Is the hikvision app really that bad?

Security Camera Brands Hikvision
1

I’m new to security cameras and considering Hikvision, mainly because it’s available in Canada and has good low-light capabilities. But the reviews for the app on iOS and Android are super negative – almost all low-star ratings. Is it really that bad to use? Did the people leaving reviews just set it up wrong? Or do most users end up using their own software like BlueIris instead?

Update: Got it working fine! Just had to lower the video settings so it doesn’t lag or buffer. Seems like too much data was slowing it down…

2

Works great for me! I’ve got two cameras and a doorbell. Low-light on these Hikvision cams is solid.

3

MarkJames4 said:

Rob said:
Works great for me! I’ve got two cameras and a doorbell. Low-light on these Hikvision cams is solid.

Which doorbell model are you using?

DS-HD2

4

The Hik-Connect app is just ‘okay.’ It’s pretty inconsistent between iOS and Android. Cameras that load fine on iOS can need a refresh on Android. Trying to view footage faster than 1X can be a pain, especially over the cloud. And yeah, the desktop IVMS app is rough – it can really slow down a high-end computer. But honestly, I stick with Hikvision because they have a camera for every setup, and they’re super reliable.

5

@StephieStephie
Check this out https://github.com/keshavdv/unifi-cam-proxy?tab=readme-ov-file

6

Never had an issue with Hik Connect.

7

HomeGaurd101 said:
Never had an issue with Hik Connect.

Yeah, same here with the Hik Connect app. I checked out Reolink’s reviews too – everyone on YouTube says it’s great, but the app reviews are just as bad.

8

@Kolby
People are quick to complain, hardly ever praise. For me, the alarms and cameras work perfectly, and I always get notifications.

9

Yeah, there’s a lot of negativity around Hik products. I’ve been running Hik Connect for years with 16 cameras on a 64-channel NVR and it’s been flawless.

10

Appreciate the feedback, everyone!

11

SkywardSorcerer said:
I use the iOS app, works smoothly. Haven’t heard any complaints from my Android clients either.

Same here! All my clients seem happy with it. The only minor issue is with the P2P connection sometimes. If you can, setting up a DDNS to connect directly to the NVR can make it smoother.

12

ScienceSavvySamantha said:
The app works fine… it’s just not very user-friendly like Nest or UniFi.

Does it have person detection or any smart features?

13

Works fine for the most part, but I get a green screen sometimes, might be because I’m on H.265.

One annoying thing – if you disable notification scheduling, you won’t get any events on the app. Like, I want push notifications only from 11 PM to 6 AM, but it doesn’t work right. I have to turn off push notifications each morning.

14

@Zachariah
That green screen happens because your phone struggles with decoding the video. Try turning off H.265+ or lower the max bitrate to match your camera’s resolution.

15

Aydin said:
@Zachariah
That green screen happens because your phone struggles with decoding the video. Try turning off H.265+ or lower the max bitrate to match your camera’s resolution.

When the app doesn’t load the cameras, could it be because the phone can’t handle the video, or is it an issue with the NVR’s processing or internet speed?

16

@Kolby
It’s usually a mix of wrong video settings or poor internet connection.

17

Aydin said:
@Zachariah
That green screen happens because your phone struggles with decoding the video. Try turning off H.265+ or lower the max bitrate to match your camera’s resolution.

Oh, I’m actually on H.265 (not plus).

18

@Zachariah
What resolution and framerate are you using, and what’s the max bitrate?

19

Aydin said:
@Zachariah
What resolution and framerate are you using, and what’s the max bitrate?

I use the sub-stream as default for HikConnect and switch to HD when needed.

Sub (default): 720p, bitrate variable, fps 30, max bitrate 2048.
Main: 2688x1520, bitrate variable, fps 30, max bitrate 8192, H.265+ off.

20

@Zachariah
Those bitrates are a bit high. Try setting your sub-stream max bitrate to 1024kbps and main stream to 4096kbps. You’ll still have good quality, plus a bit more storage.