Comparison

InstarVision vs Smartfrog Camera

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

Head to head
About

InstarVision

View, control, and manage your IP cameras from anywhere. This app allows real-time video and audio streaming, camera settings adjustments, and playback of recorded footage.

Highlights
  • Live video/audio streaming
  • Add/edit/delete cameras
  • Pan/Tilt/Zoom control
  • Change camera settings
  • Save/share snapshots
  • Playback recordings
  • Motion detection activation
Features
Read full description

InstarVision is the perfect companion to your INSTAR IP camera. This user-friendly application allows you to view the video streams of your camera, to control it real-time or to change its settings. • FUNCTIONS • - Play live- video/audio streams - Add/edit/delete cameras - Pan/Tilt/Zoom functions - Swipe control - Change camera settings (brightness, contrast, resolution ...) - Save or share snapshots - Saving preset positions - Controllable IR LEDs and I/O Relay (depends on the camera model) - Activate / deactivate camera motion detection - Play recordings from the Cloud or SD card Additional to the INSTAR models you can use cameras of the following manufacturers: - 7Links - ABUS - Allnet - Apexis - Axis - Bosch - Dericam - Digitus - D-Link - EasyN - Edimax - Elro - Foscam - Hama - JVC - Linksys - Mobotix - Panasonic - Reolink - Samsung - Siemens - Sony - Swann - Vilar - Wanscam - Wansview If you have any suggestion or problem with this app please contact us at support@instar.com. You can help us to extend the functions and supported cameras in this app by providing: - Documentation to your camera - Test account if possible This software uses code of FFmpeg licensed under the LGPLv2.1 and its source can be downloaded here: https://github.com/instarcam/InstarVision-iPad

About

Smartfrog Camera

Transform old smartphones, tablets, and webcams into a free home security camera system. Monitor your home, pets, or babies with live streaming, motion detection, and two-way audio. Securely record footage for up to 30 days and receive instant alerts.

Highlights
  • Turn old devices into security cameras
  • Live streaming and two-way audio
  • HD quality viewing and recording
  • Advanced motion detection with alerts
  • Night visibility
  • Up to 30 days of video recording
  • Secure video sharing
Features
Read full description

Protect your home, baby, pets and loved ones now with Smartfrog’s free home security camera. Quickly and easily turn your smartphone, tablet, laptop and webcams into an instant home surveillance camera and recording solution –download for free and set it up in seconds! Smartfrog lets you turn your mobile devices (iPhone, iPod, iPad, webcams and laptops) into a free advanced home CCTV solution & burglar alarm. All the functionality you need to safeguard your home and also to turn the Smartfrog camera into a baby monitor, security system for your small business or pet monitor. Smartfrog’s market-leading home security solution includes these free features: - Bank-level security and state of the art encryption to safeguard privacy - Use your old iOS device as a security cameras - Hear what’s going on and chat live with those in the room - Night visibility with flashlight - HD quality viewing and recording - Advanced motion detection - Get automatic Push and email alerts to your iOS device when an unusual sound or movement is detected - Up to 30 days of video recording - Live stream your recordings via the Smartfrog App on iPhones, iPads and iPods - Access your personal live streams and recordings via smartfrog.com - Time-lapse view, view the last 24 hours in only 5 minutes - Securely share your videos and live streams with friends and family (high-level encryption protects your privacy) - Share clips via Facebook, Twitter and email Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. More information at www.smartfrog.com

Screenshots

InstarVision4 screens
Smartfrog Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Smartfrog Camera at 5.0 against InstarVision's 4.4. Smartfrog Camera also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). InstarVision's advantage is review sentiment (93% vs 66%) and ratings volume (9 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Smartfrog Camera holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 2 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 93% of InstarVision's written reviews are positive against 66% of Smartfrog Camera's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

InstarVision ships an update every 5 weeks, Smartfrog Camera every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
InstarVision versus Smartfrog Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstarVisionSmartfrog Camera
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (9 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.5% of reviews — better65.7% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size152 MB161 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperINSTAR Deutschland GmbHsmartfrog Limited

Customer experience

InstarVision

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive92.5%
Neutral4.5%
Negative3.0%

Smartfrog Camera

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews134 reviews
Positive65.7%
Neutral7.5%
Negative26.9%

Bugs and requests

InstarVision

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Smartfrog Camera

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App doesn't load, shows 'can't complete request'
  • App crashes on opening
  • Cameras offline and cannot log in
  • Error messages like 'Error could not fulfill request'
  • App freezes or closes randomly
Show 9 more
  • Cameras stop recording or won't start again
  • Two-way verification issues
  • Login issues, requires re-login frequently
  • Notifications are sporadic or delayed
  • Geofencing feature is unreliable
  • Audio is choppy or too quiet
  • Cannot view recordings on mobile without a desktop
  • App not seeing other smartphone cameras
  • WLAN connection issues, camera not reconnecting automatically

Requested features

8 requests
  • Ability to save recorded clips on mobile
  • Outdoor camera version
  • Improved night vision
  • More customizable alarm tones
  • Person detection
Show 3 more
  • Direct live stream connection in app menu
  • Ability to select specific hours/minutes for viewing past events on mobile
  • Black camera version for better concealment

In-app purchases

None

InstarVision

No in-app purchases

None

Smartfrog Camera

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is InstarVision free?
InstarVision is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smartfrog Camera free?
Smartfrog Camera is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, InstarVision or Smartfrog Camera?
Smartfrog Camera is rated higher. InstarVision averages 4.4 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Smartfrog Camera averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do InstarVision or Smartfrog Camera have ads?
Neither InstarVision nor Smartfrog Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, InstarVision or Smartfrog Camera?
InstarVision ships an update every 5 weeks, and Smartfrog Camera every 2 months. Most recently, InstarVision was updated on October 10, 2026 and Smartfrog Camera on October 7, 2026.

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