Naturally, there is an array of ways to keep an eye on all of your cameras in one single space. However, having an app on your phone is definitely the best way to do this.
Which One Should You Choose?
There are many excellent IP camera apps for Android devices, and in this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the top three so you can make an informed decision about the one that is best for you.
So, if this sounds like something that you would be interested in, then read on for more.
What Will I Need Before Choosing An App?
Before choosing the best IP camera app for you, you will need to ensure that all of your choices support the industry standard as set out by ONVIF. This will permit you to use cameras from various manufacturers.
If you cannot do this, then they need to be able to provide an RTSP or MJPEG stream.
So, now that we have established this, let’s check out some of the best IP camera apps for Android!
The first on our list is the tinyCam Monitor for Android! Let’s check out some of the key features:
Internal web server that permits live view and remote recordings
Two-way audio for specific camera models
Motion detectors for the app and the camera
Face detection
Records video, including Amazon Drive, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, FTP/FTPS, and ownCloud)
Motion detection and background recording
Support for the Google Chromecast and the Android Wear App
Support for televisions
Lock and home screen widgets
This is one of the best Android IP camera apps for a reason! Not only does it have an interface that has been beautifully designed, but it has many excellent features mentioned above that are almost guaranteed to blow your mind!
Of course, this IP camera app will support ONVIF, but it will also be able to detect around 10K + camera models. and set them up.
Not only that but for both multi and matrix camera views, you have the option of choosing between seventeen different layouts. The majority of these layouts are auto-rotate!
You do have to pay for this app, but it also comes with a free ad-supported version that limits the features but still functions well. And, if you want to purchase the pro version that you pay for, then it only costs around $5.
Let’s check out some pros and cons of using the tinyCAM Monitor app!
Pros And Cons Of The tinyCAM Monitor App
Pros
A plethora of excellent features
A plethora of IP camera presets
Excellent value for money
Option cloud platform use
Also supports motion detection (in-camera)
Cons
Lacks the more advanced methods of motion detection, like line crossing
Checklist For Smart Home
Subscription fees: One-time buy (no subscription fees)
Cloud Reliant: Not cloud reliant
Compatibility: Tasker, built-in web server, RTSP, ONVIF
The second Android IP camera app on our list is the IP Cam Viewer Pro. Let’s check out some of its key features!
Supports 1600+ devices. This includes both DVRs and NVRs
Supports ONVIF, RTSP, and MMSH
Controls PTZ on cameras
H265/MJPEG/MPEG4/H264 codec support
Auto sequence and camera grouping
Automatic detection for the camera
Lock and home screen widgets
Both background audio and two-way audio support for an array of devices
Motion detection via the app
24/7 recording options for every camera
Option to use as a proxy/transcoder, Tasker integration, and remote control of the app via an embedded web server
Android Wear and Chromecast support
This is a highly functional app that definitely serves its purpose with proficiency!
Naturally, it can support ONVIF, and it can also detect and set up a plethora of cameras - over 1726! So, it will absolutely be able to support all of the cameras around your household without any issues.
Like the previous camera, there is a free version supported with ads and containing limited features. However, we believe that the paid pro version, containing all of the features, would make for a better experience.
However, there are some slight issues when it comes to the IP Cam Viewer Pro app. While it is indeed a functional app, the interface is not as good as the camera that precedes it in this list.
Additionally, there is a limited material design, with dominating font sizes and blocky buttons that are slightly too large.
Additionally, after an automated scan, the IP Cam Viewer Pro app was not able to detect a Reolink C1 Pro IP camera, so it is important to note that the app may not pick up some cameras.
But, given its excellent features, it is worth downloading and checking out!
Let’s check out some advantages and disadvantages of using the IP Cam Viewer Pro app!
Pros And Cons Of The IP Cam Viewer Pro App
Pros
Plenty of features
Excellent value for money
Many presets for many IP cameras
It will support motion detection in-camera
Cons
Some would argue it has an unsatisfactory UI
Does not have any advanced motion detection services
Checklist For Smart Home
Subscription fees: One-time buy (no subscription fees)
Cloud reliant: Not cloud reliant
Compatibility: RTSP, built-in web server and Tasker, and ONVIF
The third camera app on our list is the ONVIF IP Camera Monitor (also known as Onvifer.) This is an excellent IP camera app to have, so let’s check out some of its key features!
MP4 clips are recorded
Will support PTZ cameras
Will support RTSP/H.264/ ONVIF/MJPEG
Snapshot preview widgets featured on the home screen of your Android phone
All ONVIF devices will be auto-discovered in an instant
Will support the viewing of many cameras at the same time
This is another excellent IP camera app that you should definitely consider before making a decision.
It has a great user interface and covers all of the basics that you would need to connect all of your home security cameras to one single space.
However, unlike the two previous apps, this one does not include any of the advanced features that some consider necessary for an IP camera app.
It is a very basic IP app, but it will cover the baseline of what you will need to connect your cameras into one space and feel safe and secure in your home.
Like the two previous cameras, this IP camera app has both a free version that is supported with ads and a pro version that you can pay for (that includes all of the features listed above.)
Now, let’s check out some pros and cons of the Onvifer app!
Pros And Cons Of The ONVIF IP Camera Monitor App
Pros
Simple app - use with ease!
Excellent value for money
Features presets that can be used for an array of IP cameras
Cons
UI is a little too simple
Does not support motion detection
Does not have any advanced features, like API, Chromecast, web server, Android Wear support, Two-way audio, or video widgets
Checklist For Smart Home
Subscription fees: One-time buy (no subscription fees)
So, you’ve decided to go ahead and invest in an IP camera app. Now all you need to do is find out what to look for to make sure you have the best experience possible with the app.
P2P And RTSP Support For Cameras
RTSP, or the Real Time Streaming Protocol, is the industry standard for CCTV. So, provided that it is supported by your software, and a camera is able to provide it, then you only need the login details for the RTSP URL stream.
The software does not need to support the actual camera, so you will be able to use an array of cameras with one app, which is ideal!
Additionally, P2P support for cameras will be enabled by many manufacturers.
So, every camera will have a code totally unique to it (UID) that you will need to get the camera onto the camera viewing app. It can also work outside of your home without any need for extra configuration.
However, it is important to note that your privacy is reduced when you use P2P because it uses a third-party provider.
Automatic Detection Of ONVIF
Sometimes, certain apps will scan your network to detect supported IP cameras. All you will need is the password and username. This will save you so much time because you will not constantly need to type in the port numbers and IP addresses.
However, this only works for ONVIF cameras, so you need to ensure that your cameras have ONVIF to experience this convenience.
24/7 Recording Options And Motion Detection
If you have a camera that is not so great at or does not include motion detection. So, there are certain IP camera apps that can do this instead!
Additionally, some apps have the option for 24/7 recording to a network device, such as NAS, or an SD card.
Preset Settings
ONVIF support is extremely useful to see your camera in the viewer app, but it may also be beneficial to use additional features instead if your camera does not have ONVIF support.
Many IP camera apps will include presets for the more popular cameras, so you can use all of the features of the native app of the camera!
A Switch Camera Stream
It can be too resource-intensive for many smartphones and other smart devices to decode many 1080p streams. So, if that happens then the result is usually blank screens or dropped frames.
Luckily, IP cameras of quality will include a lower-quality stream optimized for mobiles, as well as a stream of higher-quality. You should look for IP camera apps that allow you to swap between the two.
Two-Way Audio
Many IP cameras will support two-way audio, then you should be able to talk to another person on the other side of it with the viewer app.
But, please note that your camera will have to provide support for full-duplex audio in order to make the two way-conversation easier.
Audio Support And Background Recording
Sometimes, particularly in the case of a baby monitor, you do not want the viewer app to be constantly active.
So, the best thing you can do is look for an IP camera app that has audio support and background recording.
This will allow you to record on the app and play any sound from the room the camera is in even while you are using another app, or your phone screen is locked!
Final Thoughts
IP camera apps certainly are not perfect, but they are highly advantageous if you want to keep all of your cameras in one single space.
In this article, we discussed the three best apps with their pros and cons, as well as many features you should look out for when trying to decide on the best IP camera app for you.
We hope this article has taught you everything you need to know about IP camera apps for Android devices.
Hi, my name is David Jones. My wife and I didn’t have any security protection added to our home, even while we went on holiday abroad. Low and behold - our house was broken into and over $3,000 of belongings were stolen.
Did we have house insurance, you might be asking. No, we did not. So that $3,000 was gone within an instant, and we were left trying to rebuild our once safe space.
I have started Security Camera System Pro to help you find the best information out there on how to get your home protected in the quickest amount of time possible. I hope that I can help you in some way to avoid anyone from going through the same thing that we did.
