Camera PiP vs Reel
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.
Reel
Record your screen, camera, and audio simultaneously on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Create tutorials, demos, and lessons with a picture-in-picture option and separate audio tracks for enhanced editing. Customize your background and choose recording quality for professional results.
- Record screen, camera, and audio together
- Picture-in-Picture (PiP) camera overlay
- Separate microphone and system audio tracks
- Customizable camera background
- No watermark, time, or export limits
- Pro version removes ads and unlocks native quality
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Record your iPhone or iPad screen with your face, your voice and the app's sound in one take. Reel keeps your camera in a floating Picture in Picture window on top of the app you're showing, and the finished video is saved as an MP4 in Photos. No watermark, no recording time limit and no account. WHAT PEOPLE RECORD WITH REEL • Tutorials and how-tos: walk through a website, a phone setting or an app while viewers see your screen and your face. • App demos and UGC: show a product feature by feature and explain it as you go. • Gameplay with facecam: capture the game, your reaction and your commentary. • Reaction videos: play a video in Reel and record yourself watching and commenting. • Lessons and presentations: talk students, colleagues or clients through what's on screen. • Bug reports and feedback: show the exact steps and explain what went wrong. • Voice-only screen recordings: turn the camera off and just narrate. • Short videos: record a demo, then edit or post the MP4 to YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels or TikTok. YOUR CAMERA ON TOP OF OTHER APPS On iPhone and iPad, Picture in Picture keeps your camera above whatever app you open. Move it where it doesn't cover what you're pointing at, and keep it fully on screen so iOS doesn't tuck it away. Your face is part of the recording itself, so there is nothing to line up afterwards. You can also keep the camera inside Reel while presenting a video, or turn it off. YOUR VOICE AND THE APP'S SOUND Record your microphone and the app's sound together, where the app and iOS allow it. Keep them in one mixed track, or as separate tracks in the MP4 so you can balance them later in an editor that supports multiple audio tracks. HOW IT WORKS ON IPHONE AND IPAD 1. Open Reel and allow camera access. 2. Check that the camera mode is Picture in Picture (the default). 3. Tap Screen Recording, turn on Microphone in the iOS sheet and tap Start Broadcast. 4. Switch to the app you want to show. 5. Stop from Reel or the red indicator at the top of the screen. Your MP4 is in Photos. BACKGROUND AND FRAMING Blur the room behind you or replace it with an image or a looping video. Lock the recording orientation for a consistent layout. Background removal works with the camera inside Reel; it isn't available in Picture in Picture. RECORD ON MAC Record your whole display with a camera window you can place anywhere. Set microphone and system audio levels separately, start and stop with ⌘R while Reel is in front, and choose where each MP4 is saved. There are no ads on Mac. FREE AND PRO On iPhone and iPad, Reel is free with ads and records up to 1080p with no watermark or time limit. Pro removes the ads and records at your device's native screen resolution. Choose monthly, yearly or a one-time purchase. You don't need Pro to record your screen with your face and sound on iPhone and iPad. COMPATIBILITY Requires iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26 or later. Some apps block recording of protected content, and available audio depends on the app. Make a short test recording before an important take. Terms: https://reel-studio.arte-soft.com/terms/ Privacy: https://reel-studio.arte-soft.com/privacy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Reel at Free against Camera PiP's $8.99. Reel also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and device support. Camera PiP's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On ratings volume 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
Reel is free to download; Camera PiP costs $8.99 up front. Reel sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Camera PiP asks for nothing beyond the download.
Reel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 6 respectively.
| Parameter | Camera PiP | Reel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.3 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | — | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | — | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kenneth Kao | Arte Soft Ltd |
Customer experience
Camera PiP
Reel
In-app purchases
Camera PiP
No in-app purchases
Reel
- Monthly subscription$0.991 Month
- Yearly subscription$9.991 Year
- Lifetime$14.99









