Comparison

Blue Iris vs Qcam Link

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

Head to head
About

Blue Iris

Access and manage your home camera network remotely through a secure client for the Blue Iris PC software. View live streams, review recordings, and receive alerts from your cameras. Offers advanced controls and two-way audio for compatible devices.

Highlights
  • Manage multiple Blue Iris installations
  • Receive push notification alerts
  • Fast H.264 streaming
  • Control PTZ and two-way audio
  • Review and download recordings
  • Broadcast live video from device
  • Geofencing alerts
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This app is a CLIENT for the Blue Iris Windows PC software. In order to make use of this app, you must have Blue Iris version 6 installed and running on a Windows PC or VM. Instructions for connecting this app to the PC software are found in the Remote Access chapter of its Help file. This app provides a single point of contact to your home camera network. There is no need to insecurely open individual cameras to the Internet. This app connects using a secure and session-based protocol--no passwords are transmitted in plain text. Remote access does require router configuration or NGROK, which you can test without the app by using Safari. You should see your Blue Iris login page. Key features include: - Manage multiple Blue Iris installations - Geofencing: set status, send alerts, and more in response to device location * - Control the shield icon, schedule and profile selection - Receive iOS push notification alerts when a Blue Iris camera is triggered or there is a critical status message - Fast H.264 streaming - Control PTZ, IR and more for any camera that’s also controllable at the Blue Iris PC - Listen to and talk to any camera that’s also supported at the Blue Iris PC - Navigate cameras by tapping and swiping - Review recordings as stored on the Blue Iris PC, up to 64x speed - Download recorded video from the Blue Iris PC to the iOS device - Selectively delete recordings from the Blue Iris PC - Broadcast live video from the iOS device directly into a Blue Iris PC camera window - Remote control DIO output signals on compatible devices - Baby monitor functionality: continue to listen to audio with app closed or device in standby ** * Note that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. ** Note that continued use of audio streaming running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Qcam Link

This app allows you to remotely view and manage your Qcam DVR, NVR, and IP cameras. You can add devices easily, view up to 16 channels simultaneously, play back recordings, and control camera PTZ functions.

Highlights
  • Add devices via QR code
  • Multi-channel viewing (up to 16)
  • Remote playback of recordings
  • Capture live video
  • Capture still images
  • PTZ camera control
Features
Read full description

Qcam Link for iPhone Qcam Link app supports the following features: 1. Allows for the adding of new devices by simply scanning a QR code with your smartphone or tablet. 2. Multi-channel viewing with up to 16 channels on the screen at the same time 3. Remotely playback of recordings from your DVR/NVR hard drive. 4. Capture video from the live view channels onto your iPhone for future playback. 5. Capture single or multiple still images and save them to your iPhone. 6. Remotely control the camera via PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom). The Qcam Link app supports the DVR, NVR, and IP Cameras from Qcam. Qcam Link app uses a data stream that will connect to your DVR / NVR / IP Cam via 3G/4G or WiFi. When using 3G/4G, note that this will consume mobile data and will contribute to your mobile data limit that your cellular plan has. Exceeding any plan limits may incur additional usage charges. Consult with your mobile service provider regarding the use of a video streaming app and how it may affect your plan. For the latest information, please visit http://qcam.com For assistance with this app, contact Qcam Tech Support: support@Qcam.com, or visit http://qcam.com/support.

Screenshots

Blue Iris4 screens
Qcam Link1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Qcam Link at Free against Blue Iris's $9.99. Qcam Link also leads on iOS requirement (6.0 vs 15.6). Blue Iris's advantage is rating (3.7 vs 2.3) and review sentiment (56% vs 20%). On 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

Qcam Link is free to download; Blue Iris costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blue Iris holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blue Iris has 418 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Blue Iris's written reviews are positive against 20% of Qcam Link's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, Qcam Link every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Blue Iris versus Qcam Link: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlue IrisQcam Link
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (418 ratings) — better2.3 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews55.8% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings418 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#33 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.66.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB11 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperKen PletzerAmcrest Technologies LLC

Customer experience

Blue Iris

All ratings418 ratings
Positive64.8%
Neutral8.9%
Negative26.3%
Written reviews285 reviews
Positive55.8%
Neutral11.2%
Negative33.0%

Qcam Link

All ratings8 ratings
Positive37.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative62.5%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

Bugs and requests

Blue Iris

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Inability to save video clips
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between live view and playback
  • Push notifications not working reliably
  • Cameras sometimes shown as offline when they are not
  • Crashes when rotating device or accessing certain features

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for VPN connections
  • Improve video scrubbing and playback controls
  • Implement a more modern and responsive UI
  • Allow for more granular user permissions and access levels
  • Provide better integration with home automation systems

Qcam Link

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Blue Iris

No in-app purchases

None

Qcam Link

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Blue Iris free?
Blue Iris costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Qcam Link free?
Qcam Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Blue Iris or Qcam Link?
Blue Iris is rated higher. Blue Iris averages 3.7 out of 5 from 418 ratings, while Qcam Link averages 2.3 from 8 ratings.
Do Blue Iris or Qcam Link have ads?
Neither Blue Iris nor Qcam Link shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blue Iris or Qcam Link?
Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, and Qcam Link every 3 months. Most recently, Blue Iris was updated on September 23, 2026 and Qcam Link on June 10, 2026.

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