# SecureSmart vs UniFi Protect

The clearest difference is rating: UniFi Protect at 4.8 against SecureSmart's 4.3. UniFi Protect also leads on review sentiment (53% vs 22%) and ratings volume (78K vs 161). SecureSmart's advantage is iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UniFi Protect holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UniFi Protect has 78K ratings behind it against 161, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of SecureSmart's written reviews are positive against 53% of UniFi Protect's.

SecureSmart ships an update every 2 weeks, UniFi Protect every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SecureSmart | UniFi Protect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (161 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/securesmart/id842850593/reviews) | **[4.8 (78K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unifi-protect/id1392492235/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 161 | **78K** |
| Positive reviews | 22.1% of reviews | **52.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 273 MB | 270 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alula Holdings, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1356152179) | [Ubiquiti Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/683620863) |

## What reviewers say

### SecureSmart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/securesmart/id842850593)

Control your home security system remotely. Receive real-time notifications for events like door openings or motion detection. Automate smart devices with custom scenes and recipes to match your daily routines.

**Highlights:** Remote security system control, Real-time event notifications, Customizable zone configurations, Smart device automation (scenes/recipes), Cloud video storage, Flexible IP camera support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works great for customers
- 👍 Integration with Alula
- 👍 Convenient remote arm/disarm
- 👍 Useful for programming/alerts
- 👍 Love the keypad feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Does not connect to alarm
- 🐛 Cannot arm/disarm alarm
- 🐛 Keypad removed from app
- 🐛 Update not user-friendly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after login
- Does not connect after iOS 17 update
- Cannot arm or disarm
- Numbers too small, no color
- Disarm button removed

**Requested features**

- Add progress bars or 'please wait' signs
- Add audible sound for alarms
- Add 4 function keys (ABCD)
- Fix TouchID arming issue
- Allow username/password reset


### UniFi Protect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unifi-protect/id1392492235)

Access your camera security system from your mobile device. Stream live feeds, manage devices, and download recordings. Offers cloudless storage and customizable alerts for residential and commercial users.

**Highlights:** Adopt and manage Protect devices, Stream low-latency livestreams, Download localized recordings, Cloudless recording storage, Timelapse footage scrubbing, Personalized security notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🔒 Secure local storage
- 💡 Powerful AI detection features
- 👍 Seamless integration with Unifi ecosystem

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Slow to connect and load video
- 🔒 Requires cloud account for remote access
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🔍 Inconsistent experience across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Geofencing not working as expected
- Doorbell audio/video not syncing properly
- Frequent disconnections from cameras
- Playback issues and video not loading
- Notifications not reliable or timely

**Requested features**

- Add option to snooze/silence notifications
- Improve video scrubbing and playback controls
- Integrate with Apple HomeKit
- Add custom notification sounds
- Enhance multi-view and layout options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SecureSmart free?

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

### Is UniFi Protect free?

UniFi Protect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SecureSmart or UniFi Protect?

UniFi Protect is rated higher. SecureSmart averages 4.3 out of 5 from 161 ratings, while UniFi Protect averages 4.8 from 78K ratings.

### Do SecureSmart or UniFi Protect have ads?

Neither SecureSmart nor UniFi Protect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SecureSmart or UniFi Protect?

SecureSmart ships an update every 2 weeks, and UniFi Protect every 3 weeks. Most recently, SecureSmart was updated on November 1, 2026 and UniFi Protect on November 3, 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.*