Comparison

Action Camera Toolbox vs Video Buffer Pre

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Action Camera Toolbox

Control multiple action cameras from various brands like GoPro, Ricoh, and Xiaomi. Offers live preview, advanced scripting for custom scenarios like time-lapses and bracketing, and media download. Real camera support requires in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Control multiple action cameras
  • Live camera preview
  • Powerful scripting language
  • Download media from camera
  • Customizable camera settings presets
  • Exposure/focus bracketing scripts
Features
Read full description

The Action Camera Toolbox controls action cameras from different companies, including GoPro, Ricoh, and Xiaomi. The app offers live preview, multi-camera support, and a powerful scripting language, which gives you full control over the camera settings. Now you can write your own scripts for instance for exposure/focus bracketing, time-lapse, event driven scripts, etc. !!! Import - Read before download !!! The app ships with a free virtual camera device which you can use for playing around with the app and test the scripting language. Real cameras are available as one-time in-app-purchases. Please take also a look at the "Model information" section on http://www.tequnique.com/acthelp for device specific information (not all action cameras support everything!). +++ Supported models +++ - GoPro Hero 2 (with Wifi bacpac), Hero 3 (White/Silver/Black), Hero 3+ (Silver/Black), Hero 4 (Silver/Black), Hero 5, Hero Session, and Hero+. - Ricoh Theta m15 and Theta S. - Xiaomi Yi and Yi 4K. - In-device/system camera (e.g. front/back camera). +++ App features +++ - Change settings, start recording, change camera power state*, etc. - Live preview*. - Control multiple action cameras at the same time (including preview)*. This feature is currently only supported by Xiaomi Yi and Yi 4K and requires manual work. - Download media from the camera to your device*. - A powerful, Javascript-like, scripting language allows you to realize your own capturing scenarios. - Presets allow you to store different, and fast accessible sets of camera settings. *Note: The app features vary between camera models, and sometimes even between firmware versions. Check http://www.tequnique.com/acthelp for details. +++ Example use cases +++ - Change action camera settings without having to worry about privacy or deal with automatic sharing features found in stock action camera apps. - Control multiple action cameras. - Script custom camera scenarios for instance for exposure bracketing (e.g. for HDR), focus stacking, surveillance, time-lapse, repeating tasks, etc. - ... +++ Disclaimer +++ - We are not affiliated with GoPro, Ricoh, Xiaomi/Yi cooperation. - The app uses GPS to set the GPS coordinates for cameras which support this (e.g. Ricoh Theta).

About

Video Buffer Pre

Capture moments that have already happened with a pre-recording buffer. Save device storage and avoid tedious editing by recording only the highlights. Ideal for sports, events, or unexpected occurrences.

Highlights
  • Buffered video recording
  • Up to 100 seconds buffer time
  • DualCam Mode
  • 4K video quality
  • Apple Watch remote support
  • Slow-motion support
Features
Read full description

Record the action that happened before the shutter! Save your device storage and skip the tedious post-game editing! Never miss a moment again! Yes, it really records in 4K: up to 4K at 120 fps on recent iPhones (e.g. iPhone 17) and 4K at 60 fps on older models (e.g. iPhone 12), with your Apple Watch as a remote. We're all used to pressing the record button and capturing life as it happens. But what if you could record things that already happened, pressing the button to catch the last few seconds? That's what makes Video Buffer so unique — you set the buffer time and hit the record when something interesting happens. You haven't missed a thing and saved your time and device storage! Video Buffer can be vital in all kinds of ways: Sports coaches and parents can use the app to record in-game highlight moments as they happen. Physical Education teachers could use buffered video footage to analyze performance and settle disputes between players. Sports officials and referees can review their decisions using a Buffer Camera as a video assistant. Drivers can use Video Buffer as a Dashcam, recording unexpected events on the road without overloading device memory storage. Skateboarders can capture only good lands and save time scrolling through many similar frames on the camera roll. Parents can catch their kids playing, making it easy to record that funny interaction that might otherwise be lost. Nature lovers can save time and storage while filming astonishing lightning flashes or waiting for the animal to appear or strike a funny pose. Video Buffer features include: - buffered video recording that ensures you'll never miss a moment - long buffer time, up to 100 seconds - 3 recording buttons, each with adjustable buffer time - DualCam Mode - record front and back camera footage simultaneously - option to capture only the buffer - the recording will end & save automatically - 4K video quality: up to 4K 120 fps on recent iPhones, 4K 60 fps on older models such as iPhone 12 - custom video resolution and FPS (30-240) - portrait or landscape orientation - saving to iCloud or device folders with a custom prefix for the filenames - Apple Watch support — a remote on your wrist to make it easier than ever to hit that record button - Slow-motion support - gives sports and fitness trainers the best look at swing, ball movement, or technique. Note: Works only with some back cameras - set 240 FPS in Settings. If you've ever missed something because you couldn't hit a record in time, Video Buffer is the answer! Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Action Camera Toolbox4 screens
Video Buffer Pre4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Video Buffer Pre at 61% against Action Camera Toolbox's 0%. Video Buffer Pre also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.8) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months). Action Camera Toolbox's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Action Camera Toolbox sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Video Buffer Pre sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Video Buffer Pre holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Video Buffer Pre has 44 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Action Camera Toolbox's written reviews are positive against 61% of Video Buffer Pre's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Action Camera Toolbox ships an update every 7 months, Video Buffer Pre every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Action Camera Toolbox versus Video Buffer Pre: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAction Camera ToolboxVideo Buffer Pre
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (4 ratings)4.5 (44 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews60.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings444 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarald Meyermichal bojanowicz

Customer experience

Action Camera Toolbox

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Video Buffer Pre

All ratings44 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral6.8%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive60.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Action Camera Toolbox

One-time10
  • Enable scripting support for system (device) camera.$2.99
  • Enable ACT remote camera feature.$2.99
  • Enable GoPro Hero 4.$4.99
Show 7 more
  • Enable GoPro Hero 3 cameras.$4.99
  • Enable Xiaomi Yi.$4.99
  • Enable GoPro Hero Session.$4.99
  • Enable GoPro Hero+ camera.$4.99
  • Enable Xiaomi Yi 4K.$4.99
  • Enable GoPro Hero 5 camera.$4.99
  • Enable all current and future action cameras.$39.99
3 purchases

Video Buffer Pre

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Action Camera Toolbox free?
Action Camera Toolbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Video Buffer Pre free?
Video Buffer Pre is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Action Camera Toolbox or Video Buffer Pre?
Video Buffer Pre is rated higher. Action Camera Toolbox averages 1.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Video Buffer Pre averages 4.5 from 44 ratings.
Do Action Camera Toolbox or Video Buffer Pre have ads?
Neither Action Camera Toolbox nor Video Buffer Pre shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Action Camera Toolbox or Video Buffer Pre?
Action Camera Toolbox ships an update every 7 months, and Video Buffer Pre every 6 weeks. Most recently, Action Camera Toolbox was updated on September 23, 2026 and Video Buffer Pre on October 3, 2026.

Other comparisons