# Foscam  Viewer vs Canary

The clearest difference is rating: Canary at 4.2 against Foscam  Viewer's 1.9. Canary also leads on ratings volume (5.6K vs 86) and review sentiment (33% vs 14%). Foscam  Viewer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Canary sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Foscam  Viewer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Canary holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Canary has 5.6K ratings behind it against 86, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Foscam  Viewer's written reviews are positive against 33% of Canary's.

Foscam  Viewer ships an update every 6 weeks, Canary monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Foscam  Viewer | Canary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/foscam-viewer/id740126713/reviews) | **[4.2 (5.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canary-smart-home-security/id939760559/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 86 | **5.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 13.9% of reviews | **32.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#197** |
| Size | 33 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ShenZhen Foscam Intelligent Technology co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/924381687) | [Canary Connect](https://appshunter.io/developer/939760558) |

## What reviewers say

### Foscam  Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/foscam-viewer/id740126713)

Monitor your Foscam IP cameras remotely from your iPhone or iPad. Watch your home, kids, and pets from anywhere with a 3G or WiFi connection. Enjoy enhanced security and peace of mind.

**Highlights:** View Foscam IP cameras, Remote control, Automatic camera search, Real-time screenshots, Pan/Tilt/Zoom control, Video recording

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Multi-camera viewing capability (up to 4 cameras on one screen)
- 🔌 P2P connection technology eliminates port-forwarding complexity
- 🎮 Easy camera control with pan/tilt/zoom functionality
- 📸 Good picture quality when working properly
- ⚙️ Straightforward setup process for basic use

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏰ Extremely slow app launch and loading times
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- ❌ Poor iOS compatibility (especially iOS 9 and later)
- 🔄 App forgets saved cameras requiring re-entry
- 🚫 Abandoned by developer with no updates for years

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after 1-5 minutes on iOS 9+
- Cameras not recognized or failing to connect
- Saved camera list not persisting between sessions
- Login session not maintained requiring re-authentication
- Screen garbling when rotating between portrait/landscape

**Requested features**

- Motion detection on/off toggle from app
- Auto-connect to previously used cameras on app launch
- Ability to control alarm and email alerts from app
- Remove or speed up splash screen startup
- Landscape mode support for iPad


### Canary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canary-smart-home-security/id939760559)

**Currently charting:** #197 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

This app connects to smart home security devices to provide live and recorded video monitoring, intelligent motion alerts, and automatic mode switching. It also offers emergency response features and monitors indoor air quality, temperature, and humidity for a safer home environment.

**Highlights:** Live and recorded HD video monitoring, Intelligent motion notifications with video clips, Automatic arming/disarming based on location, Emergency siren and direct connection to responders, Indoor air quality, temperature, and humidity monitoring, Customizable Home and Night modes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Service | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Service | $12.99 | per month |
| Professional Monitoring | $19.99 | per month |
| Premium Service | $24.99 | per month |
| Premium Service | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium Service | $249.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to set up
- 🔒 Reliable security system
- 📊 Comprehensive dashboard and data
- 🌡️ Monitors temperature, humidity, and air quality
- 💬 Two-way audio communication

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and offline issues
- 🔍 Poor motion detection and false alerts
- 🕰️ Limited video history without subscription
- 🔒 Subscription required for essential features
- 📺 Slow video loading and playback

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Inability to delete or remove cameras
- Inaccurate temperature and air quality readings
- Inconsistent live view and recording functionality

**Requested features**

- Ability to move and reposition cameras
- Longer video history for free users
- Improved geofencing and automatic mode switching
- Better motion detection and person identification
- Easier multi-camera management


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Foscam  Viewer free?

Foscam  Viewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Canary free?

Canary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Foscam  Viewer or Canary?

Canary is rated higher. Foscam  Viewer averages 1.9 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while Canary averages 4.2 from 5.6K ratings.

### Do Foscam  Viewer or Canary have ads?

Canary shows ads; Foscam  Viewer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Foscam  Viewer or Canary?

Foscam  Viewer ships an update every 6 weeks, and Canary monthly. Most recently, Foscam  Viewer was updated on October 23, 2026 and Canary on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*