# U Guard vs Merkury Smart

The clearest difference is rating: Merkury Smart at 4.7 against U Guard's 1.9. Merkury Smart also leads on ratings volume (38K vs 55) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). U Guard's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Merkury Smart holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merkury Smart has 38K ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of U Guard's written reviews are positive against 23% of Merkury Smart's.

U Guard ships an update every 5 months, Merkury Smart every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | U Guard | Merkury Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-guard/id923961072/reviews) | **[4.7 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merkury-smart/id6444498218/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 55 | **38K** |
| Positive reviews | 9.1% of reviews | **22.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#163** |
| Size | 10 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Uniden Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/514321728) | [Merkury Innovations LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1177386275) |

## What reviewers say

### U Guard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-guard/id923961072)

Access your DIY home security cameras remotely from your smartphone or tablet. View live feeds, utilize night vision, and receive motion alerts. The app also supports two-way audio and playback of recorded events.

**Highlights:** Live video streaming, Night vision capabilities, Motion detection alerts, Two-way audio communication, Playback of recorded events

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Merkury Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merkury-smart/id6444498218)

**Currently charting:** #163 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Control and monitor a range of smart home devices, including cameras, lights, and plugs, from anywhere. Watch live HD streams, review recorded footage, and customize lighting effects for a connected home experience.

**Highlights:** Live HD video streaming, Motion detection alerts, Review recorded footage, Control smart lights, Manage smart plugs, Multi-camera support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good value
- 👍 Able to monitor pets
- 👍 Clear video
- 👍 Simple to use
- 👍 Nice design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable motion detection
- 🐛 Laggy performance
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🐛 Buggy app

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Issues with password reset
- Trouble connecting cameras
- SD card not recognized

**Requested features**

- Add option to invite family members
- Improve motion detection and notifications
- Allow saving of photos and recordings
- Improve WiFi connectivity
- Add more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is U Guard free?

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

### Is Merkury Smart free?

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

### Which has better reviews, U Guard or Merkury Smart?

Merkury Smart is rated higher. U Guard averages 1.9 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Merkury Smart averages 4.7 from 38K ratings.

### Do U Guard or Merkury Smart have ads?

Neither U Guard nor Merkury Smart shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, U Guard or Merkury Smart?

U Guard ships an update every 5 months, and Merkury Smart every 6 weeks. Most recently, U Guard was updated on November 3, 2026 and Merkury Smart on November 11, 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.*