Review Insights · App Store
YI Home
ZK (HK) LIMITED · 70,514 ratings · ★ 4.3
4.3
★★★★★
70,514 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 87 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
"camera"
38 negative reviews mention this · 44% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Way too many ads. It used to not have that many ads and now it’s just inundated with ad pop ups. It’s super frustrating to the point of us having to purchase a new camera." - Jtan18
2
"cameras"
31 negative reviews mention this · 36% of all complaints
★★★★★ "This app is a SPAM/Scam/money robber. Don’t update anything on this pathetic app. Every update reduces functionality, INTEGRATES and INTRUDES into every aspect of this app, it shows ads in the middle of a live view or rewind of my previous recordings while I’m trying to find so…" - Mishokata
3
"subscription"
19 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ads Ruined This App. So many ads. Ads when I start the app. Subscription nag when I go to the feed list. Ads when I check a feed. Ads interrupting a feed. Ads in the notifications." - Dinhternet
4
"view"
14 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "This app is a SPAM/Scam/money robber. Don’t update anything on this pathetic app. Every update reduces functionality, INTEGRATES and INTRUDES into every aspect of this app, it shows ads in the middle of a live view or rewind of my previous recordings while I’m trying to find so…" - Mishokata
5
"watch"
13 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "This app is crazy on ads. I have never seen an app like this which is crazy on pushing ads. For whatever operations on this app, you would need to watch ads. I’m tired of this app and the greediness of this company. Bye YI home or YI camera" - Suffer of YI app
6
"without"
13 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "$45 for one Camera????. $45 for one camera cloud storage didn’t give me very much rewind time if someone had broken in my house and stole something as I’m only getting maybe between 5 and 15-20 seconds probably closer to the previous than the latter! I can’t even …" - Peaches20463
7
"cloud"
12 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "DO NOT BUY OR USE, HORRIBLE. This camera and app have become absolute garbage. The ads take up the whole screen, pop up randomly every few seconds taking you to the internet or the app store, then putting 90 second ads in the way of seeing the short clip of whatever th…" - Addicted6996
8
"these"
12 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Used to be good. I got these cameras in 2021 and they were perfect. I hadn’t used them in a while since moving and just got around to reinstalling, come to find out I now can only watch live video & need a subscription to view the movement clips. The worst …" - :))))))))))))))))))))).
9
"every"
10 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "I wish negative stars were possible. This app is now riddled with ads every time you click anywhere. It's basically not usable unless you pay a for stupidly expensive subscription. I'd be fine if we had to pay for the app once but not this lame practice. This company sure know…" - SirLaTienda
10
"company"
10 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "I wish negative stars were possible. This app is now riddled with ads every time you click anywhere. It's basically not usable unless you pay a for stupidly expensive subscription. I'd be fine if we had to pay for the app once but not this lame practice. This company sure know…" - SirLaTienda
11
"service"
10 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst customer service. They would not cancel my subscription even after I stated multiple times that I no longer had the cameras." - Gambino023
12
"years"
10 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Camera system is unusable now. Purchased multiple cameras and have had them for years. Now the app will not even allow you to view saved videos that are captured on the sd cards. Also you have to click out of multiple ads to even get to the cameras. If there was an actua…" - someguy35
📋 All 87 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").
Too many ads!!!
The app has so many ads that almost render it impossible to check video within a short period of time. The ads are very long and it’s really hard to dismiss the ads. I would recommend buying other brands with more decent experience.
Ads Ruined This App
So many ads.
Ads when I start the app.
Subscription nag when I go to the feed list.
Ads when I check a feed.
Ads interrupting a feed.
Ads in the notifications.
Ads when I start the app.
Subscription nag when I go to the feed list.
Ads when I check a feed.
Ads interrupting a feed.
Ads in the notifications.
Ads ads and more ads
I have never seen so many ads in one app before. The subscription cost is crazy. Would not recommend
I wish negative stars were possible
This app is now riddled with ads every time you click anywhere. It's basically not usable unless you pay a for stupidly expensive subscription. I'd be fine if we had to pay for the app once but not this lame practice. This company sure knows how to make a customer never want to buy their product ever again.
Worst
Avoid
Way too many ads
It used to not have that many ads and now it’s just inundated with ad pop ups. It’s super frustrating to the point of us having to purchase a new camera.
This app is a SPAM/Scam/money robber
Don’t update anything on this pathetic app. Every update reduces functionality, INTEGRATES and INTRUDES into every aspect of this app, it shows ads in the middle of a live view or rewind of my previous recordings while I’m trying to find something important. It’s Ads Ads Ads non stop. They call it an ‘improvement’ only to screw you over and force you to pay for basic functionality that should be free. This app and the cameras are a fail. STAY AWAY from this shady greedy company.
Complete ad spamming scam
Complete ad spamming scam
This app is crazy on ads
I have never seen an app like this which is crazy on pushing ads. For whatever operations on this app, you would need to watch ads. I’m tired of this app and the greediness of this company. Bye YI home or YI camera
DO NOT BUY OR USE, HORRIBLE
This camera and app have become absolute garbage. The ads take up the whole screen, pop up randomly every few seconds taking you to the internet or the app store, then putting 90 second ads in the way of seeing the short clip of whatever the camera captured that you already paid for on top of them pushing an icloud subscription down your throat.
Unusable
Unusable with the amount of ads now.
Ads ads and more ads
Used to be good. Now it’s nothing but ads. Moved all cameras over to ring and blink. Will never use Yi or any associated products ever again.
Worst customer service
They would not cancel my subscription even after I stated multiple times that I no longer had the cameras.
Frustrating
When I got the camera it was easily accessible, now, ads ads ads and they think of clever ways to make it difficult to clear the ads. Got ring cameras instead. Smashed all YI.
DO NOT GET THEIR SUBSCRIPTION!!!!
Wish I could give them 0 stars. I bought a camera to watch my dog while I’m away. To watch him, I have to pay for a subscription but that’s not the issue. Customer Service is HORRIBLE! I asked to cancel my subscription and THEY REFUSE! They say they will give me a refund…they haven’t. Instead of cancelling my subscription, they offer 4 months free but they don’t understand that I DONT WANT THAT! This company is too difficult to work with. You will get stuck paying for a subscription that you don’t want. I’ve been emailing them for months to cancel and they do not listen. DO NOT GET THIS APP OR PURCHASE THEIR SUBSCRIPTION!!!!!!!!!
Camera system is unusable now
Purchased multiple cameras and have had them for years. Now the app will not even allow you to view saved videos that are captured on the sd cards. Also you have to click out of multiple ads to even get to the cameras. If there was an actual emergency where you needed to check on a different part of the home, you might as well not even have this. Absolutely awful system now. Owners of Yi should be ashamed.
Bad business
They constantly trying to force you to sign up for a subscription when I have SD card. I don’t want your freaking subscription.
Really bad company
I remember when they used to have the service for Wi-Fi cameras without so much advertisement. You open the application now and to see your camera for a little bit you have to skip through 300 annoying apps…I lied to you not, I had five of their cameras and I end up throwing them all in trash. Please do not buy any of their products. They used to be good, now they are just another Bait & switch Company.
Terrible
Camera was good before.
Now is filled with ads, crashes and freezing constantly. I would no recommend the product or application.
Now is filled with ads, crashes and freezing constantly. I would no recommend the product or application.
Used to be good
I got these cameras in 2021 and they were perfect. I hadn’t used them in a while since moving and just got around to reinstalling, come to find out I now can only watch live video & need a subscription to view the movement clips. The worst part is the fact that I have to watch an AD before being allowed to view my camera so it doesn’t provide the satisfaction of security it did before. If I cant even click on my camera right away if a possible emergency is occurring what good is it? I got these cameras because all I had to pay for was the camera so it’s disappointing its been changed so much.
Auto renews- can’t cancel
I purchased the plan in 2024 and it required the use of a credit card. Purchased a one year subscription now it is scheduled to auto renew for the second time and I can’t remove the auto renew or my card information from the application. Customer service is unavailable to assist in the AI customer service does not cancel the account. This account has no way to cancel so it will keep charging your credit card on an auto renew that you don’t even sign up for this application is fraudulent!!
Money
Advertisements, and demanding money constantly. There is nothing you can do without having to watch four or more ads and constantly demanding upgrades
ALL ADDS CANT EVEN USE THE CAMERA WITHOUT SUBSCRIPTION
I’ve had the system for almost 6 years now. I have 6 of them. Back when I got it it was great. Now I can’t even view a camera without trying to get out of four full screen ads. It’s disgusting. I’m looking to switch camera systems because of this. Unless you pay a $25 a month subscription, your cameras are essentially useless.
DO NOT BUY
LISTEN TO ALL THESE BAD REVIEWS.
Ive never left a review but this company and app has ticked me off so bad.
Constant ads. Constantly pulling me to safari into the ad websites without me even clicking anything.
Can’t get into the live feed fast. At All.
New owners or something and this app sucks more than any app I’ve ever used. EVER.
Ive never left a review but this company and app has ticked me off so bad.
Constant ads. Constantly pulling me to safari into the ad websites without me even clicking anything.
Can’t get into the live feed fast. At All.
New owners or something and this app sucks more than any app I’ve ever used. EVER.
Ads on top of ads
So many ads and and you click on them on accident and the app is so incredibly slow. Horrible.
Blackmail
Absolutely sucks. My cameras worked fine but the company now blocks video playback from a purchased SD card unless you purchase cloud services. This is blackmail and I’m rooting for a class action lawsuit.
Save yourself from Ads and overpriced ICloud
I have owned my camera for many years, but I can no longer recommend it. Recently the app started focusing users to watch ads or wait 30 seconds before being able to view their live camera fee. When you’re checking a security camera, shouldn’t have to sit through ads first. The whole purpose of a security camera is to provide immediate access when you need it. On top of that, the monthly cloud storage fees are far too expensive for what you get. Between the constant ads and the high subscription cost, the value just isn’t there anymore. I have unplugged my camera and replaced it with a different brand that includes cloud service for less than what I would have paid in a year for a cloud service here. The new system also that I purchased doesn’t forced me to watch ads before viewing my camera. Save yourself the frustration and look at other options before purchasing this camera.
DO NOT BUY!
Stay far away from this company.
I have been trying to cancel my subscription for months and have gotten nowhere. There is no option to speak with a real customer service representative-everything is handled through AI, which simply loops you through the same responses over and over again.
Every time I request cancellation, they refuse to process it and instead try to offer “free months” or discounts to keep me subscribed. The worst part is that the charges continue, even when I do not accept their offers. I have spent countless hours trying to resolve this issue and still cannot get my service canceled.
The entire experience feels deceptive and intentionally designed to prevent customers from leaving. A company should not make it this difficult to cancel a subscription or stop recurring charges.
Save yourself the frustration and avoid this service.
I have been trying to cancel my subscription for months and have gotten nowhere. There is no option to speak with a real customer service representative-everything is handled through AI, which simply loops you through the same responses over and over again.
Every time I request cancellation, they refuse to process it and instead try to offer “free months” or discounts to keep me subscribed. The worst part is that the charges continue, even when I do not accept their offers. I have spent countless hours trying to resolve this issue and still cannot get my service canceled.
The entire experience feels deceptive and intentionally designed to prevent customers from leaving. A company should not make it this difficult to cancel a subscription or stop recurring charges.
Save yourself the frustration and avoid this service.
App sucks now
Been using this app for years and now it’s just ads.
AD filled garbage
Slow, Buggy and stuffed with ads.
DONT UPDATE! EXCESSIVE NON STOP SPAM ADS 👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽
I purchased this camera many years ago and I use my own SIM card (no optional cloud service needed). The very latest App update in May 2026 has turned my system into a UNUSABLE security camera. The moment I click on the App: Ad after ad, pop ups, more ads. I am unable to view my own camera's SIM cards without seeing about 10-15 ads. RIDICULOUS and this excessive spamming should not be allowed as I paid for these devices! Just like the previous review stated - I will have to get a new system. DO NOT BUY their cameras! Do not update this App.
Dangerous Change
I have these as security cameras, but they made it so you have to sit through ads before you can access your camera, so if there is an emergency, you’re screwed.
Scummy subscription practices.
App is alright, whatever it’s a camera app. The real part that stinks is when you sign up for a subscription and try and cancel. I asked to cancel my subscription using their AI agent garbage and it kept trying to offer me an $11 discount to stay. After refusing the discount and asking to just have my sub cancelled they finally said yes but I was then charged two days later for the full amount. I had to initiate a chargeback from my card and have my bank block their account for the charges to stop. Just be aware that a monthly subscription means you’ll be charged for the rest of your life unless you have your bank cut them off!
From great to awful
I’ve used this app for many years and it has become terrible with the amount of ads. Each update has made it worse. I use an SD card and can barely review any footage because of all the pop up ads or requests to pay for cloud storage that you can’t close out of.
WORST DO NOT BUY THEM
Complete rip off anymore $4.99 a week.
I used these in china and the USA. Always had issues if a camera went off line obviously you are going to be using these cameras when you’re not around and if you need to get the camera up and running and it was like a glitch and power outage, whatever you have to be in person to get it back online I don’t know what’s happened since then but now they’re charging $4.99 a week and you can’t do anything with the camera until you pay that is ridiculous. You should at least be able to put your card in or there should be at least 1015 seconds of every Camera should have at least 10 seconds if not 20 seconds or 30 seconds of record time and you don’t have to keep it just as long as it’s on your phone computer or whatever but this is just ridiculous. $4.99 a week.
I used these in china and the USA. Always had issues if a camera went off line obviously you are going to be using these cameras when you’re not around and if you need to get the camera up and running and it was like a glitch and power outage, whatever you have to be in person to get it back online I don’t know what’s happened since then but now they’re charging $4.99 a week and you can’t do anything with the camera until you pay that is ridiculous. You should at least be able to put your card in or there should be at least 1015 seconds of every Camera should have at least 10 seconds if not 20 seconds or 30 seconds of record time and you don’t have to keep it just as long as it’s on your phone computer or whatever but this is just ridiculous. $4.99 a week.
Ads overloaded
I used to like it but now it’s over loaded with apps, can’t even view the camera without 4 ads popping up.
Worst app ever
It takes me so long to get on a camera mode and it’s so blurry and weird if someone were to actually break into your house don’t rely on this app. It will take you too long to find out where intruder was you have a better time just escaping it’s stuck behind endless ants. The camera feed is also horrible. I can’t even zoom in without turning to be black and white. Don’t waste your moneywith this app or their product. You’re better off getting something else.
Not good
Every time open this app, It is full of ads,don’t buy that product
Ads junk
It’s impossible to use this piece of junk-it’s nothing but ads.
Avoid
Too many ad, can barely do anything
This app is garbage
Just waste of money purchasing this camera. App full of ads, can’t see the camera with SD cards. They just trying hard to sell me cloud services. Just full of garbage
Lately getting pop-up’s
Deleted and reinstalled 🫰
Too many ads
You cannot open and directly go to camera after recent app upgrades. App keeps asking to sign up for subscription. Pathetic !!
Frustrated
It’s bad enough that you expect me to pay you view the cameras I own, now the ad’s won’t let me to view my cameras at all, just show ad and don’t allow you to click out when as is completed. I need new cameras, I will NOT be continuing with this brand.
Useless without their cloud
I purchased the cameras because they had internal storage (SD card) and no cost notifications. That changed recently when I tried to use the app. It had pop-up after pop-up, making it nearly impossible to use unless you subscribe to their cloud. Bummer.
POS app full of ads
POS app you can barely watch the cameras that you already purchased with the st u pid adds huge security issue I’d love to sue them
could’ve been great
and it used to be. now the pos app is unusable. i’ll never buy another yi product. i cannot do ANYTHING on the app without constant pops that i CAN’T get rid of. they make the stupid x button so small you can’t hit it without going to the ad link. so sick of it. deleting and trashing the 5 cams i had with them. go wyze. hope they don’t screw it up and get greedy like yi did.
Ad heavy bloatware
With the most recent updates, this app has become hijacked by ads. Ability to view your cameras blocked by several full screen, timed ads
Better options available
This camera is not great specially app, there is a lot of better options for camera app does shows advertising which I really hate, better get Kasa or Tapo or many other cheap camera options available that works well and no ads on app
It’s an ad delivery service
Cannot view my own camera that I paid for, unless I sit through minutes of ads. Unsafe, shameless. As someone else said, they should be sued. Do not buy!
+ 37 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
83%
Positive (4-5★)
4%
Neutral (3★)
13%
Negative (1-2★)