App controls & settings

The companion app and NVR interface expose deep per camera controls for zones, sensitivity, lighting, AI behavior, and alarms, letting owners fine tune how each camera behaves while managing both NVR and wireless units in one place.

Across reviews, the Eufy app is praised for straightforward setup and granular controls, letting owners set patrol presets, define activity and privacy zones, schedule lighting and alarms, and manage local or cloud recording from one interface.

The Arlo app is widely described as straightforward and capable, and this review reinforces that it is easy to use while offering granular motion filtering for people, animals, vehicles, and packages alongside simple controls for video quality and alerts.

The Tapo app is generally considered solid and straightforward, and this tester highlights its clear controls for quality, motion categories, activity zones, and privacy masks alongside quick access to live view and recordings.

The Eufy app is widely described as powerful yet approachable, offering granular options for zones, sensitivity, storage, AI settings, and performance modes while still making it easy to talk through the camera, browse clips from the HomeBase hub, quickly switch between multiple live feeds, and even use call-style doorbell features for added flexibility.

In the Wyze app the Duo Cam Pan appears as a single camera tile while still giving access to two live feeds, per lens controls for detection, night vision, spotlights, and waypoints, plus extras like pan scan, siren, and timeline playback, though it currently lacks granular settings to limit what the tracking lens follows.

The Tapo app offers rich controls including presets, patrol routes, 24/7 capture scheduling, per-object detection zones and power profiles, and this review highlights that live view and settings are easy to reach while also noting a few limitations such as the lack of a definable home or guard position and the fact that rich notifications still require a Tapo Care subscription.

Reviews describe the Eufy app as giving each camera a clear panel with easy access to live view, event thumbnails, and straightforward controls for motion detection, video quality, night vision, and privacy zones, but note that some options such as activity zones are buried in submenus and that the app lacks search and bulk actions across multiple cameras.

The Eufy app is generally well regarded for its alerts and configuration options, and this reviewer confirms that it offers solid controls for zones, tracking presets, and storage, even though loading the live feed can sometimes take a few extra seconds.

The Google Home app is required to use the Nest Cam, and this review underscores that once set up, it integrates seamlessly with other Nest devices and presents camera settings and alerts in a straightforward way for Google-centric households.

Users describe the Reolink app as clean and well organized with granular controls for motion zones, detection types, schedules, and storage options, but this review also calls it a bit clunky, citing vague error messages around SD card formatting, an unhelpful help button, and awkward handling of the Argus 4 Pro’s ultra wide 180 degree live view on phones.

Aqara’s app is praised for exposing deep controls, automations, and timelines and has become easier to navigate for the G5 Pro, but reviews underscore that the many menus, per object motion zone settings, and awkward clip exporting can still make it feel over complicated and somewhat daunting for new users even though extras like screenshot tools, galleries, and AI detection options go beyond what Apple’s Home app offers.

Users often describe the Ezviz app as functional but clunky, and this tester echoes that sentiment, noting that while the interface is busy, it still loads the encrypted live view quickly and offers workable controls and PTZ presets once learned.