Comparison

MacroShader vs Parallel

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

Head to head
About

MacroShader

Capture stunning close-up images with advanced manual camera controls and specialized processing. Features include focus peaking, RAW saving, and a unique focus shutter for precise macro shots.

Highlights
  • Focus shutter
  • Focus peaking
  • Manual camera controls
  • Save in RAW
  • Customized image processing
Features
Read full description

A macro photography app for iPhone. Features include: - Focus shutter: Tap, hold, focus and release to shoot a photo. Also just tap to shoot - Focus peaking - Manual camera controls - Save in RAW - Customised image processing for macro photography to preserve details Future releases will add more camera controls, editing tools and more

About

Parallel

Features
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Capture the moment and your reaction. Or record once and get both portrait and landscape videos. Parallel gives you two ways to tell the whole story. RECORD ONCE. SAVE BOTH FORMATS. Dual mode uses your front or rear camera to record portrait (9:16) and landscape (16:9) videos simultaneously. Get separate files ready for vertical posts and widescreen sharing, with no need to record the moment again. TWO CAMERAS. ONE STORY. Record with the front and rear cameras together in a single video. Choose Picture in Picture, Split Screen, or Top and Bottom, then select portrait or landscape output. Capture what you see alongside your reaction, commentary, or demonstration. MAKE THE FRAME YOURS Move and resize the floating camera, choose a square or portrait shape, and swap which camera takes the main view. Remove the front-camera background to place yourself over the scene, with processing handled directly on your device. PREVIEW. SAVE. SHARE. Browse your recordings in the gallery, play them back, and save your favorites to Photos. Share either format individually or both videos together. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your recordings stay on your device until you choose to save or share them. No account required. Available in English and Vietnamese. Simultaneous front and rear camera recording requires a compatible device.

Screenshots

MacroShader4 screens
Parallel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MacroShader at none against Parallel's 3. Parallel's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Parallel sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. MacroShader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MacroShader ships an update every 4 months, Parallel every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
MacroShader versus Parallel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMacroShaderParallel
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAstroShader LimitedHoa Bui Duy

In-app purchases

None

MacroShader

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Parallel

One-time3
  • 10 AI Moments$2.99
  • 50 AI Moments$12.99
  • 100 AI Moments$19.99

Questions

Is MacroShader free?
MacroShader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Parallel free?
Parallel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MacroShader or Parallel have ads?
Neither MacroShader nor Parallel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MacroShader or Parallel?
MacroShader ships an update every 4 months, and Parallel every 2 days. Most recently, MacroShader was updated on October 1, 2026 and Parallel on October 24, 2026.

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