Comparison

Phonitor vs ThirdEye

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Phonitor

Transform old iPhones, iPads, or Macs into a secure, ad-free security camera. Monitor your home, pets, or baby with live streaming and instant playback. Enjoy two-way audio and high-quality video, with optional premium features for unlimited access.

Highlights
  • Repurpose old Apple devices as cameras
  • Secure iCloud data sync
  • Private P2P video streaming
  • Two-way audio communication
  • Instant playback of recordings
  • High-quality video up to 2K 60fps
  • Battery saver mode
Features
Read full description

Ever thought your old iPhone or iPad could do more? Phonitor turns your unused devices into a smart monitoring camera — no extra hardware, no extra cost. Simply use your spare iPhone, iPad, or Mac as the camera, and view the live or playback on your everyday device. Place it wherever you need — a shelf, windowsill, the crib, even outside for an afternoon. No mounts, no drilling: run on the built-in battery for short stints, or plug in for the long haul. Easily keep an eye on your home, yard, office, or stay connected with your baby, pets, and loved ones. Built with privacy at its core, Phonitor is completely ad-free and collects no data. Designed exclusively for the Apple ecosystem, it harnesses Apple’s native technologies for seamless performance — now with a fresh look on iOS 26. Here are the key benefits: REAL-TIME MONITORING: Watch your camera’s live stream anytime, anywhere, on any of your Apple devices. INSTANT PLAYBACK: Replay any moment from the recordings stored on your camera device. EXPORT CLIPS: Trim and save the moments that matter — locally or remotely — and share them anywhere. (Pro) TWO-WAY AUDIO: Hear what’s happening and talk as if you’re there. (Pro) NIGHT VISION: Cleaner, steadier video in low light, with anti-flicker tuning that keeps the picture calm even under dim bulbs. CRISP VIDEO: Up to 2K at 60fps, with multiple resolutions and frame rates to fit your scene. LOW LATENCY: Experience minimal delay powered by the device-to-device direct connection. ULTRA-WIDE CAMERA: Capture a broader view with the ultra-wide lens on compatible devices. LONG-TERM OPTIMIZATION: Smart battery use and reduced heat on the camera device — built for stable, long-running streaming. BACKGROUND PLAY: Continue monitoring while using other apps, or even with the screen locked. (Pro) PRIVATE: Video streams go directly device-to-device via P2P — never through or stored on third-party servers. Recordings stay on your camera. Only you can access them. SECURE: Phonitor uses iCloud to securely sync your critical data across devices. Your Apple ID is all you need — no extra accounts required. Upgrade to Phonitor Pro for unlimited monitoring and exclusive features with a 7-day free trial. More exciting features are coming soon with regular updates! Reusing old devices isn’t just about saving money — it’s a more sustainable, mindful lifestyle. Repurpose your old hardware in a simple, secure, and practical way, rather than letting it gather dust when it’s still fully capable. Terms of Use: https://phonitor.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://phonitor.app/privacy

About

ThirdEye

Transform old iPhones or iPads into a secure home monitoring system without cloud storage. View live feeds locally and privately from anywhere, anytime. Ideal for baby monitoring, pet cams, and home security.

Highlights
  • No cloud storage, local privacy
  • Direct local peer-to-peer connection
  • Turn old phones into security cameras
  • Baby monitor, pet cam, home security
  • Simple setup, no account needed
  • iCloud sync across devices
Features
Read full description

Three-Eye Monitor is a remote monitoring app specifically designed for home environments. With just two iPhones or iPads, you can instantly set up your own home security system—no extra hardware required, and no complicated configurations. Whether you're checking on a sleeping baby, watching your pets, or securing your home, Three-Eye Monitor allows you to view live feeds from anywhere, at any time. —— Why Choose Three-Eye Monitor? —— 【No Cloud Storage, More Secure】 Unlike traditional security apps, Three-Eye Monitor does not rely on cloud servers. Your video and data stay exclusively on your devices—no uploads, no sharing, total privacy. 【Direct Local Connection】 Supports peer-to-peer (P2P) local connections between devices, providing ultra-low latency and stable real-time streaming. 【Turn Old Phones into Security Cameras】 Give your idle iPhone or iPad a second life. Easily transform old devices into powerful home security cameras. 【Versatile Use Cases】 Baby Monitor: Keep an eye on your little one. Pet Cam: Check in on your pets while you're away. Home Security: Guard your living space 24/7. Elderly Care: Stay connected with aging family members. Small Business: Monitor your shop or office. On-the-go: Temporary remote monitoring whenever you need it. 【Simple and Intuitive】 Forget complex registrations. Start monitoring immediately without creating an account. Seamlessly sync across devices via iCloud. Just sign in with the same Apple ID, and your devices will automatically discover each other and establish a secure connection. Its clean, minimalist design makes remote viewing feel effortless and natural. —— A Privacy-First Experience —— We believe that home security should never come at the cost of your personal privacy. Three-Eye Monitor is dedicated to providing a simpler, safer, and more localized remote monitoring experience. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Phonitor4 screens
ThirdEye4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Phonitor at Free against ThirdEye's $2.99. Phonitor also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (16 vs 1). ThirdEye's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Phonitor is free to download; ThirdEye costs $2.99 up front. Phonitor sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days and ThirdEye sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ThirdEye holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phonitor has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phonitor ships an update every 2 days, ThirdEye every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Phonitor versus ThirdEye: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhonitorThirdEye
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.3 (16 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings16 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer弛 张超 雷

Customer experience

Phonitor

All ratings16 ratings
Positive81.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative18.8%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

ThirdEye

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

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Phonitor

Subscriptions3
  • Pro7 Days trial$2.497 Days
  • Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro7 Days trial$35.991 Year
3 purchases

ThirdEye

Subscriptions2
  • ThirdEye Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • ThirdEye Pro Yearly$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • ThirdEye Pro Lifetime Purchase$34.99

Questions

Is Phonitor free?
Phonitor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ThirdEye free?
ThirdEye costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Phonitor or ThirdEye?
ThirdEye is rated higher. Phonitor averages 4.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while ThirdEye averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Phonitor or ThirdEye have ads?
Neither Phonitor nor ThirdEye shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Phonitor or ThirdEye?
Phonitor ships an update every 2 days, and ThirdEye every 2 weeks. Most recently, Phonitor was updated on October 1, 2026 and ThirdEye on October 8, 2026.

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