Comparison

Blue Iris vs Rollei SafetyCam

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

Rollei SafetyCam

Control your Rollei SafetyCam surveillance cameras directly from your iPhone or iPad. View a live feed from your cameras and remotely swivel them in any direction to monitor your property.

Highlights
  • Remote camera control
  • Live video streaming
  • Pan and tilt functionality
  • iPhone and iPad compatibility
Read full description

The App is designed to control your Rollei SafetyCam surveillance camera via iPhone or iPad. After installing one or several surveillance cameras a live picture can be viewed on you iPhone or iPad. Furthermore the camera can be swiveled in any designated direction.

Screenshots

Blue Iris4 screens
Rollei SafetyCam1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Blue Iris at 56% against Rollei SafetyCam's 4%. Blue Iris also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and chart position (#58 vs unranked). Rollei SafetyCam's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, Rollei SafetyCam every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Blue Iris versus Rollei SafetyCam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlue IrisRollei SafetyCam
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (423 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.8% of reviews — better4.0% of reviews
Number of ratings423 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#58 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.69.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB183 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperKen PletzerRollei GmbH & Co. KG

Customer experience

Blue Iris

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

Rollei SafetyCam

Written reviews50 reviews
Positive4.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative86.0%

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

Rollei SafetyCam

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Blue Iris

No in-app purchases

None

Rollei SafetyCam

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Blue Iris free?
Blue Iris costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rollei SafetyCam free?
Rollei SafetyCam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Blue Iris or Rollei SafetyCam have ads?
Neither Blue Iris nor Rollei SafetyCam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blue Iris or Rollei SafetyCam?
Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, and Rollei SafetyCam every 2 months. Most recently, Blue Iris was updated on November 1, 2026 and Rollei SafetyCam on November 1, 2026.

Other comparisons