# Private Recorder vs Eclipse

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Recorder | Eclipse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (231 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-recorder/id1286814946/reviews) | **[4.6 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eclipse-black-screen-camera/id1631503497/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **231** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 7 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pradeep Yadav](https://appshunter.io/developer/1123417966) | [PongYin Siu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536337835) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Recorder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-recorder/id1286814946)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade To Pro | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Upgrade To Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads and Unlock Share | $23.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great simple app
- 👍 Works as intended
- 👍 Very easy and functional
- 👍 Good recorder
- 👍 Password protection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Eclipse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eclipse-black-screen-camera/id1631503497)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Coffee Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cake Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gift Tip | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*