TempCam vs Ephemeral Trace
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TempCam
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TempCam is a simple camera designed for moments you don't need to keep forever. Capture photos and videos quickly, and let them automatically expire after a time you choose. TempCam helps keep your device organized by preventing temporary photos and videos from filling up your camera roll. Whether you're saving a quick reminder, capturing something you only need for a short time, or recording temporary notes, TempCam keeps everything simple and clutter-free. Key Features Fast Photo and Video Capture Take photos or record videos instantly with a clean and distraction-free camera interface. Swipe to Switch Modes Quickly switch between Photo and Video using intuitive swipe gestures. Landscape-Aware Controls Rotate your device and TempCam automatically adjusts the layout so the controls remain easy to reach. Flexible Expiration Settings Choose how long media stays in your gallery before it expires: - 6 hours - 12 hours - 24 hours - 1 week - 1 month You can change the default expiration time anytime in settings. Extend When Needed If you want to keep something longer, you can extend the expiration time directly from the gallery. Automatic Cleanup Expired photos and videos are automatically removed so your gallery stays clean without manual deletion. HD Photo and Video Option Enable HD capture for higher quality photos and videos. By default, TempCam uses smaller file sizes to save storage space. Recording Timer While recording video, the app clearly displays recording duration and provides an easy stop control. Why TempCam? Phones quickly fill up with temporary photos, reminders, and short videos that you don't actually need long-term. TempCam solves that problem by automatically cleaning up your media after a set time. Capture what you need. Use it when you need it. Then let it disappear. Privacy First TempCam does not upload your photos or videos to external servers. All media remains stored locally on your device.
Ephemeral Trace
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Photos and videos that delete themselves. Ephemeral Trace is a private camera for media that only needs to exist for a while. Choose a timer before you shoot or import. Each item counts down, then deletes itself when time runs out. No account. No analytics. No tracking. FOR PHOTOS THAT HAD ONE JOB A parking spot. A whiteboard after the meeting. A guest Wi-Fi card. A locker number. A document you are sending once. Capture it. Use it. Let it go. CAPTURE OR IMPORT Shoot in the app, pick specific photos and videos with Apple's system picker, or send them from another app with the Share sheet. Ephemeral Trace cannot browse your photo library. If you pick an item stored only in iCloud, Apple may download that item first. SET THE TIMER FIRST Choose 30 seconds, 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 24 hours. Every item shows a live countdown and a decay ring. Local notifications can warn you before time runs out. USE WHAT IT SAYS Copy the text in any photo. Point the camera at a QR code, or open a photo that has one, and a button joins the Wi-Fi network, saves the contact, adds the event to Calendar, or opens the link. Show Code puts a ticket's code on screen, flat and bright, for the scanner. When a ticket or coupon shows its end time, the app can offer that moment as the photo's expiry. One tap applies it. FIND WHAT IS STILL HERE Search your notes and folder names, or by date, like “yesterday” or “September”, then filter by type, expiry, folder, or whether an item has a note. With Pro, Text in Photos reads the words in your photos on your iPhone, so you can find a receipt, label, or whiteboard without uploading anything. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No accounts • No analytics or tracking • No advertising identifiers • No crash reporting • No app-operated cloud storage or servers Media stays in the app's private storage, protected by iOS Data Protection. When expiry completes, the file and its encryption key are removed together. Media is excluded from iCloud and iTunes backups, so a capture doesn't outlive its timer inside a backup. There is no trash, Recently Deleted collection, or undo path. A LIBRARY THAT EMPTIES ITSELF See what is still alive at a glance. Extend an expiry, move an item, add a note, share it, save it to Photos, or delete it early. Statistics show how much you have already let go. FOLDERS WITHOUT THE PILE-UP Organize media into folders, choose a default folder, and capture straight into it. The free version includes up to two folders. ONE-TIME PRO Pro unlocks: • Keep Forever • Custom timers up to one year • Unlimited folders • A Face ID or Touch ID gallery lock, plus individually locked folders • Text in Photos: search the words in your photos • Folder rules that file new photos by their text • Redact the numbers, codes, faces, and lines of text it finds, or draw a box over anything else, before you share or save a photo • Straighten a receipt, ticket, or page • A custom accent color One purchase. No subscription. No ads. Free includes unlimited capture, the four standard timers, automatic deletion, expiry warnings, import, notes, search, filters, statistics, text and QR code actions, widgets, the Open Camera control, up to two folders, and export to Photos. Your privacy is not a feature. It is the foundation.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TempCam at none against Ephemeral Trace's 1. TempCam also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Ephemeral Trace sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TempCam asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | TempCam | Ephemeral Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | — | Every 11 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Divesh Mavji | Ephemeral Trace LDA |
In-app purchases
TempCam
No in-app purchases
Ephemeral Trace
- Ephemeral Trace Pro$9.99
Questions
Is TempCam free?
Is Ephemeral Trace free?
Do TempCam or Ephemeral Trace have ads?
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