Comparison

Private Recorder vs Eclipse

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

Head to head
About

Private Recorder

Record audio and video discreetly and store it securely within the application. This tool offers password protection and file management options for your recordings. It's useful for documenting important conversations, lectures, or meetings.

Highlights
  • Record audio and video
  • Secure password protection
  • Organized file listing
  • Rename and delete files
  • Proof of conversations
Features
Read full description

Private Recorder provides a unique functionality to record conversations, meetings, and other audios/videos and store in a secret place inside the app. 
 Key features - 
*Record whatever you want. *Saved files are listed in the order of recorded date/time. *Secure recordings with a generic password screen.
 *Always has proof of key conversations “just in case.” *Delete or Rename file names so that you can save it with your choice. *Quite useful in the following situations: - during negotiations for important contracts - at crime scenes - during lectures or meetings
 And more important if you like the application, don’t forget to add/update your reviews.
 Thank you for your liking! Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Current subscription may not be cancelled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://tinyurl.com/28wr5nst

About

Eclipse

Capture photos and videos discreetly with a black screen, ensuring your privacy. This app offers advanced focus and stabilization for high-quality images, perfect for journalists, investigators, and privacy-conscious users.

Highlights
  • Invisible Mode with dark screen
  • Advanced focus and stabilization
  • High photo and video quality
  • Covertly capture moments
  • Ensures complete privacy
Features
Read full description

Every camera setting is free. 4K, your iPhone's top frame rate, burst, timers, silent capture. No trial, no unlock, no watching an ad to take a photo. Eclipse takes photos and video while the screen shows something ordinary. Tap anywhere to shoot, press a volume button, or fire the shutter from your Apple Watch while the phone stays flat on the table. FREE FOR EVERYONE - Black screen capture: the screen looks off while the camera runs - 4K and the highest frame rate your iPhone supports, up to 120 or 240fps for slow motion - Burst, self-timer, and a delay between shots - Silent capture, with a haptic instead of a sound - Volume button shutter, and an Apple Watch shutter (2 photos and 1 video a day) - A private album inside the app, locked behind Face ID - Audio-only recording with auto-stop, saved as .m4a - Slideshow playback - Home Screen, Lock Screen and Control Center shortcuts ECLIPSE PRO ADDS - Three more screen looks: your own image, a web page, a QR scanner - An unlimited private album, and no ads - Unlimited Apple Watch capture, and the watch's own capture settings - Widget backgrounds and icons you choose RESPONSIBLE USE Recording people without their consent is illegal in many places. Eclipse is built for recording your own surroundings, and you are responsible for complying with the law where you are. Eclipse PRO is an auto-renewable subscription: Monthly US$4.99 / Yearly US$29.99. Payment is charged to your Apple ID; auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24h before the period ends; manage in Account Settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://iphonehiddencamera.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://iphonehiddencamera.com/privacy/

Screenshots

Private Recorder3 screens
Eclipse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Eclipse at 4.6 against Private Recorder's 4.1. Eclipse also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 months). Private Recorder's advantage is ratings volume (231 vs 21). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Private Recorder sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per 6 months and Eclipse sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Eclipse holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Recorder has 231 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Recorder ships an update every 5 months, Eclipse every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Private Recorder versus Eclipse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate RecorderEclipse
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (231 ratings)4.6 (21 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings231 — better21
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB73 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperPradeep YadavPongYin Siu

Customer experience

Private Recorder

All ratings224 ratings
Positive74.6%
Neutral6.7%
Negative18.8%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative50.0%

Eclipse

All ratings21 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.5%

Bugs and requests

Private Recorder

Reported bugs

23 issues
  • Recordings have no sound
  • App stops recording when screen is off
  • App stops recording when switching apps
  • Noticeable recording indicator
  • No way to delete recordings
Show 18 more
  • No way to erase recordings
  • Paid for Pro, still asking to upgrade
  • Audio files have no sound
  • Cannot share recordings
  • App doesn't always play back recordings
  • Video recording doesn't work
  • Not secret, no black screen option
  • Useless silent sound feed
  • Takes money, doesn't work
  • App would likely have dangerous consequences for anyone using it to record privately
  • Horrible service
  • Scam alert
  • Unreliable
  • Not working properly
  • Use less
  • Camera only opens
  • Needs more development
  • Doesn't record with screen locked

Requested features

11 requests
  • How to share or delete recordings
  • Suppress orange mic indicator light
  • Set different app icon/name
  • Add a tracker for recordings
  • Keep recording secretly while screen is locked
Show 6 more
  • Make everything on the app free
  • Restore deleted voice recordings (recycle bin)
  • Continue recording while phone is off
  • Develop video recording for iPhone screen lock
  • Option for black screen while recording
  • Ability to use camera on lock screen

Eclipse

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Private Recorder

Subscriptions2
  • Upgrade To Pro$19.996 Months
  • Upgrade To Pro$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads and Unlock Share$23.99
5 purchases

Eclipse

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$4.991 Month
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time3
  • Coffee Tip$0.99
  • Cake Tip$2.99
  • Gift Tip$4.99

Questions

Is Private Recorder free?
Private Recorder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Eclipse free?
Eclipse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Private Recorder or Eclipse?
Eclipse is rated higher. Private Recorder averages 4.1 out of 5 from 231 ratings, while Eclipse averages 4.6 from 21 ratings.
Do Private Recorder or Eclipse have ads?
Private Recorder shows ads; Eclipse does not.
Which is updated more often, Private Recorder or Eclipse?
Private Recorder ships an update every 5 months, and Eclipse every 4 days. Most recently, Private Recorder was updated on September 29, 2026 and Eclipse on September 30, 2026.

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