Comparison

Focos Live vs Protake

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

Head to head
About

Focos Live

Create professional-looking cinematic videos with advanced editing tools. Achieve DSLR-like depth effects and bokeh, with precise control over focus and aperture. Enhance your footage with multi-layer editing, speed ramping, and chroma key.

Highlights
  • Cinematic video with depth data
  • Adjustable aperture up to f/1.4
  • Continuous focus point change
  • Simulated aperture diaphragms for bokeh
  • Multi-layer video editing
  • Speed ramping and video reverse
  • Industrial-grade chroma key
Features
Read full description

Take cinematic videos same as iPhone 13 for all dual / triple / LiDAR camera iPhones and iPads. Focos Live offers master class video editing capability, amplified flexibility, and more functionality than any App that you may have tried before. With keyframe and adjustment layers for all options and easily navigable options for both beginners and experts. With the functionality of taking cinematic videos with wide aperture and bokeh effect for dual camera & triple camera iPhone, Focos Live is the next big thing when it comes to computational photography. With Focos Live, you can make limitless customization of any cinematic video that you create, and you can even change the aperture as many times as you wish. MAIN FEATURES - Cinematic video-capable, with depth data on dual camera, triple camera, LiDAR and front Face ID camera. - Taking videos with the aperture up to f/1.4. - Focus point continuous change functionality for tracking object and aperture size. - Multi-choice simulated aperture diaphragms for generating different bokeh spot effects - Multi-layer feature for fitting at least 4 different videos on a single screen. - Adjustment layer for each option. - Speed ramping and video reverse capability for creating custom-made videos. - Industrial-grade chroma key can perfectly knockout the hair & feather for the green/blue screen video. - Video stabilizer can remove the shaking issue for all existing videos. - Mask, Blur, Bokeh and Tilt-shift effects. - Text animations can make your videos look cooler. - Standalone audio editor for managing music and sounds. - Video export feature; for exporting videos as screenshot, animated GIF, or 4K&60fps. - Eligible for importing 3DL and CUBE files as custom files. - Essential tool for iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro & iPad Pro with LiDAR. Focos Live is an App that should be on everyone's iPhone and iPad.

About

Protake

This app offers professional cinema camera features for mobile devices, enabling advanced video recording and monitoring. It includes features like Wi-Fi video transmission, multiple recording modes, and sophisticated color grading tools.

Highlights
  • Wi-Fi Video Transmission
  • Multiple Recording Modes (AUTO, PRO, DUAL, PORTRAIT)
  • LOG Gamma Curve & Cinematic Looks
  • Advanced Monitoring Tools
  • Composition & Exposure Assistants
  • Frame Rate Normalization
  • Standard File Naming & Metadata
Features
Read full description

Protake brings the filmmaking experience of professional cinema cameras to your mobile devices. No matter you're a daily vlogger, a commercial director, or a well-established filmmaker, you will benefit from Protake's features, including: # [NEW] WI-FI VIDEO TRANSMISSION · In the landscape orientation of AUTO and PRO modes, you can start the brand new Wi-Fi Video Transmission system. · You can transmit the video from 1 "camera" to 4 "monitors" (yes, we're talking about iPhones and iPads). · You can watch up to 4 "cameras" on 1 "monitor". · You can wirelessly start and stop the recording of all "cameras". · You can even monitor HDR and SDR video streams on the same screen. · It's a ground-breaking end-to-end mobile recording and monitoring experience. · It's brought to you by Protake. # MODES · AUTO mode: a mode optimized for vloggers and YouTubers, you can use it single-handedly. · PRO mode: a mode designed for professional filmmakers. All the camera information and control settings are well aligned on the screen. · DUAL mode: recording video with two cameras working at the same time. Recorded in one file as Picture in Picture or two files. · PORTRAIT mode: with iPhone Pro and iPad Pro's LiDAR sensor and the devices' powerful processors, you can record "portrait mode video" with real-time blurred background. # COLOR · LOG: it's not only a genuine LOG gamma curve -- we strictly matched your mobile device's color to the industrial standard - ALEXA Log C. · Cinematic Looks: we provided a dozen of cinematic looks for filmmakers -- the styles are categorized into Neutral Styles, Film Emulation (classic Kodak and Fuji cinema film), Movie Inspired (blockbusters and indie masterpieces), and ALEXA Looks. # ASSISTANTS · Monitoring tools: Waveform, Parade, Histogram, RGB Histogram, Audio Meter. · Composition assistants: Aspect Ratios, Safe Area, Thirds, Crosshairs, and 3-axis Horizon Indicators. · Exposure assistants: Zebra Strips,False Color, Exposure Compensation, Auto Exposure. · Focus assistants: Focus Peaking and Auto Focus. · Recording: Record Beeper, Record Flash, Volume Key Record. · Zooming and Focusing: A-B Point. # DATA · Frame Rate Normalization: Mobile devices don't have perfect frame rate control, therefore, it's easy to get non-standard variable frame rate. Protake solves this problem fundamentally and makes strictly constant FPS of 24, 25, 30, 60, 120, etc. · File-naming: All the video files saved by Protake use the standard naming system: Camera Unit + Reel Number + Clip Count + Date + Suffix. It's something like "A001C00203_200412_IR8J.MOV"... Sounds familiar? · Metadata: Everything including device model, ISO, shutter angel, white balance, lens, connected accessories, location, are all well recorded in the file's metadata. · Time code: We provided both options for you -- Free Run and Record Run. It's compatible with your cinema cameras. # Protake+ · With a Protake+ membership, you can use all the features, including: Pro mode, LOG gamma curve, Protake Cinematic Looks, all the assistant tools, data management, 3rd-party accessories. · Protake+ provides 1-year membership for you to purchase; · Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase; · Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period; · Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period; · The renewal price for 1-year membership is USD 19.99. · You can manage your subscription and switch off the auto-renewal by accessing your Account Settings after purchase; · All personal data is handled under the terms and conditions of Protake’s privacy policy. More details can be found here: https://terms.alicdn.com/legal-agreement/terms/platform_service/20220621172324148/20220621172324148.html https://terms.alicdn.com/legal-agreement/terms/privacy/20220704104156634/20220704104156634.html

Screenshots

Focos Live4 screens
Protake4 screens

Verdict

The call

Focos Live and Protake both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 56% of Focos Live's written reviews are positive against 41% of Protake's. Focos Live also leads on ratings volume (5.5K vs 1.3K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Focos Live sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Protake sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Focos Live against 4.5 for Protake. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.5K and 1.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of Focos Live's written reviews are positive against 41% of Protake's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focos Live ships an update monthly, Protake every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Focos Live versus Protake: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocos LiveProtake
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (5.5K ratings)4.5 (1.3K ratings)
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews — better40.7% of reviews
Number of ratings5.5K — better1.3K
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.1
Further details — not scored
Size175 MB75 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperMosaic S.r.l.Beijing Lingguang Zaixian Information Technology Limited

Customer experience

Focos Live

All ratings5,461 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral3.0%
Negative8.6%
Written reviews1,243 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral6.0%
Negative38.5%

Protake

All ratings1,337 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral4.2%
Negative8.9%
Written reviews410 reviews
Positive40.7%
Neutral17.6%
Negative41.7%

User reviews

Focos Live

From 5.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful video editing features
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 💡 Unique portrait mode video capabilities
  • 🎨 Great creative tools and effects
  • 🎥 Cinematic video quality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🔒 Paywall restricts core functionality
  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 🔍 Lack of stabilization options
  • 📽️ Limited export resolution

Protake

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great image stabilization
  • 👍 Excellent UI and easy to use
  • 🎨 Impressive color grading and LOG profiles
  • 📹 Supports 1.33 anamorphic lenses
  • 🔍 Powerful manual controls (focus, zoom, exposure, ISO)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches (crashes, audio issues, frame rate drops)
  • 🔒 Subscription-based model, no one-time purchase option
  • 🔍 Lack of advanced manual controls (no auto ISO, bitrate control)
  • 🔌 Requires internet connection to use pro features
  • 🤖 Limited support for accessories (gimbals, external mics)

Bugs and requests

Focos Live

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Sound not recording in some videos
  • Imported videos not recognized as portrait mode
  • Editing tools becoming unresponsive
  • Exported videos losing quality and focus
  • Inconsistent performance across devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add slow motion video capture
  • Improve text and title editing tools
  • Implement autosave and project backup
  • Allow adjusting aperture in post-processing
  • Expand audio editing capabilities

Protake

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Videos not saving properly
  • Subscription not working as expected
  • Stabilization issues in 4K Pro mode
  • Unexpected errors and crashes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add 4K 60fps video recording
  • Implement remote camera monitoring and control
  • Allow manual microphone selection
  • Provide more flexible stabilization options
  • Add support for more gimbal and accessory integrations

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Focos Live

Subscriptions10
  • Focos Live Pro Weekly7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Focos Live Premium$2.997 Days
  • Focos Live with Free Trial7 Days trial$2.997 Days
Show 7 more
  • Focos Live Pro Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Focos Live Pro Weekly7 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Weekly no Free Trial$3.997 Days
  • Weekly with Free Trial7 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Weekly Bundle with Free Trial7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Weekly Bundle no Free Trial$9.997 Days
  • Yearly Bundle with Free Trial7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time3
  • Monthly subscription$1.99
  • Yearly subscription$8.99
  • Lifetime unlimited access$14.99
4 purchases

Protake

Subscriptions1
  • Protake+ (1 Year)1 Year trial$19.991 Year
One-time3
  • Protake Cloud: 60 Minutes$4.99
  • Protake Cloud: 180 Minutes$9.99
  • Protake Cloud: 480 Minutes$19.99

Questions

Is Focos Live free?
Focos Live is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Protake free?
Protake is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focos Live or Protake?
Focos Live and Protake are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5.5K and 1.3K ratings respectively.
Do Focos Live or Protake have ads?
Neither Focos Live nor Protake shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focos Live or Protake?
Focos Live ships an update monthly, and Protake every 2 months. Most recently, Focos Live was updated on September 22, 2026 and Protake on September 23, 2026.

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