Comparison

Black Screen Camera vs Blackout Camera

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

Head to head
About

Black Screen Camera

This app provides a discreet recording experience by turning the screen black while displaying a clear REC indicator and timer. It offers quick controls for quality, duration, audio, and save location, with an in-app gallery and optional gallery lock for added privacy.

Highlights
  • Black screen recording
  • Visible REC indicator and timer
  • Customizable recording quality
  • Adjustable recording duration
  • Audio toggle
  • In-app gallery with lock
Features
Read full description

What is Black Screen Camera? Black Screen Camera is a privacy‑first recorder that turns the preview black while keeping a clear REC indicator and timer. You stay in control and everyone can see when recording is active. ### Why users love it - **Private preview:** The screen goes black during recording for discretion. - **Always visible REC:** Clear in‑app indicator and timer. - **Ready to record controls:** Quickly set quality, duration, audio, and save location. - **Front/back toggle:** Switch cameras in one tap. - **In‑app gallery:** Keep recordings inside the app or save to Photos. - **Gallery lock:** Face ID with optional passcode. ### Key features - **Quality presets:** 480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K (device dependent) - **Custom limit:** Pick hours and minutes with a rolling picker - **Audio toggle:** Record with or without microphone - **Save location:** Store in‑app or save to Photos ### Privacy, simply No ads. No trackers. Your recordings stay on your device unless you choose to share or save to Photos.

About

Blackout Camera

Features
Read full description

Screen off. Still recording. Record at night without screen glare. Blackout Camera gives iPhone and iPad a dim red interface and, with Blackout Pro, manual controls and a black recording screen, so your eyes stay adjusted and your surroundings stay dark. NEW IN 1.5.8 • Mark frames: save the moments that matter as full-resolution stills or one labelled contact sheet (Pro). • Blackout Glance: while recording with the screen off, a tap shows the take's time, storage left and battery in dim red. • Faster photos: take the next shot while the last is still processing. Every photo gets full-quality processing. • Smoother camera, lens and Photo/Video switching. A CAMERA WORKFLOW FOR DARK SHOOTS Keep attention on the scene with a dim red interface. After initial setup and permissions, use the Home Screen widget or supported system controls to open the app and start recording with your chosen setup. Press and hold anywhere for about a second to wake the black screen. Apple's camera and microphone indicators remain visible. Keep the app open: locking the phone or leaving the app can interrupt capture. SHAPE YOUR LOOK WITH BLACKOUT PRO Adjust ISO, shutter, focus and white balance. Check exposure and focus with monitoring tools. Natural grade gives Rec.709 video restrained color, a softer tone curve and a touch of warmth, with the graded image in the preview and saved recording. Pro also includes Astro frame stacking, time-lapse and advanced camera formats. 4K, higher frame rates, ProRes, HDR, Apple Log, ProRAW and high-resolution photos depend on your device, lens and settings. FRAME IT. KEEP IT. See the whole photo composition that will be saved. Choose the full image or 4:3, 1:1 and 16:9 crops at the original image resolution, without upscaling. ProRAW keeps the full sensor image. Open a video from the in-app Library or Files, select a moment and export a full-resolution SDR PNG to Files. The still uses the video's frame resolution; HDR video is tone-mapped to SDR. Photo framing and single-frame export are free; marking frames and contact sheets are part of Pro. Take photos and record video up to 1080p at 30 fps for free, with advertising. Capturing with the screen off and the advanced tools described above require Blackout Pro, subject to existing Basic access below. Save to Apple Photos, the in-app Library, the Pro Private Folder, or a combination. The Private Folder uses device biometrics or a passcode; existing files remain accessible when your subscription ends. No app account is required. Media is processed on your device; you control export and sharing. Apple Photos and device backups follow your Apple settings. Existing Basic subscribers keep black-screen capture and an ad-free experience. A device passcode is required to protect the Private Folder. SUBSCRIPTIONS Pro offers optional monthly or yearly auto-renewable subscriptions. Your localized price, billing period and any eligible introductory offer are shown before purchase. Apple charges your account at confirmation or after an applicable free trial. The subscription renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel in your Apple Account settings. Restore Purchases is available in the app. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://mwsupplylimited.github.io/blackoutcamera/privacy.html

Screenshots

Black Screen Camera4 screens
Blackout Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Black Screen Camera at none against Blackout Camera's 8. Black Screen Camera also leads on ads (none vs shown). Blackout Camera's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). On price, 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. Blackout Camera sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Black Screen Camera asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Black Screen Camera ships an update every 2 months, Blackout Camera every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Black Screen Camera versus Blackout Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlack Screen CameraBlackout Camera
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDonald CjapiMatthew Wong

In-app purchases

None

Black Screen Camera

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Blackout Camera

Subscriptions4
  • Blackout Basic7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Blackout Pro7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Blackout Basic7 Days trial$9.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Blackout Pro7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time4
  • 150 Tokens$0.99
  • 550 Tokens$2.99
  • 1,500 Tokens$6.99
Show 1 more
  • 3,600 Tokens$14.99

Questions

Is Black Screen Camera free?
Black Screen Camera is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Blackout Camera free?
Blackout Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Black Screen Camera or Blackout Camera have ads?
Blackout Camera shows ads; Black Screen Camera does not.
Which is updated more often, Black Screen Camera or Blackout Camera?
Black Screen Camera ships an update every 2 months, and Blackout Camera every 3 days. Most recently, Black Screen Camera was updated on October 2, 2026 and Blackout Camera on October 3, 2026.

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