Comparison

Canary vs Frontpoint

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

Head to head
About

Canary

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
Read full description

Canary is home security made simple. The Canary app works with our security devices to connect your home to your phone, allowing you to view and protect those that matter most. Monitor your home: Watch live or recorded HD videos day or night. Access Canary’s timeline for a living history of your home. Save and bookmark your favorite clips. Intelligent notifications: When Canary identifies something out of the ordinary, you’ll get a notification with recorded HD video of the event, as well as the option to watch live. Automatic arming: Canary changes modes when you come and go. No complicated keypads or codes to remember. - Away When all members are away Canary monitors for activity and sends notifications - Home When a member is home Canary is customizable. You can set notification and privacy preferences. - Night Schedule Canary to monitor for activity while you sleep. - Privacy Camera and microphone are completely off. Emergency Options: Respond to incidents directly from the Canary app. Trigger the 90 decibel siren, or be connected directly to your home’s local emergency responders. A healthier home: Canary’s HomeHealth Technology™ monitors indoor air quality, temperature, and humidity. It all adds up to a smarter and safer home. Love your Canary? We read and appreciate every single review. Want to suggest a feature? Get in touch! -- Email: support@canary.is Facebook: Canary Twitter: @canary Instagram: @caughtbycanary From time to time, the Canary auto-mode switching feature may briefly access your GPS in order to have high confidence in your location. Battery life is very important to us and we do many things to ensure we use it sparingly. Please be aware that continued use of GPS services running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Frontpoint

Easily monitor and control your home security system from anywhere. Receive real-time alerts, view live video, and manage connected devices like lights and thermostats. Enjoy the simplicity and security of your system on the go.

Highlights
  • Arm and disarm system remotely
  • Real-time notifications
  • View live/recorded video
  • Control smart home devices
  • System status updates
Features
Read full description

For Frontpoint customers, staying connected to your home has never been easier. Frontpoint’s app keeps you in touch and in control of your Frontpoint system from anywhere using your iPhone or iPad. Monitoring your home no matter where you are is as easy as sending and receiving messages. You’ll get the simplicity and security that Frontpoint is known for, at your fingertips and on the go. Note: This app requires a Frontpoint system and service plan. Feature availability varies based on system, equipment, and service plan. With our mobile app, you can: • Easily arm and disarm your system from anywhere • Receive real-time email, text or push notifications for events that you select • View live or recorded video • Control lights, locks and thermostats • And much more!

Screenshots

Canary4 screens
Frontpoint4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Frontpoint at none against Canary's 12. Frontpoint also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Canary's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (33% vs 17%). On price, rating, ratings volume 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Canary against 4.3 for Frontpoint. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.4K and 4.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 33% of Canary's written reviews are positive against 17% of Frontpoint's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Canary ships an update monthly, Frontpoint every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Canary versus Frontpoint: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCanaryFrontpoint
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5.4K ratings)4.3 (4.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.6% of reviews — better17.2% of reviews
Number of ratings5.4K — better4.6K
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#176 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size158 MB378 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCanary ConnectFrontpoint Security Solutions

Customer experience

Canary

All ratings5,417 ratings
Positive81.1%
Neutral2.2%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews616 reviews
Positive32.6%
Neutral3.2%
Negative64.1%

Frontpoint

All ratings4,595 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral4.0%
Negative14.1%
Written reviews180 reviews
Positive17.2%
Neutral12.8%
Negative70.0%

User reviews

Canary

From 5.4K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Frontpoint

From 4.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🔒 Secure system
  • 👍 Practical design
  • 📸 Good camera quality
  • 🔥 Works as designed

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Downloading failures
  • 🐛 Laggy app
  • 🔌 Connectivity issues
  • 🔍 Poor customer support
  • 🤖 Automation limitations

Bugs and requests

Canary

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Frontpoint

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inconsistent sensor status reporting
  • Unreliable remote arming/disarming
  • Disappearing widgets after iOS updates
  • Unresponsive app during critical situations

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Apple CarPlay integration
  • Improve app navigation and search
  • Allow remote sensor management
  • Add 24-hour time format option
  • Improve app UI and dark mode support

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Canary

Subscriptions6
  • Premium Service4 variants$7.991 Month
  • Premium Service3 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Professional Monitoring1 Month trial$19.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Premium Service7 Days trial3 variants$24.991 Month
  • Premium Service$79.991 Year
  • Premium Service7 Days trial2 variants$249.001 Year
None

Frontpoint

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Canary free?
Canary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Frontpoint free?
Frontpoint is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Canary or Frontpoint?
Frontpoint is rated higher. Canary averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5.4K ratings, while Frontpoint averages 4.3 from 4.6K ratings.
Do Canary or Frontpoint have ads?
Canary shows ads; Frontpoint does not.
Which is updated more often, Canary or Frontpoint?
Canary ships an update monthly, and Frontpoint every 3 months. Most recently, Canary was updated on September 24, 2026 and Frontpoint on September 20, 2026.

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