PhenakistoScope vs RhythmReel
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PhenakistoScope
Create captivating animations by rotating disk images. Capture new images or import from your library, then fine-tune frame count and playback speed before exporting your creations as movies.
- Rotate disk-shaped animations
- Shoot new disk images
- Select images from photo albums
- Adjust frame count
- Adjust animation speed
- Export animations to movie format
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“PhenakistoScope” can rotate a disk-shaped animation. You can shoot a disk image or select it from Photo albums, adjust the number of frames and speed, and export it to a movie.
RhythmReel
This app synchronizes your videos and Live Photos with music, making them react dynamically to the beat. You can use existing clips or record new ones, and import audio files or let the microphone capture sound. It offers creative overlays and multi-clip functionality for engaging video creation.
- Real-time audio-reactive video playback
- Works with any video or Live Photo
- Record new clips
- Microphone input or import audio
- Live waveform visualizer
- Text overlay reacting to audio
- Multi-clip playlist mode
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RhythmReel is an iPhone app that makes your videos and Live Photos move to music. When the beat drops, your video jumps forward. When it quiets, it eases back. Pick any clip from your camera roll or record a short video in the app. Play music out loud through your speakers and the microphone picks it up automatically. Or import an audio file directly. Short clips work especially well. Live Photos are perfect. Free to download. A one-time purchase removes the watermark and unlocks high-resolution export. FEATURES • Real-time audio-reactive video playback • Works with any video or Live Photo from your camera roll • Record a new clip from the front or rear camera • Microphone input or import audio files • Live waveform visualizer overlay • Text overlay that reacts to the audio • Multi-clip playlist mode • Export as .mp4, share anywhere Made by Evan Roth, a Berlin-based artist whose work is in the permanent collection of MoMA.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RhythmReel at Free against PhenakistoScope's $4.99. RhythmReel also leads on ratings volume (8 vs 1). PhenakistoScope's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On rating, review sentiment 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
RhythmReel is free to download; PhenakistoScope costs $4.99 up front. RhythmReel sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PhenakistoScope asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PhenakistoScope against 5.0 for RhythmReel. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RhythmReel has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
PhenakistoScope ships an update daily, RhythmReel every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PhenakistoScope | RhythmReel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 8 — better |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Masayuki INOUE | Evan Andrew Roth |
Customer experience
PhenakistoScope
RhythmReel
In-app purchases
PhenakistoScope
No in-app purchases
RhythmReel
- Remove Watermark & High-Res Export$2.99
