# ARCCTV vs Merkury Smart

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Merkury Smart at none against ARCCTV's 30. Merkury Smart also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (38K vs 100). On price, update cadence, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ARCCTV sells 23 in-app purchases, starting at $5.59 per month. Merkury Smart asks for nothing beyond the download.

Merkury Smart holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merkury Smart has 38K ratings behind it against 100, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of ARCCTV's written reviews are positive against 23% of Merkury Smart's.

ARCCTV ships an update every 2 months, Merkury Smart every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARCCTV | Merkury Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (100 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcctv/id1376487513/reviews) | **[4.7 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merkury-smart/id6444498218/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 100 | **38K** |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **22.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#142** | #147 |
| Size | 486 MB | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [浩汉 谢](https://appshunter.io/developer/1651331103) | [Merkury Innovations LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1177386275) |

## What reviewers say

### ARCCTV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcctv/id1376487513)

**Currently charting:** #142 Top Grossing · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Access your security cameras remotely with this mobile application. It offers real-time multi-camera previews, PTZ control, and video capture capabilities. Enjoy a streamlined interface for convenient monitoring.

**Highlights:** Remote viewing, Real-time multi-camera preview, PTZ control, Video capture, Recording backup, QR scan

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

**In-app purchases (23)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Past 7-day event video monthly | $5.59 | per month |
| AI Alerts\|Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| AI Alerts \| Premium \| Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| AI Alerts \| Yearly | $55.90 | per year |
| 7 days history, motion, annual | $55.90 | per year |
| 7 days history, motion, annual | $55.90 | per year |
| AI Alerts \| Premium \| Yearly | $64.90 | per year |
| 30-days Motion Video \|30-days | $4.99 | one-time |
| 30-day Motion Video \|30-day | $4.99 | one-time |
| 7-day Motion Video \|31-day | $5.99 | one-time |
| Past 15-day Full Video \|30-day | $6.99 | one-time |
| AI Alerts\|1-Month | $6.99 | one-time |
| Past 7-day Full Video \|31-day | $8.99 | one-time |
| 3-day Motion Video \|92-day | $10.99 | one-time |
| Past 3-day Full Video \|92-day | $13.99 | one-time |
| 7-day Motion Video \|92-day | $16.99 | one-time |
| 7-day Motion Video \|183-day | $31.99 | one-time |
| 3-day Motion Video \|366-day | $36.99 | one-time |
| 30-days Motion Video \|360-days | $49.99 | one-time |
| 30-day Motion Video \|360-day | $49.99 | one-time |
| 7-day Motion Video \|366-day | $59.99 | one-time |
| Past 15day Full Video \|360-day | $69.99 | one-time |
| Past 7-day Full Video \|366-day | $94.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Crystal clear camera quality
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🔒 Reliable security features
- 🤖 Accurate motion/human detection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and network issues
- ⏱️ Slow live feed and video playback
- 🔓 Limited video recording duration
- 💰 Forced cloud subscription for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Camera controls and settings disappear after updates
- Time/date synchronization issues
- Unreliable motion detection and alerts

**Requested features**

- Expand video recording duration
- Improve network stability and connectivity
- Restore full video playback without cloud subscription
- Add more customization options


### Merkury Smart

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

**Currently charting:** #147 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Control and monitor a range of smart home devices, including cameras, lighting, and plugs. View live HD streams, review recorded footage, and manage device settings remotely for enhanced home security and convenience.

**Highlights:** Live HD camera streaming, Motion detection alerts, Record and review video clips, Control smart plugs and outlets, Manage smart LED lighting, Remote device control

**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 ARCCTV free?

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

### Is Merkury Smart free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ARCCTV or Merkury Smart?

Merkury Smart is rated higher. ARCCTV averages 4.4 out of 5 from 100 ratings, while Merkury Smart averages 4.7 from 38K ratings.

### Do ARCCTV or Merkury Smart have ads?

ARCCTV shows ads; Merkury Smart does not.

### Which is updated more often, ARCCTV or Merkury Smart?

ARCCTV ships an update every 2 months, and Merkury Smart every 6 weeks. Most recently, ARCCTV was updated on October 26, 2026 and Merkury Smart on October 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ARCCTV or Merkury Smart?

ARCCTV currently peaks at #142 in the App Store charts, and Merkury Smart at #147. 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.*