# UniFi Protect vs The Tips App

The clearest difference is update cadence: UniFi Protect at every 3 weeks against The Tips App's every 2 months. The Tips App's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 ships an update every 3 weeks, The Tips App every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | UniFi Protect | The Tips App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (78K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unifi-protect/id1392492235/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **78K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 270 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ubiquiti Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/683620863) | [Ryan Jurden](https://appshunter.io/developer/1819582601) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### The Tips App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-tips-app/id6747460351)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is UniFi Protect free?

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

### Is The Tips App free?

The Tips App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do UniFi Protect or The Tips App have ads?

Neither UniFi Protect nor The Tips App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, UniFi Protect or The Tips App?

UniFi Protect ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Tips App every 2 months. Most recently, UniFi Protect was updated on November 1, 2026 and The Tips App on October 25, 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.*