# HSBuddy vs UniFi Protect

The clearest difference is ratings volume: UniFi Protect at 78K against HSBuddy's 29. UniFi Protect also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). HSBuddy's advantage is review sentiment (76% vs 53%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

UniFi Protect holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UniFi Protect has 78K ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of HSBuddy's written reviews are positive against 53% of UniFi Protect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HSBuddy ships an update every 2 months, UniFi Protect every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HSBuddy | UniFi Protect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsbuddy/id1317682478/reviews) | **[4.8 (78K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unifi-protect/id1392492235/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **78K** |
| Positive reviews | **76.5% of reviews** | 52.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 60 MB | 270 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Antonio Vargas Garcia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1317682477) | [Ubiquiti Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/683620863) |

## What reviewers say

### HSBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsbuddy/id1317682478)

Control your HomeSeer home automation system from your mobile device and Apple Watch. Manage devices, run events, view camera feeds, and create custom dashboards. Automate tasks with Siri shortcuts and widgets.

**Highlights:** Control and edit devices, Run and edit events, View camera feeds, Customizable dashboards, Siri shortcuts, Home Screen widgets, Push notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### UniFi Protect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unifi-protect/id1392492235)

Access your camera security system from your mobile device. Stream live feeds, manage devices, and download recordings. Offers cloudless storage and customizable alerts for residential and commercial users.

**Highlights:** Adopt and manage Protect devices, Stream low-latency livestreams, Download localized recordings, Cloudless recording storage, Timelapse footage scrubbing, Personalized security notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🔒 Secure local storage
- 💡 Powerful AI detection features
- 👍 Seamless integration with Unifi ecosystem

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Slow to connect and load video
- 🔒 Requires cloud account for remote access
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🔍 Inconsistent experience across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Geofencing not working as expected
- Doorbell audio/video not syncing properly
- Frequent disconnections from cameras
- Playback issues and video not loading
- Notifications not reliable or timely

**Requested features**

- Add option to snooze/silence notifications
- Improve video scrubbing and playback controls
- Integrate with Apple HomeKit
- Add custom notification sounds
- Enhance multi-view and layout options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HSBuddy free?

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

### Is UniFi Protect free?

UniFi Protect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HSBuddy or UniFi Protect?

UniFi Protect is rated higher. HSBuddy averages 4.6 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while UniFi Protect averages 4.8 from 78K ratings.

### Do HSBuddy or UniFi Protect have ads?

Neither HSBuddy nor UniFi Protect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HSBuddy or UniFi Protect?

HSBuddy ships an update every 2 months, and UniFi Protect every 3 weeks. Most recently, HSBuddy was updated on November 2, 2026 and UniFi Protect on November 5, 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.*