Comparison

HomeGuru vs Viewu

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

Head to head
About

HomeGuru

Control your home's lights and appliances with this app designed for SmartLinc INSTEON controllers. View and manage configured scenes, sending on, off, or fade commands directly from your device. It offers a faster and more user-friendly experience than web interfaces.

Highlights
  • Control lights and appliances
  • View and manage scenes
  • Send on, off, and fade commands
  • Automatic device support
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

If you have a SmartLinc INSTEON controller from SmartLabs (part #2412N, not an INSTEON Hub), HomeGuru is the perfect way to control your home's lights and appliances. It allows you to view a list of all configured scenes in your house, view their status and control them by sending on, off or fade commands to them. It is much quicker and friendlier than using the web interface to the device, especially if you use authentication. HomeGuru supports all the devices the SmartLinc knows about automatically, no further configuration is necessary. IMPORTANT: HomeGuru supports SmartLinc firmware version 3.0 (iPhone 2.0). It is known to work with 2.8 without device status. (To check your version, look for Firmware Version under the General Settings.) Make sure you have a supported version before purchasing. If you have communication problems with your SmartLinc, please contact us for assistance or send an error report under your controller in settings.

About

Viewu

Monitor and manage your Frigate security system with this open-source iOS app. View live camera streams, review past events on an intuitive timeline, and receive customizable push notifications. It offers seamless integration with Frigate Video NVR for enhanced home or office security.

Highlights
  • Event timeline navigation
  • Live RTSP stream viewing
  • Customizable push notifications
  • Frigate NVR integration
  • Privacy-focused data handling
  • Community-driven development
Features
Read full description

Discover the ultimate way to monitor and manage your Frigate security with Viewu, the free, open-source iOS app that seamlessly integrates with Frigate Video. Whether you're keeping an eye on your home, office, or any other important location, Viewu offers robust features to keep you connected and informed. Key Features: - Event Timeline: Easily view and navigate through past events with an intuitive timeline. - Live RTSP Streams: Watch live camera feeds directly from your iOS device for real-time monitoring. - Customizable Notifications: Set up and control push notifications to stay alerted to specific events. - Frigate Integration: Support for Frigate versions 13, 14, 15, and 16 ensuring compatibility and smooth operation. - Privacy First: Your data is yours alone. Viewu does not collect or store any user information, ensuring your privacy is always protected. Viewu is designed with the community in mind. As a community-driven project, it evolves based on user feedback, ensuring it meets your needs and expectations. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, Viewu makes security management accessible to everyone. Become a part of the Viewu community and help shape the future of the app. Your feedback and feature requests drive our development. Note - Viewu app only supports Frigate Video NVR and no others.

Screenshots

HomeGuru3 screens
Viewu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Viewu at 4.5 against HomeGuru's 3.7. Viewu also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 4 months). HomeGuru's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Viewu holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of HomeGuru's written reviews are positive against 71% of Viewu's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HomeGuru ships an update every 4 months, Viewu every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
HomeGuru versus Viewu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHomeGuruViewu
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)4.5 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.6% of reviews70.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings38 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperzenwheelMatthew Ehrhart

Customer experience

HomeGuru

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral18.2%
Negative18.2%

Viewu

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative29.4%

In-app purchases

None

HomeGuru

No in-app purchases

None

Viewu

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HomeGuru free?
HomeGuru is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Viewu free?
Viewu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HomeGuru or Viewu?
Viewu is rated higher. HomeGuru averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Viewu averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.
Do HomeGuru or Viewu have ads?
Neither HomeGuru nor Viewu shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HomeGuru or Viewu?
HomeGuru ships an update every 4 months, and Viewu every 3 days. Most recently, HomeGuru was updated on October 23, 2026 and Viewu on October 20, 2026.

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