Review Insights · App Store
VicoHome: Smart Home Camera
PHOTON SAIL TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD. · 106,897 ratings · ★ 4.9
4.9
★★★★★
106,897 ratings
🎯 Build a better version
Top complaints - extracted from 76 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"cameras"
29 negative reviews mention this · 38% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Subscription. Why do I have to pay a subscription just to see motion video ?! Like I already bought the cameras why do I have to have a subscription? Just ridiculous." - corona sw
2
"camera"
26 negative reviews mention this · 34% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slow. How come it takes 12 seconds plus to see the videos. By the time I see the images, the person is gone! Unfortunately, I have 4 of this camera installed. I wished it’s a little bit faster." - DREDDDDDDDDDDDD
3
"update"
19 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Update issues. I can not get live feed, not getting alert notifications, fix this asap as this is my security away from home" - desirablestud
4
"view"
12 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Terrible app. Camera was decent at first but after an update, you can’t go back and view recordings. Only a still picture shows. False advertising and useless camera. Find something else" - User987965
5
"every"
11 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Constant log in issues. The app itself is functional and works well when and if you can login. Anything that logs you out such as an update or your phone, start your problem. I have never had an app, Where literally every time I have to login. It is an issue. You …" - pastfarian
6
"phone"
10 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Constant log in issues. The app itself is functional and works well when and if you can login. Anything that logs you out such as an update or your phone, start your problem. I have never had an app, Where literally every time I have to login. It is an issue. You …" - pastfarian
7
"subscription"
9 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Subscription. Why do I have to pay a subscription just to see motion video ?! Like I already bought the cameras why do I have to have a subscription? Just ridiculous." - corona sw
8
"check"
9 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Update broke app. No longer keeps me signed into the app, and when I try to sign back in to check my cameras it says it’s having trouble signing in. They need to fix this. Actually useless when the app doesn’t work!!" - Cnj177
9
"security"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Update issues. I can not get live feed, not getting alert notifications, fix this asap as this is my security away from home" - desirablestud
10
"something"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Terrible app. Camera was decent at first but after an update, you can’t go back and view recordings. Only a still picture shows. False advertising and useless camera. Find something else" - User987965
11
"doesn"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Constant log in issues. The app itself is functional and works well when and if you can login. Anything that logs you out such as an update or your phone, start your problem. I have never had an app, Where literally every time I have to login. It is an issue. You …" - pastfarian
📋 All 76 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Doesent work
I still have 5 months left on my scrip and the thing wont work.Its a pos
Update issues
I can not get live feed, not getting alert notifications, fix this asap as this is my security away from home
Always boots me off
It keeps as of recently logging me out and saying error when I try to log back in
Terrible app
Camera was decent at first but after an update, you can’t go back and view recordings. Only a still picture shows. False advertising and useless camera. Find something else
Can’t even delete an individual clip
Can’t delete an individual video clip from the SD card. Can’t connect to a long name with white spaces SSID.
Vpn UNALIVES THE CONNECTION
Update 5/7/26
Well you did it!! THIS COMPANY HAS STILL NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM!! JUST UPDATED THE FIRMWARE AND IT STILL KICKS ME OUT AFTER SECONDS- BECAUSE OF THE VPN! SO MUCH FOR CARRYING ABOUT SECURITY-ITS ALL ABOUT TAKING YOUR INFORMATION! SHAME
Well you did it!! THIS COMPANY HAS STILL NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM!! JUST UPDATED THE FIRMWARE AND IT STILL KICKS ME OUT AFTER SECONDS- BECAUSE OF THE VPN! SO MUCH FOR CARRYING ABOUT SECURITY-ITS ALL ABOUT TAKING YOUR INFORMATION! SHAME
Constant log in issues
The app itself is functional and works well when and if you can login. Anything that logs you out such as an update or your phone, start your problem. I have never had an app, Where literally every time I have to login. It is an issue. You either get an error that something went wrong or your confirmation doesn’t go through on time. The problems logging in are absolutely ridiculous and frustrating enough that I’m ready to dump the whole system. I have this problem, no matter what device or network, so it’s on their end.
Problems
I agree with most of the bad reviews on this app, yes it records and you can view your camera but it’s auto plays when viewing a recording and then trying to zoom or stop the playback, you have to exit and start watching the recording over again like 3 or 4 times cause it glitches, it’s horrible
Ads before you can view
All of a sudden I have to get through an ad to view what motion triggered the camera? On top of being logged out “session expired” all the time. So who knows what the camera is missing because I keep getting logged out.
Not sure if this is all because of an update but the ads is such a tacky and poor idea.
Not sure if this is all because of an update but the ads is such a tacky and poor idea.
Garbage
Mine doesn’t work no we code on bottom of shell followed instructions for set up just keeps saying offline last night
Since update
Before this last update I really liked this camera. Now my phone doesn’t get alerts when someone pushes the doorbell or a package was delivered, nothing. Please fix and I will update my review
Short Life
Only worked 6mo then just stopped working and would not reset even though it was fully charged. Support was not helpful. Just sent repeating messages to try other methods that was not successful. A total waste of money.
Update broke app
No longer keeps me signed into the app, and when I try to sign back in to check my cameras it says it’s having trouble signing in. They need to fix this. Actually useless when the app doesn’t work!!
No because why?
Truly, I want to know why you guys are so thoroughly specific of what is going on in my living room… it makes me very uncomfortable being told a full paragraph of how I was BENT OVER written by who knows… this has made me feel sexualized in my own home I am sick to my stomach about it… and it only does it with my indoor cameras. It has not done it with my outdoor cameras bought all four together all this company…I leave for a trip and I needed these up and now I feel unsafe leaving them up…
numbers stopped on envelope notifications
numbers stopped on envelope notifications after update …. generic AI BS responses
Keeps disconnecting from wifi
I started off loving this, but now camera disconnects from wifi ( wifi is functioning fine) I’ve had only had the camera for 2 months. Very disappointed.
Keeps signing me out
Stupid app won’t stay signed in, and refuses to work on certain networks, like at work, giving me the useless message “Something went wrong, please try later” or “Your phone network connection is poor” when it’s absolutely not a problem with my phone.
Thank god I can view the camera through Alexa, but even that has issues with random disconnection. I have good 2.4G wifi at home and my other cameras are solid. This is just a very flaky platform.
Thank god I can view the camera through Alexa, but even that has issues with random disconnection. I have good 2.4G wifi at home and my other cameras are solid. This is just a very flaky platform.
Ads!!!!!
Initially we loved the app and the features it provided.
Once “PAID” and subscribed to access added features, your app constantly started bombarding us with BS ads! Many of which force you to acknowledge or view the ad before continuing.
You greedy clowns with lose customers if you continue down this road.
Once “PAID” and subscribed to access added features, your app constantly started bombarding us with BS ads! Many of which force you to acknowledge or view the ad before continuing.
You greedy clowns with lose customers if you continue down this road.
Commercials the second you open up the app!😤
This one of the best apps out here cause it was the only one that is free and didn’t have pop ups, now it does like the app temu. I had about 50 different people using this camera due to it being free and no pop up adds. Now the second your in the add you can’t even look at anything without pop up adds… I’m really disappointed this was a really good app. I referred and recommended so many people to switch their camera system to this. Now I’m just disappointed with it and wish I could return my camera back in and the other people I know feel the same way!
Too many ads in app
Time for all new cameras. Most of my family and friends use Vico cams, but with all the ads we are getting different cameras.
Cameras
They want you up date .you do then it wants you to sign in every time it’s used .and won’t let you in.says something went wrong.at this point I would not recommend to anyone !!!
Ads
I did not buy this camera to have to look at an advertisement before viewing the live feed of my property. This camera was supposed to be an alternative to expensive home security camera cameras and now they want you to subscribe to their plan or watch ads… just to use the camera that you paid for, in full. I will be getting a new camera from another company, and I will be trashing (not even throwing away) this camera. It was nice while it lasted.
Shareware Ads Are Now Included With The Latest Update
Since this update I am now receiving bogus ads (scareware) that claim my device is infected when the app is opened, as well as other annoying ads. It has gotten so much worse with the latest update that I am now looking for new cameras with because of it.
New ads ruin the point of the app
I can’t see what the security thing is without watching the ad. I loved this until then, going to look for new cameras.
Stopped working after 16 months
It was good for a year. Now we can’t even sign in. It says “Something went wrong, try later.” For 3 days we’ve had no cameras. Come on Vicohome, do better. I’m cancelling my subscription and looking elsewhere.
Shady if you don’t pay
This app worked at 1st, but if you don’t pay the monthly fee I seems the company doesn’t like freeloaders, it start displaying very shady ads on startup, I am talking about ads that pop up saying your device has been hacked or your out of space ect ect, and after the firmware update it no longer works like it did taking photos and letting me know when the feral cats are at the food bowls or the clawsable cat house. I have a SDcard installed and they make it much harder to playback of course unless you play. Just shady and deceiving all around
Added ads to the app?
You purchase the item and then get ads on the app. Ridiculous.
ADVERTISING
Now I get ads! Ridiculous
Large timed ads every time the app is opened
I’ve had my set of security cameras since 2024. They work fine, I use it as a live pet cam and it works as expected. Recently, every time I open the app there is a large timed ad over the entire UI. It’s extremely annoying and I close the app instead of waiting. It’s very annoying that I’ve used this app for 2 years and now I have to see ads every time I use it.
Let’s put ads in a security app!
The latest update, the one they hope you enjoy, introduced full screen ads. When do these ads appear? The moment you try to check your camera. So, while you are trying to see, what set off your camera, they decide this is the best time, to block your view, with an ad. I’m seriously thinking about just buying new cameras, that don’t depend on this app. Security camera apps should not have ads. We’ve already bought and paid for the cameras. I will not pay, to be able to see my footage.
Ada’s and Popups galore
I never write reviews but this app inspired me. I recently purchased hardware / bird feeder with camera for my elderly parents. I also setup this app and am quite disappointed based on the number of pop up’s and ads within the app. This is already complex for them as it is but now they need to navigate through popups and ad’s. I hope the developers rethink this app.
Introduced invasive ads
They introduced ads now that block the display. Makes it unusable.
Some of the ads say your phone has a virus and trick you to scam sites.
Please go back to the way it was before the ads.
Some of the ads say your phone has a virus and trick you to scam sites.
Please go back to the way it was before the ads.
Garbage
Now that ads are popping up blocking the video, it makes the app useless to me. I need to view my notifications immediately, especially when it says a person is at my front door, but now I have to wait for the ad to be finished to do anything with the app, and the people are gone before I have a chance to communicate with them. Absolute garbage, especially when the products are sub par to begin with. If I’m going to pay for a subscription to get rid of ads, I’ll switch to a higher quality product
Not Great
This is the app that runs on my Smart Bird Feeder. Routinely mis-identifies birds and, despite submitting correct ID frequently, never seems to learn ANYTHING from the feedback. I’m in the Rocky Mountains but every bird ID is from the eastern seaboard. No way to tell
App where I am so it can eliminate wrong IDs. If this is AI, we are in deep trouble!!
App where I am so it can eliminate wrong IDs. If this is AI, we are in deep trouble!!
FIND AN ALTERNATIVE APP (Was Good but now irretrievably broken)
4/20/26 update: the app is no longer accessible as of this morning. When I open it, there’s a big notification telling me I have to now download a different app to view my camera. When I click on “got it” nothing happens. I am not going to download a different questionable app. I suggest anyone having concerns about the scam ads and other problems to click on the “report a problem“ function in the app. I’ve submitted a complaint to Apple.
---
Rather than taking care of the issues,
the “developer response” to every poor review is the same unhelpful response.
4/2026 update: EVERY time I open the app it now makes me log in fresh. I then get repeated messages when trying to log in that my phone connection is low so it can’t connect, which is rubbish. I’m using Wi-Fi anyway. What a MESS!
I’ll be looking for an alternative app for my camera.
----
I’m using this app for a camera that’s built into a bird feeder I recently bought. I like that I can look at the live feed at any time. It’s directed at front entrance so I can check out things like the FedEx guy throwing my package down yesterday, which explained why the contents leaked. 🙃
I decided not to buy the AI bird identification subscription because the app misrecognized the bird species most of the time.
One thing that I think needs to be changed is that there is no way to fully turn off notifications. They can be turned off for 30 minutes, two hours or 12 hours. I’d like to be able to turn them completely off or at least for 24 or 48 hours.
---
Rather than taking care of the issues,
the “developer response” to every poor review is the same unhelpful response.
4/2026 update: EVERY time I open the app it now makes me log in fresh. I then get repeated messages when trying to log in that my phone connection is low so it can’t connect, which is rubbish. I’m using Wi-Fi anyway. What a MESS!
I’ll be looking for an alternative app for my camera.
----
I’m using this app for a camera that’s built into a bird feeder I recently bought. I like that I can look at the live feed at any time. It’s directed at front entrance so I can check out things like the FedEx guy throwing my package down yesterday, which explained why the contents leaked. 🙃
I decided not to buy the AI bird identification subscription because the app misrecognized the bird species most of the time.
One thing that I think needs to be changed is that there is no way to fully turn off notifications. They can be turned off for 30 minutes, two hours or 12 hours. I’d like to be able to turn them completely off or at least for 24 or 48 hours.
What happened?
So today I logon to check my camera. Now I received a message that VicoHome is no longer supported and I must download a different app. This looks obvious that an app has either sold out or it’s a scam to try to get me to download a spybot app.
ADS
I bought cameras from this company because my other cameras were starting to be bombarded with ads every time I opened up the app and were starting to get outdated.
Now I’m starting to see the same thing with this application where instead of quickly viewing my cameras, I have to watch an ad before doing so. PLEASE DONT START DOING THIS
Now I’m starting to see the same thing with this application where instead of quickly viewing my cameras, I have to watch an ad before doing so. PLEASE DONT START DOING THIS
Latest update forces ads
Latest update includes “in your face” ads that previous versions did not force on me. In addition, the ads have deceptive “X”s that open additional windows. Why deceive us? If the ad is interesting, it should hold its own. Don’t force us into products we don’t want, and can’t close the window easily.
Bad experience
When we first installed the app, it was ok. Lately, it has become very annoying. It constantly prompts for us to sign up for a paid subscription. Worse, it is now displaying ads that border on spam. One ad reports that our phones have 72 viruses and tells us to install an app that will clean the viruses from our phones.
Ads????
Was a great app until lately, now w get ads popping up before you can view cameras. PLEASE FIX!!!
Ads
I got rid of my last camera because of the ads we can add this company to the list. Smh
Intrusive Ads
Thanks to the latest update, obnoxious ads pop up on the screen when opening the app. Never used to happen, had the app for over 2 years and strongly considering getting new cameras. I cannot recommend this app or these cameras
ads
too many scam ads
VicoHome becomes a scam
I view my cameras on my own VicoHome log in because Vico doesn’t let two devices be logged into the same account at the same time and the devices “belong” to my spouse’s account. We pay the subscription fee. I should not have to have a paid account to view the cameras. The new ads are scam ads too. I wish I could attach a screenshot but this is not an ad, it’s a scam:
“ Your Phone is severely damaged by (72) viruses.
We have detected that your browser is(70%) damaged. Viruses picked up while surfing recent corrupted sites.
How to Fix Now:
1. Click the "OK" button;
2. You will be redirected to the App Store;
3. Install the app, open it and run the cleaning procedure.
30 seconds to clean up.”
“ Your Phone is severely damaged by (72) viruses.
We have detected that your browser is(70%) damaged. Viruses picked up while surfing recent corrupted sites.
How to Fix Now:
1. Click the "OK" button;
2. You will be redirected to the App Store;
3. Install the app, open it and run the cleaning procedure.
30 seconds to clean up.”
Spam spam spam
It’s full of spam and phishing ads
Find a different one
Recently they've introduced intrusive ads that cover up your camera view. Some of these ads are very sketchy and deceptive. This isn’t acceptable for something that some people use for security, and especially something you pay for. I had been planning on getting more cameras, but not now. I’ll get rid of the ones I have and find another brand if ads are not removed. Incredibly disappointed.
Doesn’t last
Had this camera for 2 years. Worked fine last year now it won’t connect and keeps shutting down when I try to set the camera up. $100 camera for only two years stinks. Their feedback support stinks.
What happened
This app used to be great but now…not so much. Lots of errors, lots of problems. And the power worst part is that it makes my security cameras useless when it doesn’t work. So that means no security at all.
really bad
always disconnects
App isn’t working
Cameras are laggy and app is always slow by the time you try to check notifications it’s already to late . The only way to get better service is to buy the subscription. Also when you open the app to look at what’s going on you gotta watch a commercial then you can see what’s happening. Don’t recommend there cameras or apps
+ 26 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
98%
Positive (4-5★)
1%
Neutral (3★)
1%
Negative (1-2★)