Comparison

Blue Iris vs Amcrest View Lite for iPad

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

Amcrest View Lite for iPad

Monitor your Amcrest HDCVI camera DVR and NVR systems remotely. Configure your cameras to view live feeds from anywhere in the world.

Highlights
  • Remote camera viewing
  • Configure DVR and NVR systems
  • Live feed access
  • Global accessibility
Features
Read full description

Amcrest View is used in conjunction with Amcrest HDCVI Camera DVR & NVR systems. Configure your cameras together with the Amcrest View app to see your cameras from anywhere in the world!

Screenshots

Blue Iris4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Amcrest View Lite for iPad at Free against Blue Iris's $9.99. Amcrest View Lite for iPad also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.6). Blue Iris's advantage is rating (3.7 vs 2.1) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 months). On ads and in-app purchases 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

Amcrest View Lite for iPad 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 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blue Iris has 423 ratings behind it against 10, 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 27% of Amcrest View Lite for iPad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, Amcrest View Lite for iPad every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Blue Iris versus Amcrest View Lite for iPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlue IrisAmcrest View Lite for iPad
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (423 ratings) — better2.1 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews55.8% of reviews — better26.7% of reviews
Number of ratings423 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#37 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.67.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB46 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperKen PletzerAmcrest

Customer experience

Blue Iris

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

Amcrest View Lite for iPad

All ratings10 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative70.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive26.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative73.3%

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

Amcrest View Lite for iPad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Blue Iris

No in-app purchases

None

Amcrest View Lite for iPad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Blue Iris free?
Blue Iris costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Amcrest View Lite for iPad free?
Amcrest View Lite for iPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Blue Iris or Amcrest View Lite for iPad?
Blue Iris is rated higher. Blue Iris averages 3.7 out of 5 from 423 ratings, while Amcrest View Lite for iPad averages 2.1 from 10 ratings.
Do Blue Iris or Amcrest View Lite for iPad have ads?
Neither Blue Iris nor Amcrest View Lite for iPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blue Iris or Amcrest View Lite for iPad?
Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, and Amcrest View Lite for iPad every 5 months. Most recently, Blue Iris was updated on October 21, 2026 and Amcrest View Lite for iPad on October 8, 2026.

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