Comparison

BMC Convention vs Subliminal

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

Head to head
About

BMC Convention

Read full description

This is the official app for the Blackpool Magic Convention

About

Subliminal

Generate AI-powered images that creatively reveal a spectator's thought-of word. This tool integrates with existing magic effects to provide a unique visual reveal, leaving a memorable keepsake.

Highlights
  • AI-generated hidden text images
  • Photo grid reveal
  • Single image modes
  • Stretched and upside-down image reveals
  • Multiple input methods (gyro, voice, notes, web)
  • Integration with magic apps and APIs
  • URL triggers for automation
Read full description

Magicians already have a bunch of ways to peek or force a word: From analogue methods like a Center Tear, to something more modern, such as WikiTest or DFB X. But what magicians *don't* have are many interesting ways to reveal that word. This is why I created Subliminal: Subliminal uses AI generated imagery to reveal a spectator's thought, hidden in a photo that they were looking at *the entire time*! ** Here's an example of one effect possible with Subliminal: - To begin, you show your spectator a photo on your phone. - You zoom in on the photo, before leaving your phone on the table and you never touch it again. - The spectator is asked to name a word. - You then ask the spectator to zoom out of the image, where they now realise that the word they named has been seemingly hidden within the photo the entire time. ** Subliminal also works perfectly with your existing effects! Let's say you've performed an effect (perhaps you’ve peeked a word) and have learned the spectator's thought-of word. Rather than just telling your spectator their thought, Subliminal lets you reveal this thought creatively! It's perfect in conjunction with existing analogue and digital effects, from a Center Tear peek to DFB. Features: * Photo Grid You show the spectator some photos in the Photos app on your phone. As you slowly zoom out, the photos turn into letters, which reveal the spectator's thought! * Single Image Modes Reveal the spectator's thought of word within a photo of dogs, windows on a street, the tops of mountains, and more! * Stretched Images Stretched image modes further disguise the reveal until the spectator looks at the screen at an angle, for a fun reveal. * Upside down stretched images Flip the phone upside down to see the hidden word. ** Multiple input methods are included, enabling multiple effects: - Gyro input - for precision typing. - Voice input - with voice peek. - Earworm Notes - a realistic notes app input. - Earworm Web Search - use covert web search input with Subliminal. - WikiTest integration - have the spectator’s Wikipedia search automatically update the image. - Bridge integration - for use with many other apps and AI text inputs. - Open API - for third party integrations. - URL triggers - use Shortcuts to change your iPhone's wallpaper, and more! As well as native WikiTest, Earworm and Bridge integration, Subliminal also supports your favourite magic app’s API. Plus, Subliminal can even be triggered via a URL, meaning Shortcuts can tie in with the app to change your iPhone’s wallpaper, and more! Subliminal currently supports any words or phrases that use the characters A-Z, spaces, and numbers 0-9. At the conclusion of the effect performed with Subliminal, you can even share the photo with the word to your spectator, leaving them with the memory of the effect on their phone! No extra hidden costs, purchases or subscriptions - Subliminal is all you need to generate your own hidden text AI images!

Screenshots

BMC Convention4 screens
Subliminal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BMC Convention at Free against Subliminal's $59.99. BMC Convention also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Subliminal's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and chart position (#200 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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

BMC Convention is free to download; Subliminal costs $59.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BMC Convention ships an update every 2 months, Subliminal every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on May 18, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
BMC Convention versus Subliminal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBMC ConventionSubliminal
PriceFree — better$59.99
Rating—4.9 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings—14 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
Best chart rank—#200 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB186 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua RileyMarc Kerstein

In-app purchases

None

BMC Convention

No in-app purchases

None

Subliminal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BMC Convention free?
BMC Convention is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Subliminal free?
Subliminal costs $59.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do BMC Convention or Subliminal have ads?
Neither BMC Convention nor Subliminal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BMC Convention or Subliminal?
BMC Convention ships an update every 2 months, and Subliminal every 4 days. Most recently, BMC Convention was updated on May 18, 2026 and Subliminal on September 12, 2026.

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