Obscura vs HighLightIt! Technique
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Obscura
This camera app offers advanced manual controls and professional formats like ProRAW for enhanced photo and video capture. Its intuitive design and tactile interface allow for precise adjustments, while features like focus peaking and histograms aid in achieving stunning results.
- Manual exposure, focus, and white balance controls
- ProRAW, RAW, HEIC, and JPEG capture formats
- Live filters and multiple aspect ratios
- Histogram, focus peaking, and exposure clipping highlights
- Integrated photo library with editing and sharing
- Video and Live Photo capture
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Obscura V is a camera app packed full of features to help you take incredible photos. Obscura pairs a stunning design with intuitive controls that make taking photos a delight. — Over its 10+ years on the App Store, Obscura has been featured numerous times around the world, including as Editors’ Choice and App of the Day. — Design Obscura squeezes a bunch of powerful features into simple controls anyone can master. The interface balances aesthetics, ergonomics, and intuitiveness. You won’t want to use anything else. Controls can be reached with one thumb, and gestures and haptics combine to create a tactile experience that lets you stay focused on your subject. — Capture Modes & Formats Obscura captures photos, videos, Live Photos, and portraits. Photos can be captured in RAW, ProRAW, HEIC, and JPEG (on supported devices, see http://obscura.camera/compatibility). Capture images in multiple different aspect ratios, or apply filters live in camera for a wide variety of styles. — Camera Settings Obscura gives you control over exposure, focus, white balance, ISO, shutter speed, and flash, with intuitive controls that make you feel in control of your device’s camera. — Live Filters Obscura includes a bunch of great filters to give your photos instant style but you can also create your own and use them live in-camera. It’s very cool and very powerful. — View Options Obscura lets you display a grid, a spirit level, a histogram, focus peaking, a focus loupe, and exposure clipping highlights to help you understand every detail of what you’re shooting. — Photo Library Obscura has its own interface for browsing, rating, editing, and sharing images, but it’s fully integrated with your system photo library, so images captured with Obscura are available everywhere. — Obscura Ultra Obscura is free to use, with an annual subscription for premium features. See http://obscura.camera/ultra for full details. — I hope you love using Obscura as much as I’ve loved designing and building it. If you do, please consider subscribing to Ultra, leaving a review, or just sharing with a friend. All the best, Ben ———— Privacy Policy: http://obscura.camera/privacy Terms of use: http://obscura.camera/terms
HighLightIt! Technique
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HighlightIt! is your pocket technique-analysis tool — fast, simple and teaching-first. Record a clip, scrub to the moment that matters, freeze it, and highlight exactly what needs to change. Build clear phase-by-phase storyboards that players and students instantly understand. Coach-fast, not complicated No clutter. No timelines. No “Pro mode.” Just freeze the right moments and draw what matters. Record → Freeze → Phase → Frame by Frame → Teach 1) Record in-app Capture your swing, throw, jump, kick, strike or movement on your iPhone or iPad. 2) Freeze the key phases Scrub to the exact moment — address, backswing, top, transition, impact, follow-through (or equivalent phases for your sport). 3) Add clean, simple highlights • Arrows • Circles • Lines and reference markers • Flashlight emphasis 4) Build a technique storyboard A clear, step-by-step breakdown that shows the athlete exactly what’s happening and what needs to change. 5) Export (via iOS screen record) and share Send quick, professional clips to players, clients etc. Perfect for Every Technique-Driven Activity • Golf (swings) • Cricket (batting/bowling) • Rugby (passing mechanics, kicking technique, tackle entry) • Tennis (serve phases, forehand/backhand) • Athletics (starts, jumps, throws) • Dance & movement coaching If it has phases, HighlightIt! can break it down. Accessible for GCSE/A-Level technique work. Works brilliantly alongside HighlightIt! for macOS On iOS you capture, freeze and break down technique on the spot. On macOS you can perform a tactical analysis of performance. Same philosophy across both: Simple. Fast. Teaching-first.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: HighLightIt! Technique at every 3 days against Obscura's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Obscura sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 7 days and HighLightIt! Technique sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Obscura ships an update every 2 weeks, HighLightIt! Technique every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Obscura | HighLightIt! Technique |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (276 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 52.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 276 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18 | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 174 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ben McCarthy | Darrell Cobner |
Bugs and requests
Obscura
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes when trying to use Pro Raw mode
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between lenses
- Manual settings randomly resetting
- Photos not saving properly
- Freezing and black screen issues
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to save custom camera settings
- Variable zoom function in pro mode
- Separate manual control for exposure and ISO
- Dedicated selfie button
- Live audio capture for Live Photos
HighLightIt! Technique
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Obscura
- Obscura Ultra - Weekly$1.497 Days
- Obscura Ultra - Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Obscura Ultra7 Days trial$24.991 Year
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- Obscura Ultra Upgrade1 Year trial$24.991 Year
- Obscura Ultra - One Time$74.99
HighLightIt! Technique
- HighLightIt! (monthly)7 Days trial$0.991 Month
- HighLightIt! (annually)7 Days trial$9.991 Year
Questions
Is Obscura free?
Is HighLightIt! Technique free?
Do Obscura or HighLightIt! Technique have ads?
Which is updated more often, Obscura or HighLightIt! Technique?
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