Is Merkury Smart a scam or a rip-off?
The reviews here do not prove that Merkury Smart is a legal scam, but they do contain serious scam and rip-off complaints. Reviewers describe cameras or recordings working poorly after subscribing, paid features feeling like a paywall after buying hardware, and products not appearing or pairing in the app. A cautious buyer should treat those complaints as a real risk, especially for security-camera use.
terrible when I first got the camera it would send so many damn videos to my phone even with a little bug hitting it now it won't show anything at all after I bought the subscription talk about a scam and yes notifications is on and everything is turned on for notifications and everything is turned on in the settings for it to record but it doesn't
set the app up easy enough but that was the only easy thing. when I tried to add the smart camera light I purchased it never found it. the funny part is it doesn't even show the product I bought on the app so I'm just guessing which one is the right one. it's almost like I am being ripped off
Should be half star application and cameras work great at first, but the minute the subscription goes, you miraculously start lagging. You can't see anything and immediately starts giving you alerts. Upgrade recommended more like you're holding people's cameras and stuff hostage until they pay for subscriptions I already paid for the cameras. Why should I have to pay for a subscription to look through my cameras? I should have read the fine print. They only work when you pay for the subscription
4
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Does Merkury Smart require a subscription to record video?
The app description says users can review recorded videos and photos, and it also says Merkury cameras have microSD support for local storage. However, reviewers repeatedly complain that useful video recording, longer clips, or camera settings feel locked behind a paid subscription, while others say recording still fails even after paying. If video evidence is the main reason you are buying the camera, the reviews suggest checking the exact recording limits and storage behavior before relying on it.
literally not worth the money gotta pay to even get a video recording so its a waste of money. because somone breaks into your car or house or room what ever u have being videoed ull get a picture but no video I didn't by a camera to snap pictures
10 bucks a month for 2 camera plan. Dont even record half the time. At night the camera are distorted. Avoid this.
I spent good money for 4 cameras. they don't trigger when a person walks by but triggers with every fkn mosquito that Flys by. not to mention it only records a 30 sec clip and all the useful options and settings are locked behind a subscription pay wall. u don't need cloud service, I use on board SD storage. what a complete waste of $250. I could have gotten the cheap Amazon ones again for 1/2 the price and have all the options without a cloud subscription.
2
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Does Merkury Smart charge after the free trial or make cancellation hard?
Billing and cancellation complaints are a major trust issue in these reviews. Reviewers say they were charged after canceling, pushed into a yearly plan after choosing something else, or unable to cancel a free trial. The reviews do not provide a reliable cancellation procedure; they mainly warn that users should watch billing closely and keep their own records of any cancellation.
this app does not work & when it does its not for very long. i cancelled the services 2-3 months ago. they went into my banking account & withdrew $70.00 regardless of the fact i cancelled. i was not contacted or asked if i wanted this service again & i definitely did not solicite their sevice. my money was taken from my account without my knowledge or permission to do so. I would have never authorized them to take any funds for my account because their service sucks.
the app will charge you for the yearly plan after the free trial is over. I chose the monthly plan when setting up this camera. I had even cancelled the subscription because it kept putting me back on the yearly payment plan And apparently it didn't cancel either and charged me for something I didn't choose and that I no longer wanted. And now refund feels like a runaround. i don't even want the camera now
This device is so hard to unsubscribe, i'm on a free trial and it will not let me cancel
3
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Will Merkury Smart connect or pair with my camera?
Pairing is one of the clearest pain points in the reviews. Users describe cameras not connecting to Wi-Fi, QR-code scanning failing, alternative pairing methods ending in errors, and devices asking to pair again after already being paired. Some reviewers say they tried resets, different phones, router resets, and the required Wi-Fi band without success.
bought two cameras and they will not pair. it doesn't read the QR code. I'm on 2.4 hz wifi. tried resetting the cameras, the app, tried on iPhone and Android reset my router. tried different apps. watched YouTube videos and asked chat gpt and I can't get these to connect. garbage.
would give it 0 stars if i could. got one of the small smart cameras, cant even connect to it. the camera straight up will not scan the stupid qr code to connect, and if i try the "alternative pairing method" it just says theres an error after loading for 5 minutes.
doesn't connect to wifi. can't even get past step one with this piece of garbage
3
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Does Merkury Smart camera live view work when you are away from home?
The app description promises remote camera access, but reviewers report unreliable live view. Complaints include live view not opening, cameras appearing offline even when the network and camera seem connected, and a camera only working when the user is home. That makes the app risky if your main need is checking a camera remotely.
when it is working it works great but most of the time the app won't open to live view
camera only works when I'm home!!?! DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!
wifi: ✅️ internet: ✅️ connected camera: ✅️ connected tablet: ✅️ commected Merkury Camera App: ❌️your device appears to be offline 🤦♂️ hell no i won't buy a second camera, I'm going to switch companies. i waste more time trying to get your services to work than i would if i just bought a real camera service.
3
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Do Merkury Smart motion notifications work correctly?
Motion alerts appear inconsistent in the reviews. Some users say the app sends constant false alerts, some say alerts arrive hours or days late, and others say movement is not detected or recorded when it matters. A positive reviewer also mentions frequent notifications likely caused by wind, so the issue is not only missing alerts but also noisy ones.
UPDATE:: APP DOESNT NOTIFY IF THERES MOVEMENT ON CAMERA.::after finally getting the camera to work I bought the 40 dollar plan and now my account is no longer available to log into!! youre better off getting a pricier set from another company! im going to Swann Security! surprise surprise support isnt available. >_> after hours support replied and was 0 help. Only gave the option to choose device for reason needing support and blamed the device for the app not working!
horrible it send notifications every minute that its detecting something and the camera won't even stay remotely where i need it to it watches the siding of my house versus my yard. it cries wolf literally every minute and its gonna be returned doesn't do anything I need it to watch
it's alright, lately ive been getting notifications late ALL DAY, I'll get them as they are happening but others I will get them HOURS later. it's exhausting
2
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Did a Merkury Smart update break SD card playback or camera recordings?
Yes, multiple reviews specifically blame a recent app update for SD card or recording problems. Reviewers say playback from the SD card stopped showing, clips could not be downloaded, and cameras that previously worked were effectively bricked. The complaints are especially important because users expected local microSD storage to reduce the need for cloud service.
Worked great for months and loved it until the July 2026 update that bricked my cameras. Why do they even have SD card slots at all if you can't view the files on them. Minus 5 stars. Cannot recommend. From Merkury camera web site and literature: Do you need a subscription to use Merkury products? All Merkury cameras have a microSD card slot for local video storage, so a cloud subscription is optional, but not required. False advertising, rip off.
New 3.19.0 update not working correctly. It's not allowing my sd card to show playback. I downloaded the older version and it works fine.
Zero stars if possible.Bought in 2021 security cam. Advertised SD recording over a costly DVR. Meticulously maintained & surge-protected for years; worked perfectly, until a recent app update ruined it. Not hardware failure, but a deliberate software bait-and-switch to force subscriptions. App reads my 28.85GB card but blocks clips with 'unable to download selected activity' error. Scripted support broke my Live View & dumped me in a queue. Will never recommend. Fix via firmware or 1 star stays.
4
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Does Merkury Smart still work with Geeni or older Merkury bulbs?
Reviews suggest compatibility is messy if you already own older Merkury bulbs or used the Geeni app. One reviewer says newer Merkury Smart bulbs only work in the Merkury Smart app, while older bulbs will not pair with it; another says new bulbs were not recognized by Geeni. Users trying to keep everything in one app may end up split between apps.
First off, app is not compatible with their old bulbs. I finally decided to throw out the other brand I had so I could have everything in one app. I had a lot of the Merkury Innovations bulbs so ordered more. the new labeled Merkury Smart bulbs only work with the Merkury Smart app and the older bulbs will not pair with it. The new bulbs won't pair with any of the old Tuya apps like Geeni or Smart Life so once again I'm living in two apps. I hate that. No widget with this new app either... dumb.
I had Merkury bulbs for a few years using the Geeni app and it worked great. I recently bought some new Merkury bulbs to replace a couple that stopped working. The Geeni app would not recognize the new bulbs so I had to download this app. I'm not sure if it's the app or the bulbs but it's garbage. Bulbs randomly go offline or disappear completely from the app only to reappear later on their own. Sometimes even when they show up and are online they are unresponsive.
horrible unsteady platform. stay away. wish they still worked with Geeni app. I am going to return all my merkury cameras I bought and purchase Geeni Csmeras
5
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Does Merkury Smart work well for bulbs, plugs, schedules, and rules?
The non-camera device reviews are mixed. A positive reviewer says the bulbs are easy and convenient, but critical reviews describe plug scheduling limitations, required phone permissions or connection, bulbs going offline, schedules not staying set, and color rules reverting to white. If schedules or automations are important, the reviews suggest testing those features before depending on them.
Far from "smart." You can only set recurring weekly schedules, not one-off timers, which require reminders to turn it off, defeating the purpose & unability leaving it plugged in. Requires constant Bluetooth/location access & active plug-to-phone connection to function, completely failing when disconnected. This makes it unsafe for critical use e.g. pet devices while away. Basic smart plugs should work independently on Wi-Fi & allow one-time future timers (others do). Major updated needed.
The app does not hold colors for set rules. When I set a color and press update, it goes back to previous screen and the color stays on 100% white. The customer service chat provided no help. Please fix the issues with your app.
I love this app and the bulbs. So easy and convenient to use.
3
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Can you get support from Merkury Smart if something goes wrong?
Support reviews are mostly negative in this sample. Users say support was unavailable, chat did not help, no one responded, or an advertised phone number could not be found. That matters because many of the problems reviewers describe involve billing, account access, recordings, or security events where quick support would be important.
I've already asked for help no one has responded wondering how long will it be before I get a response
I have 5 different Merkury Cameras and all were supposed to be recording to my cloud 24/7 and I was robbed of a large amount of money and Merkury hasn't done anything to help me get my recordings. There is suppose to be a 24/7 phone # you can call. its a lie! there is no # to call. do NOT waste your time or money on this company!
UPDATE:: APP DOESNT NOTIFY IF THERES MOVEMENT ON CAMERA.::after finally getting the camera to work I bought the 40 dollar plan and now my account is no longer available to log into!! youre better off getting a pricier set from another company! im going to Swann Security! surprise surprise support isnt available. >_> after hours support replied and was 0 help. Only gave the option to choose device for reason needing support and blamed the device for the app not working!
2
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Answers above are generated from real Google Play reviews of Merkury Smart, not editorial opinion — read the full report for the complete teardown.