Camera PiP vs Bicameral
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Camera PiP
Record your iPad's screen and camera simultaneously, with live video effects. Use it as an external monitor via HDMI capture or leverage features like Center Stage and Portrait Mode for enhanced video capture.
- Picture-in-Picture, Split View, Slide Over camera display
- Record screen and camera simultaneously
- Live video effects
- External video input support via HDMI capture
- Center Stage auto-framing
- Augmented reality reactions
- Portrait Mode depth-of-field effect
- Studio Light effects
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Display and record iPad camera while multitasking! Show a live view of the camera in Picture-in-Picture mode, Split View, or Slide Over. Capture the screen and your camera at the same time, along with live video effects. External Video Input Support Connect a HDMI capture card and turn your iPad into a monitor. Center Stage Using the Ultra Wide camera and machine learning, Center Stage automatically adjusts camera frame to keep you centered. Reactions Add a reaction that fills the camera frame with fun 3D augmented reality effects like hearts, confetti, fireworks, with just a hand gesture. Portrait Mode Apply a depth-of-field effect that keeps your face sharp while creating a beautifully blurred background. Studio Light Apply studio-quality lighting effects with customizable intensity.
Bicameral
Record simultaneously with your iPhone's front and rear cameras, choosing from various layouts. This app offers advanced features like simultaneous vertical and horizontal recording, a built-in teleprompter, and robust safeguards to prevent data loss during recording. It processes everything on your device, ensuring your privacy.
- Simultaneous front and rear camera recording
- Multiple layout options (Picture-in-Picture, Side by Side, Top & Bottom)
- Vertical and horizontal recording at once (Pro)
- Built-in teleprompter
- Data loss prevention and automatic saving
- On-device processing
- Customizable recording controls
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Two cameras. Your layout. A take you can count on. Bicameral records your iPhone's front and rear cameras at the same time, and with Pro, the Ultra Wide and Telephoto lenses too. Choose the layout, choose which camera leads, and keep every take. Everything is processed on your device. No accounts. MORE THAN PICTURE-IN-PICTURE Picture-in-Picture — One camera fills the frame, the other floats on top Side by Side — Left and right, 50/50 Top & Bottom — Stacked, 50/50 Swap which camera leads before you roll Separate files for each camera alongside the combined video (Pro), ready for your editor Works on iPhone and iPad, including iPhones that don't have built-in dual recording VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL AT ONCE (PRO) Get a 9:16 and a 16:9 video from the same take. Reframe the second one as you record, or let Follow Faces keep people in frame. READ AS YOU RECORD The built-in teleprompter scrolls your script beside the lens, with mirrored text for beam-splitter rigs. BUILT NOT TO LOSE A TAKE Interruptions like phone calls stop and save your take If the app quits unexpectedly, it offers to recover the take next launch If a recording fails partway, everything written up to the problem is kept Saves automatically before storage runs out; an optional indicator shows recording time left If your device gets hot, Bicameral lowers quality step by step and restores it once it cools If an external mic disconnects, recording carries on with the built-in one The screen stays awake while the camera is open, so a take on a tripod keeps rolling VIDEO, AUDIO AND PHOTO Videos are composited in real time with Metal. Photos are captured from both cameras and combined into one image. 1080p, or 4K with Pro, in HEVC or H.264 Video stabilization Zoom presets, even while recording Microphone choice, stereo, and wind reduction HEIF or JPEG photos Tap to focus and expose Pause and resume; snap a photo mid-recording Countdown timer (3, 5, or 10 seconds) Rear torch for video; flash for photos Capture with Volume buttons, Camera Control, Action Button, or AirPods Portrait or landscape on iPhone, any orientation on iPad, with optional orientation lock SAVE YOUR WAY Save to Photos, Files, or choose each time with the share sheet. Recordings get a millisecond-precision timestamp, so nothing is overwritten. QUICK ACCESS Control Center, Lock Screen, and Action Button controls, plus Home Screen quick actions. Recording shortcuts require Pro. ACCESSIBILITY VoiceOver labels and announcements, Dynamic Type, Reduce Motion, High Contrast, 44pt touch targets, and haptics you can turn off. DATA NOT COLLECTED Bicameral never uploads your photos or videos. Optional diagnostics through Apple's MetricKit stay off unless you turn them on. Settings sync across your devices with iCloud.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Bicameral at Free against Camera PiP's $8.99. Bicameral also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and device support. Camera PiP's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (3 vs 1).
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Bicameral is free to download; Camera PiP costs $8.99 up front. Bicameral sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Camera PiP asks for nothing beyond the download.
Bicameral holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.
| Parameter | Camera PiP | Bicameral |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.3 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | — | Fortnightly |
| Ads | — | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | — | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kenneth Kao | Andrew Carlson |
Customer experience
Camera PiP
Bicameral
In-app purchases
Camera PiP
No in-app purchases
Bicameral
- Bicameral Pro$4.991 Month
Questions
Is Camera PiP free?
Is Bicameral free?
Which has better reviews, Camera PiP or Bicameral?
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