Viewu vs BamBuddy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Viewu
Monitor and manage your Frigate security system with this open-source iOS app. View live camera streams, review past events on an intuitive timeline, and receive customizable push notifications. It offers seamless integration with Frigate Video NVR for enhanced home or office security.
- Event timeline navigation
- Live RTSP stream viewing
- Customizable push notifications
- Frigate NVR integration
- Privacy-focused data handling
- Community-driven development
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Discover the ultimate way to monitor and manage your Frigate security with Viewu, the free, open-source iOS app that seamlessly integrates with Frigate Video. Whether you're keeping an eye on your home, office, or any other important location, Viewu offers robust features to keep you connected and informed. Key Features: - Event Timeline: Easily view and navigate through past events with an intuitive timeline. - Live RTSP Streams: Watch live camera feeds directly from your iOS device for real-time monitoring. - Customizable Notifications: Set up and control push notifications to stay alerted to specific events. - Frigate Integration: Support for Frigate versions 13, 14, 15, and 16 ensuring compatibility and smooth operation. - Privacy First: Your data is yours alone. Viewu does not collect or store any user information, ensuring your privacy is always protected. Viewu is designed with the community in mind. As a community-driven project, it evolves based on user feedback, ensuring it meets your needs and expectations. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, Viewu makes security management accessible to everyone. Become a part of the Viewu community and help shape the future of the app. Your feedback and feature requests drive our development. Note - Viewu app only supports Frigate Video NVR and no others.
BamBuddy
Monitor and control your 3D printers remotely with live status updates, camera feeds, and print management. Features include lock screen widgets, Siri integration, and detailed statistics. Offers advanced AI features and multi-printer support with a Pro subscription.
- Live printer status and camera feed
- Lock screen widgets and Dynamic Island integration
- Remote print control (pause, resume, stop)
- Filament inventory and usage tracking
- Print statistics and success rate
- AI print monitoring and error analysis (Pro)
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BamBuddy is the companion app for your self-hosted Bambuddy server. Monitor and control your Bambu Lab 3D printers from iPhone and iPad: over your local network at home, via your remote address on the go. The app switches automatically. LIVE ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN • Live Activity with progress, finish time and a pause button, also in the Dynamic Island and StandBy • Widgets for your Home Screen and Lock Screen, with pause and chamber light without opening the app • Chamber light and BamBuddy in Control Center and on the Action button • Ask Siri: "How's my print in BamBuddy?" MONITOR EVERYTHING LIVE • Real-time status: progress, layers, time remaining and finish time • Live camera view, with a snapshot you can share instantly • Temperatures, fans and AMS units with filament colors • Filament overview: every spool on one screen, including what's running low • HMS error messages right in view CONTROL WITH CONFIDENCE • Pause, resume or stop prints • Print speed and chamber light • Manage the queue: start, reorder, cancel • Archive with favorites and print history STATISTICS • Success rate, print hours, filament usage, cost and energy • Charts by filament type and by printer FILAMENT INVENTORY • All your spools from Spoolman or Bambuddy's inventory, with remaining weight • Link a spool to an AMS slot; Bambuddy tracks usage per print (Pro) NEW IN 1.4 • Apple Watch app with complications • Klipper, Prusa, OctoPrint and Elegoo printers, no server needed • AI print monitoring and first-layer check (Pro) • Cost per print, share cards and model search FREE AND PRO The free version controls one printer, including widgets, Siri and all the features above. BamBuddy Pro (subscription or one-time purchase, 7-day free trial) adds: • Unlimited printers: your entire print farm in one app • Live Activity and Dynamic Island for every print • AI Print Assistant: explains error codes and gives advice on failed prints, fully on-device with Apple Intelligence • AI Insights: analysis of your print statistics with practical tips • Smart notifications: print finished or failed, printer error, filament running low PRIVACY FIRST No account, no cloud, no tracking. Your print data stays between the app, your server and your printers. Model search contacts Printables only when you use it. Your server token is stored securely in the Keychain. Available in English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese. Bambu Lab printers require a running Bambuddy server (open source, free). SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION BamBuddy Pro is available as a monthly subscription (EUR 1.99 per month) or an annual subscription (EUR 14.99 per year, with a 7-day free trial). There is also a one-time lifetime purchase (EUR 29.99). Prices may vary by country; the App Store shows the price in your currency. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions in your Apple Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://wemeekit.nl/privacy/bambuddy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Viewu at 71% against BamBuddy's 0%. Viewu also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). BamBuddy's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and device support (5 vs 2). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. BamBuddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Viewu asks for nothing beyond the download.
BamBuddy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Viewu has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Viewu's written reviews are positive against 0% of BamBuddy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Viewu ships an update every 3 days, BamBuddy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Viewu | BamBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (9 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.6% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matthew Ehrhart | WeMeekIt |
Customer experience
Viewu
BamBuddy
In-app purchases
Viewu
No in-app purchases
BamBuddy
- Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
- Pro Yearly7 Days trial$12.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$24.99









