# Foscam vs Hik

The clearest difference is rating: Hik at 4.7 against Foscam's 2.3. Hik also leads on ratings volume (172K vs 710) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). Foscam's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, 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.

Hik holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hik has 172K ratings behind it against 710, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Foscam's written reviews are positive against 25% of Hik's.

Foscam ships an update every 3 weeks, Hik every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Foscam | Hik |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (710 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/foscam/id924381688/reviews) | **[4.7 (172K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hik-connect-for-end-user/id1087803190/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 710 | **172K** |
| Positive reviews | 16.9% of reviews | **24.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#107** |
| Size | 210 MB | 599 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IVYIOT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6815486667) | [Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257695602) |

## What reviewers say

### Foscam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/foscam/id924381688)

Monitor your home, office, or store remotely with this smart security camera management tool. View live video, communicate via two-way audio, and control camera functions like pan, tilt, and night vision from your smartphone.

**Highlights:** Easy device setup, Live video streaming, Remote pan and tilt, Two-way audio communication, Night vision control, Snapshot and video recording, Multi-camera management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 📽️ Good video quality
- 💡 Useful features like motion detection
- 👍 Generally good user experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable connectivity and frequent disconnects
- 🔍 Difficult to set up and configure
- ⏱️ Slow loading and buffering issues
- 📦 Excessive storage usage on mobile devices
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Issues with SD card playback
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Inconsistent camera connections

**Requested features**

- Easier camera management and configuration
- Improved video playback controls
- Support for multi-camera viewing
- Landscape mode support on tablets
- Customizable motion detection and alerts


### Hik

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hik-connect-for-end-user/id1087803190)

**Currently charting:** #107 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Access live video streams from your security cameras and DVRs remotely. Review recorded footage and receive instant alerts for motion detection events. Connect to your devices globally with ease.

**Highlights:** Real-time monitoring, Video playback, Motion detection alarm notification, Remote camera access, Device management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🤖 Excellent camera quality
- 💡 Useful notification features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find cameras
- 🕰️ Slow playback and video loading
- 🔌 Unstable network connectivity
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive updates

**Reported bugs**

- Cameras randomly show as offline
- Playback function often fails to load
- Notifications disappear from the app
- App fails to open after recent updates
- Camera settings reset after app updates

**Requested features**

- Add support for portrait mode on tablets
- Improve playback controls with fast forward/rewind
- Allow custom naming and organization of cameras
- Provide better notification customization options
- Integrate with smart home automation platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Foscam free?

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

### Is Hik free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Foscam or Hik?

Hik is rated higher. Foscam averages 2.3 out of 5 from 710 ratings, while Hik averages 4.7 from 172K ratings.

### Do Foscam or Hik have ads?

Neither Foscam nor Hik shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Foscam or Hik?

Foscam ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hik every 8 days. Most recently, Foscam was updated on November 6, 2026 and Hik on November 10, 2026.

---

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