Comparison

Blue Iris vs Panel ID

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
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

Panel ID

This app provides quick access to electrical panel information for a specific hospital. Users can search by ID, room, or floor, add notes and photos, and export data in PDF or CSV format. It's designed for facilities management and offers on-device storage with no login or ads.

Highlights
  • Instant search by panel ID, room, floor, branch, or comment
  • Mark critical panels as favorites
  • Add stamped notes and attach photos
  • Export inspection packs as PDF or CSV
  • Voice-trigger exports with Siri shortcuts (iOS 17+)
  • 100% on-device storage, no login required
Read full description

Methodist Panel Tracker puts every electrical panel in IU Health Methodist Hospital at your fingertips. • Instant Search – panel ID, room, floor, branch, or comment • Favorites – mark critical panels for one-tap access • Field Notes & Photos – add stamped notes, attach images, export PDF • PDF & CSV Export – share inspection packs in seconds • Shortcuts & Widgets (iOS 17+) – voice-trigger exports with Siri Built on-site by Facilities for Facilities – no login, no ads, 100 % on-device storage.

Screenshots

Blue Iris4 screens
Panel ID4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Panel ID at Free against Blue Iris's $9.99. Panel ID also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7). Blue Iris's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (418 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Panel ID 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

Panel ID holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blue Iris has 418 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, Panel ID every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Blue Iris versus Panel ID: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlue IrisPanel ID
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (418 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings418 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#26 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB2 MB
Age rating+417+
DeveloperKen PletzerDustin Holt

Customer experience

Blue Iris

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

Panel ID

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Panel ID

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Blue Iris

No in-app purchases

None

Panel ID

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Blue Iris free?
Blue Iris costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Panel ID free?
Panel ID is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Blue Iris or Panel ID?
Panel ID is rated higher. Blue Iris averages 3.7 out of 5 from 418 ratings, while Panel ID averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Blue Iris or Panel ID have ads?
Neither Blue Iris nor Panel ID shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blue Iris or Panel ID?
Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, and Panel ID every 4 months. Most recently, Blue Iris was updated on October 13, 2026 and Panel ID on September 30, 2026.

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