐛 Premium locked cameras
- 🐛 In-app purchases not described
Bugs and requests
Polymer
Reported bugs
3 issues- Camera feed not working consistently
- Settings screen not loading properly on some devices
- Printer connection issues after app updates
Requested features
4 requests- Landscape mode support for tablets
- Temperature graphs and print progress indicators
- Ability to remotely control printer via VPN
- Push notifications for print status updates
UniCam
Reported bugs
39 issues- Pan/Tilt not straight on iOS
- Last update erased account and purchases
- Login issues after payment
- Premium locked cameras
- No PTZ options after subscription
Show 34 moreShow fewer
- Camera not working (Hikvision DS-2CD2083-I)
- No manual IP entry
- App crashes with >4 cameras
- No sound, poor settings
- Cameras not working locally after update
- No default resolution setting
- Dahua NVR not supported
- HTTPS connection error
- Crashes when purchasing
- PTZ fault in ONVIF
- Subscription/account required
- No remote access without port forwarding
- App unusable after last update
- New account system terrible
- Purchased version limited to 4 cameras
- Video stream freezes
- Constant subscription popup
- Original purchase cancelled, forced to subscribe
- Hack attempt after installing
- New version cut features, introduced subscription
- Forgets DVR settings
- Sender not authorized error
- Half screen green
- Video stream freezes often
- Crashes frequently
- Pro version lost after update
- Cannot PTZ
- SDP stream not working
- 1/4 screen visible, rest green
- Freezes on Apple TV/iPad
- No cameras detected
- Hikvision not supported (port issues)
- No ONVIF detection
- No widgets
Requested features
8 requests- Option to zoom on Apple TV
- Picture-in-picture support on tvOS
- Support for JPEG streams
- Add PTZ support for cameras
- Default view setting for Apple TV
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- iCloud sync for cameras
- Launch directly into multi-cam screen
- Add PTZ controls
In-app purchases
Polymer
- Kind Tip$2.99
- Polymer Pro$9.99
- Generous Tip$9.99
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- Incredible Tip$14.99
UniCam
- PRO - 1 Month$3.991 Month
- MAX - 1 Month$9.991 Month
- PRO - 6 months$19.996 Months
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- PRO - 1 Year7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Starter Version2 variants$1.99
- Standard Version2 variants$3.99
- Advanced Version$7.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- PRO version$9.99









