Comparison

MZed vs ShotDeck

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

Head to head
About

MZed

Access a library of film-making education courses on your mobile device. Download lessons for offline viewing and learn on the go. Offers a Pro subscription for expanded access.

Highlights
  • Film making education courses
  • Downloadable lessons
  • Offline viewing
  • Mobile access
  • Pro subscription
Features
Read full description

Watch MZed’s film making education courses on your iPhone or iPad with the official MZed app. Download lessons to watch offline and on the go. Terms of use - https://www.mzed.com/terms-of-service Privacy policy - https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/8137241

About

ShotDeck

Access the world's largest library of high-quality, searchable cinematic images. This tool aids directors, cinematographers, and visual artists in finding inspiration, conducting research, and referencing visual styles for film production. Explore detailed information for each image to enhance your creative process.

Highlights
  • Largest collection of cinematic images
  • Meticulously keyworded and searchable
  • Detailed image metadata (cast, crew, camera, lens)
  • Time-saving image discovery
  • Inspiration, research, and reference tool
  • Collaborative professional tool
Features
Read full description

Shotdeck is the largest collection of meticulously keyworded fully searchable high quality cinematic images in the world. Hello directors, cinematographers, designers, ad folks, film students and visual artists, you’ve just discovered your new secret weapon, the best collaborative professional tool for bringing your vision to life - from pitch, to prep to post. Each image has information on cast and crew, aspect ratio, framing, lighting, camera, lens, shooting location, and a dozen more. This time saving app will help you not just find the exact image you are looking for but allow you to discover ones that you never new existed. You'll wonder how you ever worked without Shotdeck. Inspiration - Research - Reference - Education - Discovery Start exploring Shotdeck totally free today and witness your vision come to life and your creativity reach new heights.

Screenshots

MZed4 screens
ShotDeck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MZed at 75% against ShotDeck's 29%. MZed also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). ShotDeck's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 17) and ratings volume (44 vs 8). On price, ads and device support 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. MZed sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $299.99 per year. ShotDeck asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MZed holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ShotDeck has 44 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of MZed's written reviews are positive against 29% of ShotDeck's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MZed ships an update weekly, ShotDeck every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
MZed versus ShotDeck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMZedShotDeck
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (8 ratings) — better3.2 (44 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better28.9% of reviews
Number of ratings844 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.2 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB78 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperThe Dorsia Group LLCFilmmakers Research Lab, LLC

Customer experience

MZed

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

ShotDeck

All ratings44 ratings
Positive47.7%
Neutral11.4%
Negative40.9%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive28.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative60.0%

In-app purchases

17 purchases

MZed

Subscriptions1
  • MZed Pro$299.991 Year
One-time16
  • Lighting People - On Location$44.99
  • The Language of Lighting$46.00
  • Cinematography for Directors$56.99
Show 13 more
  • The Art & Science of Lenses$57.99
  • How to Start a Podcast$90.99
  • Anamorphic Cookbook Part 2$113.99
  • Definitive Guide to Resolve$129.99
  • Panasonic EVA1 Camera Primer$149.99
  • ARRI AMIRA Camera Primer$149.99
  • The Secrets of Optics$149.99
  • Guide to DaVinci Resolve 18.5$170.99
  • ARRI Certified Camera Training$199.99
  • Filmmaking for Photographers$229.99
  • Art & Technique of Editing$249.99
  • Master the Moment$284.99
  • Mastering the Image$349.99
None

ShotDeck

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MZed free?
MZed is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShotDeck free?
ShotDeck is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MZed or ShotDeck?
MZed is rated higher. MZed averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while ShotDeck averages 3.2 from 44 ratings.
Do MZed or ShotDeck have ads?
Neither MZed nor ShotDeck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MZed or ShotDeck?
MZed ships an update weekly, and ShotDeck every 2 weeks. Most recently, MZed was updated on September 28, 2026 and ShotDeck on September 29, 2026.

Other comparisons