Customer Reviews (500)

PinheiroC • 2025-03-27T14:51:38-07:00

The smart plugs and the app are excellent. Very happy with the purchase and monitoring.

snotnosr • 2025-03-27T12:59:24-07:00

We love it. It has such a panoramic view !

Agunderson63 • 2025-03-27T08:25:06-07:00

Nice and simple, for me.

Summary of Key Insights

The TP-Link Tapo app enjoys a generally positive reception, with a significant majority of users awarding it a 5-star rating. Users praise its ease of use, good video quality, and affordable price point. However, there are recurring complaints regarding connectivity issues, notification problems, and the lack of specific features such as a dark mode, Apple Watch support, and customizable notification sounds. The app's large size is also a concern for some users. While the sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, addressing the identified pain points would significantly enhance the user experience and potentially attract more users. There are also some mentions of Tapo's integration with Kasa (another TP-Link brand) where users express concerns about the Tapo app lacking some of the Kasa app's features.

  • Overall Rating: High, with a strong skew towards 5-star reviews.
  • Key Strengths: Ease of use, good video quality, affordable price, feature-rich.
  • Key Weaknesses: Connectivity issues, notification problems, lack of desired features (dark mode, Apple Watch support, customizable notification sounds), app size.
  • Overall Sentiment: Positive.
  • Score Distribution: 5-star: 78.6%, 4-star: 6.8%, 3-star: 4.6%, 2-star: 3.4%, 1-star: 6.6%.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews.
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent based on the version number (3.9.506).
  • Analysis Methods: Qualitative analysis of user reviews focusing on sentiment, keyword extraction, and frequency of mentioned issues and requests. This analysis identifies recurring themes and patterns in user feedback.

Key User Pain Points

  • Connectivity Issues: Many users report issues with cameras going offline, unstable network connections, and difficulty reconnecting devices. This is a significant frustration as it undermines the core functionality of the app and connected devices.
  • Notification Problems: Users complain about excessive or delayed notifications, the inability to customize notification sounds, and the lack of preview snapshots in notifications. These issues can lead to notification fatigue or missed important alerts.
  • App Size: Several users mention the large app size (over 700MB, some even stating 1.5GB) as a concern, especially for an app with relatively simple functionality. This can be a deterrent for users with limited storage space.
  • Feature Limitations in Tapo vs. Kasa: Users who have used both the Tapo and Kasa apps note that the Tapo app is missing features available in the Kasa app, such as more icon options and the ability to add custom icons.
  • Difficulties with Video Download: Several users report problems downloading videos remotely or even when on the same network as the camera.
  • Widget Issues: Some users report that the widget stops working after a couple of weeks and requires them to sign back in even if they are already signed in.
  • Inability to Set Time Manually: Some users want to be able to manually set the time to adjust for daylight savings time.
  • Problems with Multi-Camera Live View: Some users find it cumbersome to set up a simultaneous live view of multiple cameras and request a feature to save and load live view configurations.
  • Battery Drain: Some users report that the app stays active in the background and drains the battery.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Dark Mode: A significant number of users request a dark mode option for the app.
  • Apple Watch Support: Many users desire Apple Watch integration for controlling devices and receiving notifications.
  • Customizable Notification Sounds: Users want the ability to set custom notification sounds to differentiate Tapo alerts from other app notifications.
  • Windows App/Desktop Access: Several users request a Windows app or a way to easily view cameras from a Windows laptop/desktop.
  • More Icon Options/Custom Icons: Users want more icon options for devices and the ability to add custom icons, similar to the Kasa app.
  • Improved Multi-Camera View: Users want an easier way to view multiple cameras simultaneously and save configurations.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Ease of Use: The app is generally praised for its user-friendly interface and straightforward setup process.
  • Good Video Quality: Users consistently report excellent video quality from Tapo cameras.
  • Affordable Price: The affordability of Tapo products is a major selling point.
  • Feature-Rich: The app offers a good range of features, including motion detection, two-way audio, and local storage options.
  • Reliability (General): Many users find the cameras and app to be reliable.
  • Seamless Integration: Some users find the app integrates well with other smart home ecosystems like Alexa and Google Assistant.
  • Customer Support: Some users praise the customer support for being responsive and helpful.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Connectivity Issues: Investigate and resolve the reported connectivity problems. This is crucial for maintaining user trust and ensuring the core functionality of the app. Implement better error handling and troubleshooting guidance within the app.
  • Improve Notification System: Fix notification delays, implement customizable notification sounds, and offer the option to include preview snapshots in notifications. Allow users to set up custom notification schedules.
  • Reduce App Size: Optimize the app's code and assets to significantly reduce its size. This will improve download speeds and reduce storage requirements.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Dark Mode: Add a dark mode option to improve the user experience, especially in low-light environments.
  • Develop Windows App/Desktop Access: Create a Windows app or a web interface to allow users to view cameras from their computers.
  • Enhance Multi-Camera View: Streamline the process of setting up and saving simultaneous live views of multiple cameras.
  • Fix Widget Issues: Address the issue where the widget stops working after a couple of weeks.
  • Improve Kasa Integration: Ensure feature parity between the Tapo and Kasa apps, particularly regarding icon options.

Low Priority:

  • Allow Manual Time Setting: Implement a feature to allow users to manually set the time.
  • Add Apple Watch Support: Develop an Apple Watch app for controlling devices and receiving notifications.
  • Improve Audio Quality: Address the issues with audio feedback and clarity.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Smart Home App Optimization Service: A service that analyzes smart home apps and provides recommendations for code optimization and asset reduction to minimize app size and improve performance.
  • Custom Notification Sound Platform: A platform that allows users to create and share custom notification sounds for various smart home devices and apps.
  • Unified Smart Home Dashboard: A dashboard that aggregates data from multiple smart home ecosystems and provides a unified view of device status and activity.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preferences: The majority of reviews are in English, but there are also a significant number of reviews in Spanish and other languages, indicating a global user base.
  • Kasa Integration Concerns: Users migrating from Kasa to Tapo express concerns about missing features, suggesting a need for feature parity or a unified app experience.
  • Positive Sentiment Despite Issues: Despite the reported issues, the overall sentiment remains positive, suggesting that users are generally satisfied with the app and its associated products.
  • Recent Update Problems: Several users mention issues arising after a recent update, highlighting the importance of thorough testing before releasing new versions.

Conclusion

The TP-Link Tapo app is a well-regarded smart home management tool, particularly praised for its ease of use and affordability. While the app enjoys a strong positive sentiment, addressing the identified pain points, such as connectivity issues, notification problems, and the large app size, is crucial for improving the user experience and retaining users. Prioritizing these improvements, along with considering frequently requested features like dark mode and Apple Watch support, will further enhance the app's appeal and solidify its position in the smart home market. The strong base of positive reviews suggests that the Tapo app has the potential to become a leading solution in the smart home ecosystem with continued focus on quality and user satisfaction.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tp-link-tapo/id1472718009?uo=2