Comparison

PixiVisor vs ca

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

Head to head
About

PixiVisor

This app enables real-time transmission of low-resolution video over audio signals. It converts images, camera streams, or animations into sound, which can then be received and converted back into video on another device. Users can customize the video output and save it as an animated GIF.

Highlights
  • Video to audio transmission
  • Audio to video reception
  • Real-time pixel-by-pixel conversion
  • Customizable color palettes
  • Animated GIF recording
  • Lo-Fi video experimentation
Features
Read full description

PixiVisor is a tool for experimenting with the transmission of video over audio. It consists of two parts: Transmitter and Receiver. * Transmitter converts the low-resolution video (stream from camera, static image or GIF animation) to sound in real time, pixel by pixel (progressive scan). So any image or animation can be transferred to the other devices through the sound. * Receiver converts the sound (from microphone or Line-in input) back to video. You can set the color palette for this video, and record it to animated GIF file. Examples of use: * wireless Lo-Fi video transmission over audio; * video signal transmission through audio cable; you can then modify that signal by some mixers or audio FX processors; * VJing; * sound visualization; * searching for hidden messages in the ambient noise; EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon), ITC (Instrumental Transcommunication); * save any sound to animated GIF; * something else... Control keys: SPACE - play/stop (transmitter); 1,2,3,4,5,6 - slot select (transmitter); F - hide/show control panel; [ - previous palette (receiver); ] - next palette (receiver); I - invert (receiver);. N - normalize (receiver); 1,2 - contrast -/+ (receiver);. 3,4 - gamma -/+ (receiver); 5,6 - finetune -/+ (receiver); 7,8 - repeat X -/+ (receiver); 9,0 - repeat Y -/+ (receiver); LEFT,RIGHT,UP,DOWN - move the image (receiver). More info + test broadcasts + videos: https://warmplace.ru/soft/pixivisor

About

ca

This app transforms your camera's live feed into unique, pixelated images and videos using cellular automata. Customize patterns with various color palettes, directions, rules, and resolutions for a retro aesthetic.

Highlights
  • Cellular automaton image interpretation
  • Pixelated output with unique patterns
  • Black and white or retro color palettes
  • Selfie and split camera modes
  • Video recording
  • Customizable automaton parameters
Features
Read full description

The successor of probably the nerdiest camera app ever made, ca-mera+ uses a cellular automaton to interpret the colors of your camera stream. The resulting images are pixelated and contain unique patterns created by cellular automata. The output can be black and white, or one of several retro color palettes (CGA 4 and 16 colors, 1-bit RGB, etc.). This app provides "selfie" and "split" modes, records video, and lets you change the appearance of the pictures by controlling the automaton application direction, its rules, the resolution, the input brightness, and the input fidelity (i.e. to which extent the cellular automaton is allowed to run freely).

Screenshots

PixiVisor4 screens
ca4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: PixiVisor at free against ca's paid. PixiVisor also leads on chart position (#199 vs unranked). ca's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (monthly vs every 21 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

PixiVisor costs $2.99 and ca $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ca holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 52 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of PixiVisor's written reviews are positive against 89% of ca's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PixiVisor ships an update every 21 months, ca monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
PixiVisor versus ca: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixiVisorca
Price$2.99$2.99
Rating4.3 (24 ratings)4.8 (52 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews88.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2452 — better
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#199 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander ZolotovFritz Menzer

Customer experience

PixiVisor

All ratings24 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral4.2%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral7.5%
Negative12.5%

ca

All ratings52 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

PixiVisor

No in-app purchases

None

ca

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PixiVisor free?
PixiVisor costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ca free?
ca costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PixiVisor or ca?
ca is rated higher. PixiVisor averages 4.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while ca averages 4.8 from 52 ratings.
Do PixiVisor or ca have ads?
Neither PixiVisor nor ca shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PixiVisor or ca?
PixiVisor ships an update every 21 months, and ca monthly. Most recently, PixiVisor was updated on September 18, 2026 and ca on September 26, 2026.

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