Comparison

InstarVision vs Reolink

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

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.

Highlights
  • Remote camera and NVR access
  • Live streaming
  • Video recording playback
  • Motion detection alerts
  • Multi-channel viewing
  • PTZ camera control
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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

InstarVision4 screens
Reolink4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

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

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

InstarVision ships an update every 5 weeks, Reolink fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
InstarVision versus Reolink: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstarVisionReolink
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (9 ratings) — better4.0 (9.7K ratings)
Positive reviews92.5% of reviews — better25.3% of reviews
Number of ratings99.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#166 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size152 MB473 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperINSTAR Deutschland GmbHReolink Digital Technology Co., Ltd

Customer experience

InstarVision

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

Reolink

All ratings9,663 ratings
Positive74.2%
Neutral5.7%
Negative20.2%
Written reviews1,705 reviews
Positive25.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative58.0%

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

None

InstarVision

No in-app purchases

None

Reolink

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is InstarVision free?
InstarVision is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reolink free?
Reolink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, InstarVision or Reolink?
InstarVision is rated higher. InstarVision averages 4.4 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Reolink averages 4.0 from 9.7K ratings.
Do InstarVision or Reolink have ads?
Neither InstarVision nor Reolink shows ads.
Which is updated more often, InstarVision or Reolink?
InstarVision ships an update every 5 weeks, and Reolink fortnightly. Most recently, InstarVision was updated on October 23, 2026 and Reolink on October 30, 2026.

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