Comparison

Upstream™ Essentials vs ZowieX

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Upstream™ Essentials

Features
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IOGEAR UpStream™ Essentials Software FOR USE WITH THE IOGEAR UpStream Pro Dual Video Capture Adapter (GUV322) All the essentials you need to personalize and brand your livestream! UpStream™ Essentials is everything you need to personalize your livestream, right at your fingertips. Control and edit scenes to fully customize dual-camera livestreams in real-time for a broadcast level finish that is ready to stream to any online video platform. The Essentials of UpStream Essentials: Direct Your Stream Remotely Set up your camera gear and direct your show via your smartphone from anywhere Storyboard-Like Management Quick, smooth transitions for professional-level broadcasts during live events Intuitive Scene Editor Eight customizable scene presets for video layouts Chroma Key Effect Effortlessly change your video background to make live broadcasts even more engaging Superb Audio Management View audio sources and mix to perfection ensuring your viewers interact with an active broadcast

About

ZowieX

Features
Read full description

ZowieX is the official companion app for Zowietek’s video and streaming products, offering intuitive control, real-time monitoring, and powerful configuration tools – all in one place. With ZowieX, you can easily manage Zowietek 4K PTZ cameras, 4K POV Camera, 4K HDMI Video Encoders Decoders, and 4K HDMI Video Recorders from your phone or tablet. Whether you're in a studio, at a live event, or working remotely, ZowieX makes professional video production smarter and simpler. Key Features: Remote PTZ Camera Control Pan, tilt, zoom, and focus smoothly with responsive touchscreen controls. Live Preview & Monitoring Watch real-time video previews of your connected devices for easy framing and adjustments. Device Configuration Adjust video settings, IP configurations, stream parameters, and more without a PC. Auto Discovery Instantly find and connect to Zowietek devices on the same network segment—no IP address needed.

Screenshots

Upstream™ Essentials4 screens
ZowieX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ZowieX at every 6 weeks against Upstream™ Essentials's every 5 months. Upstream™ Essentials's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Upstream™ Essentials ships an update every 5 months, ZowieX every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Upstream™ Essentials versus ZowieX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUpstream™ EssentialsZowieX
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB30 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperIOGEAR, Inc.ZOWIETEK ELECTRONICS, LTD.

In-app purchases

None

Upstream™ Essentials

No in-app purchases

None

ZowieX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Upstream™ Essentials free?
Upstream™ Essentials is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ZowieX free?
ZowieX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Upstream™ Essentials or ZowieX have ads?
Neither Upstream™ Essentials nor ZowieX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Upstream™ Essentials or ZowieX?
Upstream™ Essentials ships an update every 5 months, and ZowieX every 6 weeks. Most recently, Upstream™ Essentials was updated on November 3, 2026 and ZowieX on October 30, 2026.

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