Cyclops AR vs Byplay Camera
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cyclops AR
Visualize digital assets and architectural designs in real-world environments using augmented reality. Professionals can preview CG characters, set extensions, and building proposals directly on location, enhancing pre-production and design workflows.
- AR visualization of digital assets
- Real-time animation and lighting
- Google Maps integration with sun path
- Professional camera and lens matching
- Import/export with Unreal Engine
- AI People compositing
- Lidar for holdout geometry
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Cyclops is an advanced AR visualization tool for film/TV and architecture, relied on by industry professionals to easily visualize ideas in the real world. See digital creatures, set extensions or designs in context with actual sets, actors and locations. Scout building sites and design proposals aligned to real geography. Whether the content you are creating will be virtual or real, you can use Cyclops anywhere to provide a new perspective on the world. Use Cyclops anywhere to put your virtual ideas into real-world context. For VFX Crew Visualize CG characters, creatures and set extensions on set or on location, with simulcam-like capabilities in real time. Integrate VFX elements with powerful compositing tools. Preview, share and discuss how VFX elements will integrate into shots while scouting and shooting. For Directors, Cinematographers, & Camera Operators Block shots and create photoboards in AR or in Google Maps. “Find” shots by framing up virtual and real storytelling elements. Scout camera coverage, lenses and real locations to help prepare shot lists and shooting plans. Use as a digital viewfinder to properly review VFX shots with proper camera lens matching. For Designers & Architects Visualize architecture projects in AR to see and share how designs fit the real world. Visualize designs in Google Maps to explore and present a proposed build within the actual geography. Create scenarios for lighting or drop in posed humans to capture video with scale reference. Features & Tools: Import your own FBX/OBJ models or export assets and levels from Unreal Real-time animation, lighting and FX adjustment tools Search-and-explore via Google Maps, with correct sun path information Professional cinema camera & lens matching Scene organization tools, including outliner, layers and bookmarks Asset tools to move, rotate, & scale objects in the scene Take photos and record videos with metadata/camera data Export recorded cameras into Unreal Game controller support Range finder and measuring tape tool Robust animation playback controls – scrub, adjust playback speed, set in/out points, & more Built-in Photo and Video Gallery with custom info, metadata and sharing Seamless import/export with Unreal Engine Secure content delivery system AI People compositing Chromakey Scene Lidar for holdout geometry Built-in GPS alignment Point Cloud Anchor tools to correctly save and load CG models in real-world locations Scene-saving tools Create your own complex assets in Unreal with different color, texture, or material options Multiple operation modes, including Asset Mode, Shot Mode, VCAM Mode and Maps Mode Secure platform. All content is stored on your device with no rendering in the cloud. Hundreds of user-driven tools and features Additional Info: Cyclops is a subscription-based app. Multiple subscription levels and time frames are offered to fit user and project needs. Maps - access to Maps Mode only Assets - access to Maps and Asset modes Pro - access to all modes. You can enjoy a 1-week free trial. iOS or iPadOS 16 or newer is required. For the best experience with Cyclops, a 2021 or newer iPad Pro is recommended. Please see our website for more info, tutorials & support. http://cyclops.thethirdfloorinc.com
Byplay Camera
Easily create professional VFX shots with AR-powered video tracking. Get complete 3D scene data for Blender, C4D, or Houdini in seconds. Automates complex tasks for faster compositing and seamless integration into your projects.
- AR camera tracking
- 3D scene data generation
- Houdini, Blender, C4D integration
- Environment EXR export
- Custom NULL points
- Automated compositing tools
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Shoot video in AR and get complete Houdini, Blender or C4D scene in 60 seconds. Camera tracking, coloured point cloud, environment EXR, custom NULL points - everything to make your VFX shots as quickly and easily as never before No manual work, no sending files around Lock white balance and auto focus for easiest compositing Use our plugins or just take provided FBX files HOW IT WORKS: 1. You shoot a video in the app 2. AR records camera movement and all possible scene data, including EXR and point cloud 3. Video is uploaded to our cloud, where it is stored on secure servers and is never shared with anybody. We preprocess mp4 file to make it easier to use and remove shaking 4. You install Byplay desktop and choose which plugins you want - for Blender, C4D or Houdini 5. You select the video and click "download" to sync it to your computer. Byplay desktop splits it to frames and makes available for plugins 6. You open a VFX package of you choice and load the ready to use scene with one button 7. Done! MEMBERSHIP TRIAL AND SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Start your Byplay Camera membership with a free 7-day trial. Once the trial is over, you’ll be charged subscription fee. Your membership will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can go to your Settings > iTunes Account & App Store > Apple ID > Subscriptions to manage your membership and turn auto-renew off. Your iTunes Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. Read more about our terms and conditions here — https://byplay.io/app-tos Read more about our privacy policy here — https://byplay.io/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Byplay Camera at free with in-app purchases against Cyclops AR's subscription. Byplay Camera also leads on ratings volume (17 vs 3). Cyclops AR's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Cyclops AR sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Byplay Camera sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.7 for Cyclops AR against 3.7 for Byplay Camera. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Byplay Camera has 17 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 67% and 67% positive.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cyclops AR | Byplay Camera |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (3 ratings) | 3.7 (17 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 17 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 442 MB | 103 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Third Floor, Inc | BYPLAY LLC |
Customer experience
Cyclops AR
Byplay Camera
In-app purchases
Cyclops AR
- Maps Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Assets Weekly7 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Maps 6 Months7 Days trial$5.996 Months
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- Pro Weekly7 Days trial$9.997 Days
- Maps Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Assets Monthly7 Days trial$14.991 Month
- Pro Monthly7 Days trial$24.991 Month
- Assets 6 Months7 Days trial$79.996 Months
- Pro 6 Months7 Days trial$124.996 Months
- Assets Yearly7 Days trial$150.001 Year
Byplay Camera
- One month of unlimited videos7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Byplay Unlimited, monthly$9.991 Month
- One year of unlimited videos7 Days trial$34.991 Year
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- Byplay Unlimited, yearly$39.991 Year







