Comparison

Blue Iris vs S Camera

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

S Camera

Easily record videos with a single tap and apply artistic filters like sketch or cartoon. Share your creations instantly to popular video platforms or save them to your device. The app offers fast performance and quick launch capabilities.

Highlights
  • One-touch recording
  • Artistic effect filters
  • Fast launch
  • Tap to focus & exposure
  • Direct sharing to video channels
  • Auto-save on interruption
Features
Read full description

This app helps you record and easy to upload to the most popular video channels. This app also provides you with 'fish eye', 'B&W', 'cartoon', 'sketch', 'vignette' effect filters. Features: - Universal version, also works on iPad - Blazing performance (dual core support) - Extremely Fast Launch: don't need to switch from photo capture to video capture as built-in camera app - Tap to focus & exposure - Share your recent recorded video or save videos in camera roll. - Auto save recording when interrupting by phone call, ... How to record: - Enable "Auto record after startup" to quickly start record after tapping app icon. - Tap on app icon in the app's home screen. Enjoy!

Screenshots

Blue Iris4 screens
S Camera2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: S Camera at Free against Blue Iris's $9.99. S Camera also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.6). Blue Iris's advantage is rating (3.7 vs 2.5) and review sentiment (56% vs 17%). On ads 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

S Camera is free to download; Blue Iris costs $9.99 up front. S Camera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Blue Iris asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blue Iris holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blue Iris has 418 ratings behind it against 19, 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 17% of S Camera's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, S Camera every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Blue Iris versus S Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlue IrisS Camera
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (418 ratings) — better2.5 (19 ratings)
Positive reviews55.8% of reviews — better16.9% of reviews
Number of ratings418 — better19
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#26 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.67.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB25 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperKen Pletzer春霞 陈

Customer experience

Blue Iris

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

S Camera

All ratings19 ratings
Positive36.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative63.2%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive16.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative81.4%

User reviews

Blue Iris

From 418 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Reliable and stable
  • 🔒 Secure remote access
  • 👍 Comprehensive features
  • 🚀 Smooth video playback
  • 💡 Useful push notifications

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🔋 Drains battery on mobile devices
  • 👎 Outdated and dated UI design
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and configure
  • 🚫 Requires Blue Iris desktop software

S Camera

From 19 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 App works as a normal camera
  • 👍 Some users find it awesome
  • 👍 Good for filming (for some)
  • 👍 Allows recording without going to camera app

Room to improve

  • 👎 App is not a screen recorder
  • 👎 Users feel it's a waste of time
  • 👎 App is described as fake and a lie
  • 👎 Users find it useless
  • 👎 Takes up storage space

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

S Camera

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Doesn't record screen
  • Doesn't work
  • No sound
  • Can't figure out how to take pictures, only videos

Requested features

3 requests
  • Make on screen recording possible
  • Add screen recording functionality
  • Make it so it records screen

In-app purchases

None

Blue Iris

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

S Camera

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$9.99

Questions

Is Blue Iris free?
Blue Iris costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is S Camera free?
S Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Blue Iris or S Camera?
Blue Iris is rated higher. Blue Iris averages 3.7 out of 5 from 418 ratings, while S Camera averages 2.5 from 19 ratings.
Do Blue Iris or S Camera have ads?
Neither Blue Iris nor S Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blue Iris or S Camera?
Blue Iris ships an update every 4 days, and S Camera every 7 months. Most recently, Blue Iris was updated on September 23, 2026 and S Camera on September 19, 2026.

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