SurfaBeam vs ProjectX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SurfaBeam
Transform any surface into a dynamic display with this intuitive mobile projection mapping tool. Easily map videos, animations, and images onto real-world objects without complex desktop software. Ideal for creators, artists, and event planners seeking powerful visual effects on the go.
- Intuitive mobile projection mapping
- Map videos, images, and animations
- Advanced shape library & multi-surface mapping
- Export maps for professional content creation
- Precision grid warping with gesture controls
- Real-time rendering and video sync
- Multi-media support
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TRANSFORM REALITY WITH SURFABEAM: THE ULTIMATE PROJECTION MAPPING TOOL Turn your projector into a magic wand. SurfaBeam is the most intuitive projection mapping tool designed specifically for mobile creators, digital artists, and event planners. Whether you are a professional VJ, a creative designer, or just hosting an unforgettable house party, SurfaBeam lets you map videos, animations, and images onto any real-world surface—instantly. Forget complex desktop software, expensive media servers, and heavy hardware. SurfaBeam puts the power of a professional video mapping studio right in your pocket. Connect your device to any digital projector and start warping reality in seconds. This is Projection Mapping made easy, accessible, and powerful. EASY CONNECTION No computer needed! Connect your phone or tablet to any projector using: Wired (Recommended): Use a USB-C to HDMI or Lightning Digital AV Adapter for zero lag. Wireless: Supports AirPlay, Screen Mirroring. WORKFLOW IN 3 STEPS Notice: Advanced features listed below are available via In-App Purchase (Subscription or One-Time). Connect: Link your device to the projector. Map: Drag the on-screen grid to match your physical object (wall, box, or decor). Play: Pick a video or image and watch it warp instantly! KEY FEATURES & CAPABILITIES Advanced Shape Library & Multi-Surface Mapping New in this version! Your creativity is no longer limited to squares. Use our new Multiple Shapes tool to map complex geometries, irregular sculptures, and detailed architectural elements simultaneously. Export Maps for Professional Content Creation Bridge the gap between mobile mapping and desktop editing. Export your mapped layouts directly from SurfaBeam. Use these exports as templates in video editing software (like Adobe After Effects) to design custom content that fits your specific mapping setup perfectly. Precision Grid Warping with New Gesture Controls We have completely overhauled our touch interaction workflow. Fit your visuals perfectly to any shape with our Rebuilt Gesture System. Whether it represents a flat wall or a cylinder, our advanced mesh allows for detailed Keystone Correction and Corner Pinning. Includes a new in-app tutorial for beginners! Real-Time Rendering & Video Sync See your adjustments live! There is no rendering time. As you move the grid points, the projection updates instantly. Features a new Video Synchronization Button to ensure your loops and visuals play back smoothly without stuttering—perfect for live VJ performances. Multi-Media Support Project high-resolution videos, photos, logos, or custom graphics directly from your device's gallery. SurfaBeam handles high-quality playback for crisp, stunning visual effects with transparency control and layering. PERFECT FOR EVERY USE CASE Live Events & VJing: Elevate your DJ set. Use SurfaBeam as a mobile VJ tool to create stunning stage visuals and music visualizers that sync with the vibe , also similar to lazy lighting app. Holiday Digital Decoration: Halloween: Project singing pumpkins, spooky ghosts, or portals onto your windows. Christmas: Map animated snow and festive lights onto your tree or walls without physical wiring. Art Installations & Exhibitions: Project dynamic textures and motion graphics onto sculptures. Create immersive Augmented Reality (AR) experiences visible to the naked eye. Business & Branding Displays: Make your brand pop! Project your logo onto unique surfaces at trade shows or corporate lobbies. A projection-mapped logo grabs far more attention than a TV screen. SurfaBeam is more than just an app; it is a creative revolution. Privacy Policy: https://www.surfabeam.com/privacy Terms Of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Quick Workflow Video: Watch here: https://youtube.com/shorts/NjB2owlqp-4?si=HZoRPMUXDV8W0w_p
ProjectX
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a portable projection mapping studio. Easily map animated visuals, videos, and photos onto any real-world surface with customizable shapes and GPU-accelerated rendering. Perfect for creative experimentation, ambiance, and art installations.
- Portable projection mapping studio
- Map visuals onto any surface
- Growing library of animated effects
- Customizable polygon and stencil shapes
- GPU-accelerated rendering
- Works with any projector via HDMI or AirPlay
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ProjectX turns your iPhone or iPad into a portable projection mapping studio. Map animated visuals, videos, photos and effects onto any real-world surface — walls, cubes, stages, buildings, furniture, windows, anything you can point a projector at. The entire setup takes seconds, not hours. WORKS WITH ANY PROJECTOR Plug in an HDMI adapter and your projector is detected automatically. Got an AirPlay-compatible projector? That works too! A GROWING LIBRARY OF VISUALS Choose from a collection of animated effects and visuals. New effects are added regularly, so there's always something fresh. MAP ANY SURFACE Place shapes on your canvas, warp them to match your real-world surface, and fill them with visuals. Polygons, circles, stencils — fully customizable. Set content for your entire canvas or fine-tune each shape individually. POWERED BY METAL Perspective-correct rendering, real-time warping, and smooth performance — all GPU-accelerated. Content looks natural on any angled surface. GREAT FOR - Creative experimentation - Room ambiance and mood lighting - DJ visuals and party setups - Social media viral content - Art installations - Holiday decorations and displays ProjectX makes projection mapping accessible for everyone! Privacy Policy: https://getprojectx.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Questions or feedback? Reach us at support@getprojectx.app — we'd love to hear from you.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ProjectX at 4.6 against SurfaBeam's 3.6. ProjectX also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). SurfaBeam's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. SurfaBeam sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and ProjectX sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ProjectX holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 47 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 78% of SurfaBeam's written reviews are positive against 73% of ProjectX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SurfaBeam ships an update fortnightly, ProjectX every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SurfaBeam | ProjectX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (17 ratings) | 4.6 (47 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better | 72.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17 | 47 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 467 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Osman Ahsan Sheikh | Pacific Apps LLC |
Customer experience
SurfaBeam
ProjectX
In-app purchases
SurfaBeam
- SurfaBeam Pro – Monthly$6.991 Month
- SurfaBeam Pro – Quarterly$19.993 Months
- SurfaBeam Pro – Yearly$49.991 Year
- Lifetime Pro Access$99.99
ProjectX
- Weekly$5.997 Days
- Weekly3 Days trial$7.997 Days
- Monthly3 Days trial$11.991 Month
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- Yearly$47.991 Year
- Yearly3 Days trial$47.991 Year
- ProjectX Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Lifetime$149.99
Questions
Is SurfaBeam free?
Is ProjectX free?
Which has better reviews, SurfaBeam or ProjectX?
Do SurfaBeam or ProjectX have ads?
Which is updated more often, SurfaBeam or ProjectX?
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