Customer Reviews (500)

strix1 • 2025-03-25T02:06:59-07:00

Every time I open the app, it does one of two things, 1) it opens with the login screen 2) it opens with the splash screen and just locks. I have to completely close the app and reopen it for it to take me to the Home Screen with my cameras. And since the 7.0.0 update, randomly on the Home Screen, neither camera has a “live” or “playback” button. Have uninstalled and reinstalled the app a few times, it does this every 3-5 times and I have to close the app and go back in about 2-3 times. I did not get any feedback on my last review, so not expecting it now. Using latest iOS always, iPhone 15P Max, Z-App 7.0.0

corf2301 • 2025-03-16T07:17:40-07:00

My cameras miss a lot. My daughter came to see me and my cameras completely missed her and my granddaughter both coming and going. Not reliable.

Mick0420 • 2025-03-11T12:03:14-07:00

Seriously, what’s the issue now Zmodo? Why can my camera connect this time. It’s been just fine until the app updated last. Now, it just keeps so the buffering circle until it times out. Yes my internet is on, no, I should not have uninstall and reinstall and go through all that setup again. Stop playing! I pay for the cloud services for this too

Summary of Key Insights

The Zmodo app suffers from significant usability and reliability issues, resulting in a largely negative user experience. While some users find the cameras affordable and easy to set up initially, the app's instability, frequent crashes, and connectivity problems overshadow any potential benefits. The overwhelming sentiment is negative, driven by frustrations with app functionality, customer support, and the forced subscription model. The app has a low overall rating, with a disproportionately high number of 1-star reviews. Key strengths are affordability of the cameras and ease of initial setup, but these are negated by the app's numerous flaws.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: The reviews span a significant period, with reviews from as early as 2020 up to March 2024. This suggests long-standing issues.
  • Analysis Methods: The analysis was performed through qualitative assessment of the reviews, focusing on identifying recurring themes, sentiment expressed, and feature requests. Quantitative metrics were derived from the score distribution. Keyword extraction was used to identify frequently mentioned issues and features.

Key User Pain Points

  • App Instability and Crashes: Many users report frequent app crashes, freezing, and an inability to open the app. This makes the cameras unreliable for security purposes.
  • Connectivity Issues: Cameras frequently disconnect from the app and WiFi, requiring constant resetting and reinstallation. This is a major source of frustration.
  • Login Problems: Users experience difficulty logging in, with the app often failing to recognize usernames or send password reset emails.
  • Poor Playback Functionality: Playback is often glitchy, skips, freezes, or fails to load entirely. The time stamps are often inaccurate. Users express difficulty navigating playback footage.
  • Motion Detection Inconsistencies: The motion detection feature is unreliable, failing to capture important events while triggering alerts for irrelevant activity.
  • Forced Subscription Model: Users are pressured to purchase cloud subscriptions, with features being removed or limited for non-subscribers. The subscription cost is perceived as high, especially given the app's poor performance.
  • Lack of Customer Support: Users report difficulty contacting customer support, with limited or unhelpful responses.
  • iPad Incompatibility: The iPad version of the app is often buggy and lacks features compared to the iPhone version.
  • Advertisements: Users are annoyed by frequent in-app advertisements, especially since they have already paid for the hardware.
  • Firmware Issues: Recent updates have seemingly made the app and cameras worse, rather than improving them.
  • Cameras not working after free trial: Users reported that after the free trial, the cameras stopped working and the app kept asking for more money.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved App Stability and Performance: Fix crashes, freezing, and connectivity issues.
  • More Reliable Motion Detection: Improve the accuracy and consistency of motion detection.
  • Better Playback Controls: Add fast forward, rewind, and scrubbing functionality to playback.
  • Improved iPad Support: Optimize the app for iPad, including landscape viewing and feature parity with the iPhone version.
  • Option to Disable Advertisements: Allow users to disable in-app advertisements.
  • Local Storage Option: Provide an option for local storage, rather than relying solely on cloud subscriptions.
  • HomeKit Integration: Integrate with Apple HomeKit for seamless smart home control.
  • Two-Way Audio Fixes: Improve the reliability of two-way audio communication.
  • Customizable Notification Sounds: Allow users to choose custom notification sounds.
  • Ability to View Multiple Cameras Simultaneously: Allow for viewing multiple cameras on the same screen.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Affordable Cameras: The cameras are generally considered affordable compared to competitors.
  • Easy Initial Setup: Some users find the initial setup process to be relatively easy.
  • Decent Image Quality: Some users find the image quality to be acceptable, though not exceptional.
  • Good for Basic Monitoring: Some users find the system adequate for basic monitoring needs, such as checking on pets or elderly parents.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address App Instability: Fix the frequent crashes, freezing, and connectivity issues that plague the app. This is the most critical issue affecting user experience.
  • Improve Login Reliability: Resolve login problems and ensure that password reset emails are sent promptly.
  • Enhance Playback Functionality: Fix playback glitches, improve navigation, and ensure accurate timestamps.
  • Fix Motion Detection Issues: Improve the accuracy and consistency of motion detection to reduce false alarms and missed events.
  • Improve Customer Support: Provide more responsive and helpful customer support.

Medium Priority:

  • Optimize iPad Support: Address the bugs and feature gaps in the iPad version of the app.
  • Reduce Advertisements: Reduce the frequency and intrusiveness of in-app advertisements.
  • Offer Local Storage Option: Provide an option for local storage to reduce reliance on cloud subscriptions.
  • Address Firmware Issues: Resolve issues caused by recent firmware updates.

Low Priority:

  • Add HomeKit Integration: Integrate with Apple HomeKit for seamless smart home control.
  • Implement Customizable Notification Sounds: Allow users to choose custom notification sounds.
  • Implement Better Two-Way Audio Functionality: Improve the reliability of two-way audio communication.
  • Allow Multiple Camera Viewing: Allow for viewing multiple cameras on the same screen.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Alternative Camera App: Develop a third-party app that supports Zmodo cameras but offers a more stable and user-friendly experience.
  • Enhanced Motion Detection Service: Create a service that uses AI to improve the accuracy of motion detection for Zmodo cameras.
  • Local Storage Solution: Develop a device that allows Zmodo cameras to store footage locally, bypassing the need for a cloud subscription.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preferences: The majority of reviews are in English, but there are some reviews in Spanish.
  • Shift in Sentiment: There's a clear trend of declining user satisfaction over time, with many users reporting that the app has become worse with recent updates.
  • Recurring Problems: Some issues, such as connectivity problems and login difficulties, have been present for years, indicating a lack of effective problem-solving by the developers.
  • Frustration with Forced Subscriptions: Users are increasingly frustrated with the forced subscription model and the removal of features that were previously available for free.

Conclusion

The Zmodo app is currently underperforming and needs significant improvements to meet user expectations. The app's instability, connectivity problems, and forced subscription model are major sources of frustration. By addressing these issues and implementing the recommended improvements, Zmodo can significantly enhance the user experience and improve its reputation. Without these changes, users are likely to continue seeking alternative camera systems.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zmodo/id1020070571?uo=2