With so many security apps available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—especially when trying to protect your home or business. That’s where gDMSS Plus comes in. It’s been a trusted surveillance app for years, helping users monitor their cameras, receive alerts, and stay connected to what matters most. However, with Dahua's recent release of a newer app called DMSS, many are left wondering: Is gDMSS Plus still worth using in 2025? Should you stick with the familiar or make the jump to something new?
To answer that, we took a deep dive—testing the app ourselves, checking the latest user reviews, and evaluating its performance today. Whether you’re a long-time user or setting up your very first CCTV system, this review is here to help you decide if gDMSS Plus still fits your needs.
What is gDMSS Plus?
gDMSS Plus is a mobile surveillance app developed by Dahua Technology, built to help you monitor your property from anywhere, right from your phone. It connects with Dahua cameras, DVRs, and NVRs, letting you view live video, replay recordings, receive motion alerts, and even control PTZ cameras remotely.
The app is available in two versions: gDMSS Plus for Android and iDMSS Plus for iOS. And now in 2025, they also provide a newer, unified app called DMSS, which is available on both Android and iOS with improved features and regular updates.
We tested the Android version ourselves, and while it’s not Dahua’s newest app (DMSS), gDMSS Plus is still fully functional, easy to install, and works reliably—especially for users with existing Dahua setups.
What It Promises
When you open gDMSS Plus, it promises remote access and control over your entire security setup—straight from your phone. That means:
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Real-time viewing of what’s happening at your home or business
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Playback of previously recorded footage
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Push notifications when motion is detected
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Control of PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras
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Easy setup via P2P or QR code scan
It’s basically your security control room… in your pocket.
Testing gDMSS Plus (Our Experience)
We gave gDMSS Plus a full test on a mid-range Android phone. Setting it up was surprisingly simple—we scanned a QR code on our Dahua NVR, and within minutes, we were watching live feeds from all our connected cameras.
The live view was smooth, and switching between cameras was fast. However, when we tried to play back older footage, the app occasionally lagged or froze. We also noticed that adjusting brightness didn’t always work—it sometimes reset or did nothing at all. That said, the app never crashed, and the basic functions worked just fine.
Overall, it did what it promised—but it’s showing its age.
Ease of Use
gDMSS Plus is easy to use—even for beginners. The app’s layout is simple and clean. There are tabs for Live View, Playback, Device Manager, and Settings.
Adding a new device takes just a few steps. You can scan a code, enter an IP, or use P2P. No confusing menus or technical terms.
If you’ve never used a security app before, this one won’t overwhelm you.
Connection & Playback Quality
Here’s where things get a bit tricky.
Live streaming works great with a decent Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. Cameras load fast, and video is clear.
Playback, on the other hand, can be hit or miss. Sometimes videos take too long to load or stutter. We also experienced a weird issue where the app would freeze mid-playback and need to restart.
If playback is something you use a lot, this might frustrate you, especially on older devices or slower networks.
Features That Work Well
Live View for Multiple Cameras
We loved how easily we could check on different spots all at once. Whether it was the front door, backyard, or store counter—everything streamed live on one screen. It felt like having a full security command center in our hands.
Push Notification
The alerts came in fast whenever motion was detected. We tested it by walking past a camera—and boom, our phone buzzed immediately. This made us feel a lot more in control, especially when we were away from home.
PTZ Camera Control
This was a highlight! Being able to move our camera left, right, up, and zoom in—all from the app—felt powerful. It worked smoothly on compatible cameras, and honestly, it was fun to use.
P2P Setup
No tricky network stuff here. We just scanned a QR code on the recorder, and everything connected in seconds. No port forwarding, no static IP drama—just plug and play. Super convenient!
Simple Interface
The layout is clear, clean, and easy to get used to. We didn’t need to dig through menus or figure out tech jargon. Everything made sense right from the start—even for someone new to security apps.
Snapshot and Manual Recording
We found it super handy to take a quick snapshot or start recording footage while watching live. Just one tap, and the image or video is saved right to our phone. It’s perfect when you want to save something suspicious without waiting for playback later.
Stream Quality Toggle
There’s an option to switch between HD and SD streams, and it made a huge difference when the network was slow. We could still keep an eye on things even with weak mobile data. A small feature—but one that saved us from endless buffering.
Features That Need Improvement
Brightness Adjustment Glitches
This one annoyed us. Sometimes when we tried adjusting the brightness of the live view, it just... didn’t work. It either froze or reset. For a feature that should be simple, it felt unnecessarily buggy.
Playback Errors
Playback is where things got frustrating. The app would freeze during rewind, or the footage wouldn’t load at all. We even had to restart the app a few times just to get it working again. Definitely needs a fix.
Account & Binding Issues
Setting up the account was okay, but connecting a recorder to our account wasn’t smooth. Some models worked, others didn’t—and when it failed, it didn’t tell us why. We had to search forums to figure it out.
Missing Event Playback
There’s no quick way to jump to motion events. We had to scroll through hours of footage manually, which felt outdated. A simple event timeline or filter would make life a lot easier.
No Access Control Options
We wanted to share access with family but not show them every single camera. Sadly, there’s no way to limit who sees what—everyone gets access to everything. That’s a big downside for shared setups.
Outdated Compatibility
Some of our older Dahua devices had trouble connecting or lost features after updates. It’s clear the app isn’t being optimized for older models anymore, which is disappointing if you’ve been using Dahua gear for years.
Login and Session Expiry
Sometimes, the app randomly logged us out—even with the "Remember Me" option checked. This wasn't a huge deal, but it was annoying to re-enter login info every time. For an app meant to run in the background, this kind of disruption felt unnecessary.
What Users Say
Users frequently discuss gDMSS Plus on Reddit communities like r/Dahua and r/cctv, revealing a mix of frustrations and appreciation.
Many users report issues such as:
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Account and connection problems: Multiple threads (1, 2) describe difficulties connecting the app to devices, especially when outside the camera’s Wi-Fi network.
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Playback and functionality bugs: Comments mention the app freezing during playback or failing to stream remotely (3).
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Security concerns: Older posts (4) discuss potential risks when accessing the app over the internet.
Despite these issues, some users still rely on gDMSS Plus for their older Dahua setups, though many recommend switching to the newer DMSS app for better stability.
Bottom Line
gDMSS Plus is still a decent choice, especially if you already use Dahua equipment and don’t want to switch. It’s easy to install, straightforward to use, and has enough core features to get the job done.
However, it’s definitely showing its age. Playback issues, feature gaps, and minor bugs make it less ideal for new users or more advanced setups.
Our Final Thought
If you're already using gDMSS Plus and everything works—stick with it. It's reliable enough for basic needs. But if you’re setting up a new system or want a smoother, more modern experience, try out DMSS instead. It’s Dahua’s newer app and is being actively developed.
And whether you're sticking with gDMSS Plus or switching to DMSS, you can safely download the latest APK versions right here on Fileion.