Comparison

FilmDirector vs LapseArc

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

Head to head
About

FilmDirector

Features
Read full description

FilmDirector turns your iPhone into a professional cine camera. Built for filmmakers, content creators and photographers who want full manual control with zero compromises. FULL MANUAL CONTROLS β€’ ISO across the sensor's full supported range β€’ Logarithmic shutter slider for exact exposure time β€’ Exposure compensation (EV) Β± β€’ Manual focus with tap-to-focus and precise lens position β€’ White balance with Kelvin temperature and tint β€’ Continuous zoom with shortcuts to real optical focal lengths (0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x...) CINEMATIC VIDEO β€’ Frame rate up to 60 fps β€’ HDR where the device supports it β€’ Selectable cinematic stabilization β€’ Smooth front/back camera switch β€’ High-res photo with flash and adjustable torch CUSTOM PRESETS Save any configuration (ISO, shutter, WB, fps, focus, zoom) as a one-tap preset. 3 presets free, unlimited with Pro. APPLE WATCH COMPANION Drive recording right from your wrist: β€’ Start/stop REC without touching the phone β€’ Switch presets on the fly β€’ Live readout of capture parameters β€’ Perfect for solo shoots, vlogs, gimbal work PROFESSIONAL INTERFACE Compact HUD keeps every parameter visible. Dedicated panels for Zoom, Exposure, Focus, WB, Stabilization, Flash and Format. No clutter, full focus on the frame. PRO UNLOCK One-time purchase: unlimited presets. No subscription, no ads. Privacy: no data sent to external servers. Your clips stay in the Photo Library.

About

LapseArc

Features
Read full description

8K time-lapse. Smart stabilization. Capture the details of time. LapseArc brings 8K time-lapse and smart stabilization together in one photography app. Capture change frame by frame with high-resolution photos, then automatically analyze and correct subtle camera shake. Turn drifting clouds, shifting light and the city from day to night into clear, steady time-lapse films. Shoot, color grade and export in one app. 8K TIME-LAPSE, RICH IN DETAIL Turn high-resolution photo sequences into time-lapse videos at up to 8K, with landscape 7680 Γ— 4320 and portrait 4320 Γ— 7680 output. Keep each original frame in Apple ProRAW or HEIF/JPEG for large-screen viewing and further editing. 8K availability depends on source resolution and the export capabilities of your device. SMART STABILIZATION, STEADIER MOTION Automatically analyze visual features across your sequence to correct small shifts and rotations between frames, reducing jitter during playback. Choose Fast, Standard or Fine analysis, preview the stabilization, then apply it to your final film. Stabilization is nondestructive and preserves your original photos. Results depend on scene detail and the amount of shake, and some cropping around the edges is required. CAPTURE PHOTO SEQUENCES Set a capture interval and start countdown, and shoot in Apple ProRAW or HEIF/JPEG. Choose from the resolutions supported by your device and lens. Each original photo is saved separately, giving you room to refine your work later. TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SHOT Adjust ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation and white balance. Use focus lock, a grid, a horizon level, a histogram and overexposure warnings to guide composition and exposure. Preview your look as you shoot with live LUT monitoring. EDIT THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE Browse individual frames and apply LUTs, light and color adjustments across the whole sequence. Shape different areas with global, linear gradient and radial masks, then refine the composition with crop, rotation and stabilization. Edits are saved nondestructively, preserving your original photos. EXPORT YOUR WAY Export a time-lapse video, the current frame or the entire image sequence. Choose from multiple frame rates, resolutions and codecs, including H.264, HEVC and ProRes. Save to Photos when supported, or share files to continue creating elsewhere. Turn time into poetry, and light into art. Apple ProRAW, 24MP/48MP capture, 4K/8K, HDR and ProRes availability depends on your device, lens, OS version, source media and encoding capabilities. The app shows the options available for your setup. Before a long capture, make sure you have enough storage space and keep your device steady.

Screenshots

FilmDirector4 screens
LapseArc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LapseArc at none against FilmDirector's 1. LapseArc also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). FilmDirector's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. FilmDirector sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. LapseArc asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
FilmDirector versus LapseArc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFilmDirectorLapseArc
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyβ€”Every 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size4 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developergianluca auriemma原 胑

In-app purchases

1 purchases

FilmDirector

One-time1
  • Get Unlimited Presets$1.99
None

LapseArc

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FilmDirector free?
FilmDirector is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LapseArc free?
LapseArc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FilmDirector or LapseArc have ads?
Neither FilmDirector nor LapseArc shows ads.

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