# Yi iot vs YI Smart

The clearest difference is rating: Yi iot at 3.1 against YI Smart's 1.8. Yi iot also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (5K vs 72). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Yi iot sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and YI Smart sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Yi iot holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Yi iot has 5K ratings behind it against 72, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 5% and 6% positive.

Yi iot ships an update every 2 weeks, YI Smart every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Yi iot | YI Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.1 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yi-iot/id1375812275/reviews)** | [1.8 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yi-smart/id6473766241/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5K** | 72 |
| Positive reviews | 5.3% of reviews | **6.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#174** | — |
| Size | 374 MB | 373 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ZK (HK) LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769973640) | [ZKCam Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718670984) |

## What reviewers say

### Yi iot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yi-iot/id1375812275)

**Currently charting:** #174 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Monitor your home or office remotely with live video streaming and recording. Receive instant alerts for important events and communicate with people or pets using two-way audio. AI-powered highlights condense footage for quick review.

**Highlights:** AI-curated video highlights, Remote access to live streams, 24/7 live streaming and recording, Two-way audio communication, Smart panoramic view

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AUTO30D-Entryplan-IN（1M1D） | $4.99 | per month |
| 1month 15-day 1cam motion | $9.99 | per month |
| 30D-Entryplan-IN（1M1D） | $9.99 | per month |
| 7d. Loop(30d.), 1 Cam | $15.99 | per month |
| 7d. Loop(30d.), 1 Cam, CVR | $18.99 | per month |
| 15d. Loop(30d.), 5 Cam | $22.99 | per month |
| 30d. Loop(30d.), 5 Cam | $25.99 | per month |
| 30D-Entryplan-IN（1Y1D） | $26.99 | per year |
| 12month 15-day 1cam motion | $59.99 | per year |
| 7d. Loop(12m.), 1 Cam, CVR | $79.99 | per year |
| 15d. Loop(12m.), 5 Cam | $139.99 | per year |
| 30days Loop(365d), 5 Cameras | $174.99 | per year |
| 7d. (30d.), 1 Cam | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great camera quality
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🔒 Useful security features
- 💡 Versatile motion tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and crashes
- 🔋 Camera resets and reboots
- 💰 Aggressive push for paid cloud subscription
- 🤖 Unreliable motion detection and alerts
- 🙄 Excessive and intrusive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Camera randomly turns to face the wall
- App freezes and becomes unusable after updates
- SD card recordings not accessible without subscription
- Alerts and notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add option to disable IR lights
- Improve playback and review of recorded footage
- Provide better customer support and communication
- Allow more customization of motion detection zones


### YI Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yi-smart/id6473766241)

Stay connected with loved ones through real-time video and audio. Initiate two-way conversations with clear voice quality and enjoy a panoramic view of your surroundings by simply moving your phone.

**Highlights:** Real-time video and audio connection, Two-way conversation, Loud and clean voice quality, Panoramic view, Gyroscope support for enhanced viewing

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

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| YI_Cloud_IOS_Entry_Monthly_ACT | $3.99 | per month |
| YI_Cloud_Entry_Plan_(Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| YI_Cloud_Entry_Plan(Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| YI_Cloud_CVR_Plan(Monthly) | $7.99 | per month |
| YI_Cloud_STD_Plan(Monthly) | $11.99 | per month |
| YI_Cloud_Plus_Plan(Monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| YI_Cloud_IOS_Entry_Annual_ACT | $26.99 | per year |
| YI_Cloud_Entry_Plan_(Annual) | $36.99 | per year |
| YI_Cloud_Entry_Plan(Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| YI_Cloud_CVR_Plan(Annual) | $79.99 | per year |
| YI_Cloud_Standard_Plan(Annual) | $99.99 | per year |
| YI_Cloud_Plus_Plan(Annual) | $129.99 | per year |
| YI_Cloud_Entry_Plan2(Monthly) | $4.99 | one-time |
| YI_Cloud_CVR_Plan2(Monthly) | $7.99 | one-time |
| 7天移动-包年套餐-一次性 | $9.99 | one-time |
| YI_Cloud_STD_Plan2(Monthly) | $11.99 | one-time |
| YI_Cloud_Plus_Plan2(Monthly) | $14.99 | one-time |
| 7天CVR-包年-一次性 | $19.99 | one-time |
| 30天移动-包年-一次性 | $29.99 | one-time |
| YI_Cloud_Entry_Plan2(Annual) | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Yi iot free?

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

### Is YI Smart free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Yi iot or YI Smart?

Yi iot is rated higher. Yi iot averages 3.1 out of 5 from 5K ratings, while YI Smart averages 1.8 from 72 ratings.

### Do Yi iot or YI Smart have ads?

Both Yi iot and YI Smart show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Yi iot or YI Smart?

Yi iot ships an update every 2 weeks, and YI Smart every 10 days. Most recently, Yi iot was updated on October 21, 2026 and YI Smart on October 13, 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.*