InstarVision vs Reolink
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Live video/audio streaming
- Add/edit/delete cameras
- Pan/Tilt/Zoom control
- Change camera settings
- Save/share snapshots
- Playback recordings
- Motion detection activation
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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
Reolink
Easily access and monitor your security cameras and NVRs from anywhere. Watch live streams, playback recordings, and receive real-time motion detection alerts. Enjoy peace of mind with a user-friendly interface for home and business surveillance.
- Remote camera and NVR access
- Live streaming
- Video recording playback
- Motion detection alerts
- Multi-channel viewing
- PTZ camera control
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Reolink App is an easy-to-use security camera system surveillance app. It enables you to locally or remotely access your IP cameras and NVRs on mobile devices. You can monitor and watch live streaming of your home and business anywhere and anytime. It helps you easily get peace of mind. Key Features: 1. Only 3 steps to access cameras and NVRs (at the same local network) --- the easiest solution ever. 2. Easy and friendly interface for all users to use. 3. Remotely monitor and watch live streaming via 3G/4G or WiFi anywhere and anytime. 4. Multi-channel viewing (up to 16 channels) on screen at the same time. 5. Remotely playback video recording from your camera SD card and NVR HDD. 6. Capture video from live view channels on your mobile device to playback. 7. Capture single and multiple images to save on your mobile device. 8. Get emails or push notifications in real time when motion detection is triggered. 9. Schedule video recording (including motion-triggered recording) at anytime. 10. Control PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras remotely (left, right, up and down). Note: Reolink App is compatible with NVRs and IP Cams from Reolink. More Supports: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReolinkTech/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReolinkTech Contact: https://reolink.com/contact-us/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHKZX6fFVtWd4tnnRkzrMA
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: InstarVision at 93% against Reolink's 25%. InstarVision also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Reolink's advantage is ratings volume (9.7K vs 9) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
InstarVision holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reolink has 9.7K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of InstarVision's written reviews are positive against 25% of Reolink's.
InstarVision ships an update every 5 weeks, Reolink fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | InstarVision | Reolink |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (9 ratings) — better | 4.0 (9.7K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 92.5% of reviews — better | 25.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 9.7K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #166 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 152 MB | 473 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | INSTAR Deutschland GmbH | Reolink Digital Technology Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
InstarVision
Reolink
Bugs and requests
InstarVision
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Reolink
Reported bugs
5 issues- App crashes after updates
- Inability to change passwords
- Cameras disconnecting randomly
- Playback issues and failures
- Inconsistent performance across devices
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to pause/snooze notifications
- Customizable notification sounds
- Landscape mode support on tablets
- Consolidated event history across cameras
- Faster/smoother video playback controls
In-app purchases
InstarVision
No in-app purchases
Reolink
No in-app purchases









