# Cyclops 1.0 vs Merkury Smart

The clearest difference is rating: Merkury Smart at 4.7 against Cyclops 1.0's 1.7. Merkury Smart also leads on ratings volume (38K vs 11) and chart position (#164 vs unranked). Cyclops 1.0's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Merkury Smart holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merkury Smart has 38K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of Cyclops 1.0's written reviews are positive against 23% of Merkury Smart's.

Cyclops 1.0 ships an update every 3 months, Merkury Smart every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cyclops 1.0 | Merkury Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cyclops-10/id1262333636/reviews) | **[4.7 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merkury-smart/id6444498218/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **38K** |
| Positive reviews | 12.5% of reviews | **22.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#164** |
| Size | 86 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CYCLOPS GEAR LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/604319288) | [Merkury Innovations LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1177386275) |

## What reviewers say

### Cyclops 1.0

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cyclops-10/id1262333636)

Control your Wi-Fi camera remotely to live stream, capture photos and videos, and apply effects. Download edited content to your device and share it on social media.

**Highlights:** Live camera stream preview, Trigger photo and video capture, Apply effects to media, Download media to device, Share edited files on social media, Format camera SD card

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Merkury Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merkury-smart/id6444498218)

**Currently charting:** #164 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Control and monitor a range of smart home devices, including cameras, lights, and plugs, from anywhere. Watch live HD streams, review recorded footage, and customize lighting effects for a connected home experience.

**Highlights:** Live HD video streaming, Motion detection alerts, Review recorded footage, Control smart lights, Manage smart plugs, Multi-camera support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good value
- 👍 Able to monitor pets
- 👍 Clear video
- 👍 Simple to use
- 👍 Nice design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable motion detection
- 🐛 Laggy performance
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🐛 Buggy app

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Issues with password reset
- Trouble connecting cameras
- SD card not recognized

**Requested features**

- Add option to invite family members
- Improve motion detection and notifications
- Allow saving of photos and recordings
- Improve WiFi connectivity
- Add more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cyclops 1.0 free?

Cyclops 1.0 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Merkury Smart free?

Merkury Smart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Cyclops 1.0 or Merkury Smart?

Merkury Smart is rated higher. Cyclops 1.0 averages 1.7 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Merkury Smart averages 4.7 from 38K ratings.

### Do Cyclops 1.0 or Merkury Smart have ads?

Neither Cyclops 1.0 nor Merkury Smart shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cyclops 1.0 or Merkury Smart?

Cyclops 1.0 ships an update every 3 months, and Merkury Smart every 6 weeks. Most recently, Cyclops 1.0 was updated on October 24, 2026 and Merkury Smart on November 3, 2026.

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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.*