Comparison

Discreet vs Black Screen Camera

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

Head to head
About

Discreet

Capture photos and videos discreetly using a black screen or custom screen mode. Features include autofocus, image stabilization, 4K video, and Apple Watch control. Instantly launch the camera with a Lock Screen widget for quick access. Keep your media private with a secure, built-in gallery.

Highlights
  • Black screen camera mode
  • Customizable screen modes
  • Autofocus and image stabilization
  • 4K video recording
  • Apple Watch control
  • Lock Screen widget for instant launch
  • Private in-app gallery
Features
Read full description

The original top-rated Discreet Camera app for capturing photos and record videos discreetly without drawing attention. Thanks to the Black Screen Technology and the Custom Screen mode, you can shoot without lighting up your surroundings or interrupting the moment. Packed with powerful features—autofocus, image stabilization, burst mode, 4K video, Apple Watch control, and fully customizable commands—Discreet helps you capture sharp, well-composed shots even in challenging lighting. Never miss a moment: launch the camera instantly with the Lock Screen widget for quick access when timing matters. Whether you’re capturing a special memory without drawing attention or you simply prefer a more private, low-profile camera experience, Discreet is built for you. Perfect for concerts, live events, capturing evidences, street photography, and any situation where you don’t want a bright screen to disturb others, Discreet lets you capture photos and videos more subtly. Keep your photos and recordings private with a built-in gallery to store photos and videos safely. Your files are not uploaded to the cloud or to any server. Discover a better, more discreet way to capture the moments that matter with this secret camera recorder. Disclaimer: This app is not intended to violate the privacy of others. This is not a spy hidden camera . Please be aware of the laws in your area concerning using discreet image capturing devices and applications in your area. The developer of this application will not be held liable for the actions of any users. Always follow any applicable laws, rules, etc., regarding the use of imaging devices.

About

Black Screen Camera

This app provides a discreet recording experience by turning the screen black while displaying a clear REC indicator and timer. It offers quick controls for quality, duration, audio, and save location, with an in-app gallery and optional gallery lock for added privacy.

Highlights
  • Black screen recording
  • Visible REC indicator and timer
  • Customizable recording quality
  • Adjustable recording duration
  • Audio toggle
  • In-app gallery with lock
Features
Read full description

What is Black Screen Camera? Black Screen Camera is a privacy‑first recorder that turns the preview black while keeping a clear REC indicator and timer. You stay in control and everyone can see when recording is active. ### Why users love it - **Private preview:** The screen goes black during recording for discretion. - **Always visible REC:** Clear in‑app indicator and timer. - **Ready to record controls:** Quickly set quality, duration, audio, and save location. - **Front/back toggle:** Switch cameras in one tap. - **In‑app gallery:** Keep recordings inside the app or save to Photos. - **Gallery lock:** Face ID with optional passcode. ### Key features - **Quality presets:** 480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K (device dependent) - **Custom limit:** Pick hours and minutes with a rolling picker - **Audio toggle:** Record with or without microphone - **Save location:** Store in‑app or save to Photos ### Privacy, simply No ads. No trackers. Your recordings stay on your device unless you choose to share or save to Photos.

Screenshots

Discreet4 screens
Black Screen Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Black Screen Camera at 100% against Discreet's 55%. Black Screen Camera also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Discreet's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Discreet sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Black Screen Camera asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Discreet holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Discreet has 2.1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of Discreet's written reviews are positive against 100% of Black Screen Camera's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Discreet ships an update every 5 weeks, Black Screen Camera every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Discreet versus Black Screen Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDiscreetBlack Screen Camera
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (2.1K ratings) — better3.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews55.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.1K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarco D'AmelioDonald Cjapi

Customer experience

Discreet

All ratings2,072 ratings
Positive83.4%
Neutral7.4%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews469 reviews
Positive55.4%
Neutral13.6%
Negative30.9%

Black Screen Camera

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Discreet

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Video recording stops unexpectedly
  • Camera preview window cannot be disabled
  • Microphone permission required even for photos
  • Inconsistent video frame rates

Requested features

6 requests
  • Option to use custom wallpaper
  • Volume button controls
  • Zoom/wide-angle camera support
  • Higher video resolutions
  • Background recording
Show 1 more
  • Ability to recover deleted content

Black Screen Camera

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Discreet

One-time1
  • Unlock all features$9.99
None

Black Screen Camera

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Discreet free?
Discreet is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Black Screen Camera free?
Black Screen Camera is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Discreet or Black Screen Camera?
Discreet is rated higher. Discreet averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Black Screen Camera averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Discreet or Black Screen Camera have ads?
Neither Discreet nor Black Screen Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Discreet or Black Screen Camera?
Discreet ships an update every 5 weeks, and Black Screen Camera every 2 months. Most recently, Discreet was updated on October 16, 2026 and Black Screen Camera on October 2, 2026.

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