Comparison

Focalware vs Understudy

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

Head to head
About

Focalware

This app helps photographers and filmmakers visualize the sun and moon's path and height for any location and date. It provides rise/set times, azimuth, elevation, and moon phases, with an interactive compass and map for planning outdoor shoots.

Highlights
  • Sun/Moon position calculation
  • Interactive compass and map
  • Rise and set times
  • Azimuth and elevation data
  • Moon phase tracking
  • Custom location saving
Features
Read full description

Focalware calculates sun and moon position for a given location and date. Use the interactive compass to determine the path and height of the sun or moon. Photographers and filmmakers who are always asked by their clients for the sun, moon and stars, can now deliver. Features - Support for compass on devices that have one - Integrated map for custom locations - Sun/Moon rise and set times - Sun/Moon azimuth and elevation - Moon phase - Magnetic declination - Results shown graphically or on a list - Location list of major world cities - Manually create and save a list of custom locations - GPS support - Calculate sun/moon position for today or any date in the future - Works with current location or anywhere in the world "Focalware offers unrivaled accuracy and ease of use to photographers shooting outdoors. To say I use it a couple of times a day is an understatement!" --Moose Peterson, Wildlife Photographer "A very slick little app, and a landscape photographer's new best friend." --Scott Kelby, Editor of Photoshop User Magazine "As a nature photographer who spends much of my time photographing locations with no cell or wifi coverage, Focalware is essential to my ability to plot and plan for the sun and moon’s arrival and departure, no matter where I am." --Gary Hart, EloquentImages.com Rated one of the 10 most useful iPhone Apps for Photographers by Pop Photo.

About

Understudy

This app transforms a spare iPhone into a customizable prop phone for film and video production. Create realistic lock screens, scripted message conversations, and on-cue incoming calls. It's designed to keep the screen awake during long takes, ensuring seamless filming.

Highlights
  • Customizable lock screen
  • Scripted message conversations
  • Triggered incoming calls/texts
  • Short-form video feed
  • Screen stays awake
  • Built-in editor
Features
Read full description

Understudy turns a spare iPhone into a camera-ready prop phone for film and video production. Stage every screen your scene needs: a lock screen with custom wallpaper and carrier name, message conversations you script yourself, incoming calls that ring on cue, and a scrolling short-video feed. BUILT FOR SET • Lock screen with custom wallpaper, carrier name, and live clock • Scripted message threads with custom contacts and photos • Trigger an incoming call or text right from the phone • Short-form video feed with your own footage, captions, and counts • Screen stays awake through long takes YOUR CONTENT, YOUR TIMING Set up contacts, conversations, and videos in the built-in editor (double-tap anywhere with two fingers), then hand the phone to your actor and roll camera. Understudy displays fictional content for production use only. It sends no real messages, places no real calls, and is not affiliated with Apple.

Screenshots

Focalware4 screens
Understudy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focalware at none against Understudy's 1. Focalware also leads on ratings volume (6 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Understudy's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 12 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 73%). On price, rating, 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. Understudy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Focalware asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Focalware against 5.0 for Understudy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focalware has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Focalware's written reviews are positive against 100% of Understudy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focalware ships an update every 12 months, Understudy weekly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Focalware versus Understudy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocalwareUnderstudy
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews73.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB26 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperWarner Photography, Inc.Ginsberg AI LLC

Customer experience

Focalware

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive73.5%
Neutral8.2%
Negative18.4%

Understudy

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Focalware

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Understudy

One-time1
  • Full Access$29.99

Questions

Is Focalware free?
Focalware is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Understudy free?
Understudy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focalware or Understudy?
Focalware and Understudy are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Focalware or Understudy have ads?
Neither Focalware nor Understudy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focalware or Understudy?
Focalware ships an update every 12 months, and Understudy weekly. Most recently, Focalware was updated on October 31, 2026 and Understudy on October 31, 2026.

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