POLYCAM vs SHADR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
POLYCAM
Create unique visual effects by combining over 150 built-in filters. This app allows for real-time camera input manipulation, loading existing media, and exporting high-quality videos. Customize parameters with sliders, LFOs, or sensor data for interactive visualizers.
- Combine over 150 built-in filters
- Create and save custom filter chains
- Real-time camera input processing
- Load and export existing images/videos
- Adjustable filter parameters
- Interactive audio visualizers
- Full-screen output with smooth transitions
Read full descriptionHide full description
To create a custom filter, use the built-in basic image filters and combine them. You can also load previously recorded images/videos and record/export. Filter Custom filters are created by connecting filters selected from over 150 collections in series. For instance, you can do the following: Camera input-> [Mirror effect-> Monochrome effect-> Glitch effect]-> Display / Recorder The items inside [] are called chains and can be selected and rearranged as you please. This chain can be saved, and once created and saved, it can be loaded with one tap. There are so many filters that it is hard to find immediately, but you can find them by searching or categorizing. The filters include a built-in iOS filter called Core Image Filter (* 1) and a POLYCAM original filter created with Metal (* 2) shader. The Loop filter has a built-in feedback circuit that allows you to re-read the output of the previous frame, making it ideal for more experimental video generation and circuit bending. Generic filters such as StarShine, SunBeam, Lenticular Halo, and Gradient are also included, so you can create generated images. Output Full screen output without indicators of 4 outputs. HDMI, AirPlay, NDI®, Aether, are possible. Using smooth alpha transitions for almost all transitions, you can create a smooth production when projecting full-screen images using Outputs. Export If the source input is selected from photos or videos in the photo album, it can be asynchronously exported to the photo album. This is different from real-time recording at the time of shooting, and is written in non-real time for each frame. Smooth videos can be saved even at resolutions and settings that lack the power of the CPU or GPU. Parametrics Each filter has several parameters that you can adjust with the sliders to adjust the filter's balance and effect. Parameters can be automated with the LFO oscillator or random generator. You can also assign audio input peaks from microphones, accelerometers, gyro sensors, MIDI inputs, etc. for interactive control and create audio visualizers. Settings Camera select (internal / external, double, triple also available) Aspect ratio (Original, 1: 1, 3: 4, 9:16, 4: 3, 16: 9) Resolution (Original, QD, HD, FHD) Microphone gain NDI® on / off (*3) Aether wireless sender bit rate (*4) Tint color change Rotation lock Saving, sharing, and exporting Chains The created chain can be saved with the save button at the lower right of the chain table view. The saved chains are arranged in the collection view, and the chains can be loaded by tapping or dragging and dropping. You can share the chain by dragging and dropping it on the share mark. You can send it to macOS or save it to the File app. Exporting the settings will share the entire collection in the current chain. You can save all the filters you have created or share them with someone. (*5) Notes: *1 Core Image Filter Reference - Apple Developer https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/GraphicsImaging/Reference/CoreImageFilterReference/index.html#//apple_ref/doc/filter/ci/CIDiscBlur *2 Metal - Apple Developer https://developer.apple.com/jp/metal/ * 3 NDI® is a low-latency NewTek IP video library. It is built into various devices and applications such as macOS and Windows, and enables high-quality video communication by wireless or wired connection. https://www.ndi.tv/ (Currently, POLYCAM's vertical 9:16 transmission has a bug, but it works normally with other aspect ratios.) * 4 Aether is a low-latency, lightweight original IP video communication framework. It can be sent to Mac via wireless or wired connection and connected to Siphon for use in various applications. https://sites.google.com/view/aetherframework * 5 Chains and chain collections saved in the File app can be opened and read from POLYCAM when selected from the File app. Please send by AirDrop when sharing to other devices.
SHADR
Transform photos and blank canvases into unique visual art with a variety of creative styles. Refine your creations with expressive controls and discover new directions through generative randomization. Export still images or live photos and videos.
- Diverse and evolving collection of creative visual styles
- Generative randomization for discovering new directions
- Focused controls for refining composition, color, texture, and movement
- Still image export at native resolution
- Live Photo and video output
- Local projects and reusable presets
Read full descriptionHide full description
SHADR is a creative design toolkit for transforming photographs and blank canvases into distinctive visual artwork. Explore a growing collection of styles including ASCII Art, Dithering, CMYK Halftone, Pixel Stretch, Fluted Glass, Kaleidoscope, Flow Field, Kinetic Typography, Light Cast, Pixel Scatter, Surveillance Aesthetic, Glitch Art, Geometric Abstraction, Low Poly, Mirror Mosaic, Slice Effect, Out of Bounds, Linocut, Paper Marbling, Color Reconstruction, Contact Sheet, and Rebus. Each style is a focused creative tool inside one consistent editor. Import a photo or begin from a blank canvas where supported, generate new directions, shape the result with expressive controls, and move fluidly between different visual treatments. Features: - A diverse and evolving collection of creative visual styles - Generative randomization for quickly discovering new directions - Focused controls for refining composition, color, texture, and movement - Still image export - Live Photo and video output in supported tools - Local projects and reusable presets - Subject-aware treatments in selected tools Privacy Policy: https://shadr.studio/privacy Terms of Use: https://shadr.studio/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SHADR at Free against POLYCAM's $4.99. SHADR also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). POLYCAM's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#152 vs unranked). On 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
SHADR is free to download; POLYCAM costs $4.99 up front. SHADR sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. POLYCAM asks for nothing beyond the download.
SHADR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: POLYCAM has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
POLYCAM ships an update every 6 weeks, SHADR weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | POLYCAM | SHADR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Best chart rank | #152 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Narumi Inada | 伟滔 黄 |
Customer experience
POLYCAM
SHADR
In-app purchases
POLYCAM
No in-app purchases
SHADR
- SHADR Pro Annual$9.991 Year
- SHADR Pro Lifetime$24.99









