Comparison

BlackOut vs NoLight

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

Head to head
About

BlackOut

This app allows discreet photo and video recording from a dark, private capture screen. Media is stored locally until you choose to export or share, with optional premium features for video recording available as a one-time purchase.

Highlights
  • Silent photo capture
  • Discreet video recording
  • Local media storage
  • Premium video features (one-time purchase)
  • Custom cover screens
  • Biometric gallery protection
Features
Read full description

A quieter screen. More ways to capture. BlackOut is a camera for iPhone and iPad with a dark capture screen and a private in-app gallery. Take photos, record video, capture a burst, or slow down the action—then choose what you keep, share, or export. BROWSE WHILE RECORDING Read, search, and visit websites without leaving your recording. Enable Browser While Recording in Settings, choose Video or Slow Motion, and use the browser menu to start recording or stop and save. Your webpage stays open when the video is saved to BlackOut's gallery. Choose DuckDuckGo or Google, save bookmarks, and turn on browser auto-dimming if you prefer. Browsing uses a temporary session; bookmarks stay on your device. Websites and search providers handle browsing requests under their own privacy policies. Web audio and video pause during recording. FOUR WAYS TO CAPTURE • Photo: take individual photos with a simple tap. • Video: record with a black screen or your own cover image, with an optional live preview. • Burst: choose the number of photos and the pause between them. • Slow Motion: record at a supported high frame rate and save slow-motion video. A GALLERY THAT FEELS RIGHT • Browse a clean grid and pinch to adjust thumbnail size. • Filter All, Photos, or Videos and sort your library. • Pinch, pan, and double-tap to explore a photo. • Swipe across items in Select mode to select or deselect a range. • Share, save to Photos, or delete multiple items together. • See useful details such as dimensions, duration, and file size. YOUR MEDIA, YOUR CHOICE Captures stay in BlackOut's private gallery and do not appear in Photos unless you export them. Add Face ID or Touch ID protection on supported devices. No BlackOut account is required. SET UP YOUR WAY Keep your current brightness or enable Auto-Dim Capture Screen; browser dimming is controlled separately. Photo is selected on first use, and your chosen capture mode is remembered. Open directly in the camera, with a separate opt-in setting to begin recording automatically. Use a Lock Screen or Home Screen widget for quick access. Customize the cover image, preview, recording feedback, volume-button controls, swipe lock, and what happens after recording stops. Choose from the cameras, lenses, standard resolutions, and frame rates your device supports. Set an optional auto-stop timer or keep No limit for recording without an app-imposed duration cap. FREE PHOTOS. ONE-TIME PREMIUM. Basic photo capture and the gallery are free. One lifetime in-app purchase unlocks video, burst, slow motion, the recording browser, and advanced capture and privacy controls. No subscription. Existing Premium owners keep access; Restore Purchase is available in the app. Recording requires BlackOut to be active in the foreground. Widgets open the app; recording begins after any required device unlock. Apple's camera and microphone privacy indicators remain visible. Features depend on your device and selected camera. Slow-motion clips have no audio. Storage, battery, temperature, and system interruptions can limit recording. Respect others' privacy and follow local recording laws. Support: contact@blackoutcamera.app

About

NoLight

Read full description

NoLight is a black screen camera and recording workspace designed for focused, distraction-free video capture. Record video while keeping your screen dark, or continue working inside NoLight with useful tools like Web, Notes, and Clock. KEY FEATURES BLACK SCREEN RECORDING Start recording and switch to a completely black display whenever you want. Restore the screen instantly without stopping your recording. ALWAYS-VISIBLE RECORDING INDICATOR While NoLight is recording, an on-screen indicator is shown at all times - including while the screen is black. It cannot be turned off, and there is no setting or gesture that hides it. RECORDING WORKSPACE Keep recording while using built-in tools: • Web browser • Notes • Clock • Vault CAMERA CONTROLS Choose the settings that fit your session: • Video or photo • Front or back camera • 1080p and 4K on supported devices • Microphone control • Recording background options QUICK BLACKOUT Start directly in blackout mode, or switch to the black screen while recording using supported controls. NOTES WHILE RECORDING Capture ideas, reminders, or research notes without ending your recording session. VAULT A separate space inside NoLight, unlocked with Face ID or a PIN you choose, for your own recordings, notes and browsing — much like the Hidden album in Photos or a Face ID–locked folder in Notes. It protects your own material from someone else picking up your unlocked phone. It does not change how recording is indicated. STORED ON YOUR DEVICE Recordings are saved on your device. NoLight has no accounts and uploads nothing; files leave your device only when you choose to export or share them. BUILT FOR REAL SESSIONS NoLight is useful for lectures, meetings, research, events, presentations, long recording sessions, and other situations where a bright camera screen can be distracting. NoLight respects iOS camera and microphone permissions and system privacy indicators.

Screenshots

BlackOut4 screens
NoLight4 screens

Verdict

The call

BlackOut and NoLight are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and NoLight sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BlackOut ships an update every 3 days, NoLight every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
BlackOut versus NoLight: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlackOutNoLight
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB3 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperKei KonumaSang Cao

In-app purchases

1 purchases

BlackOut

One-time1
  • BlackOut Premium$9.99
1 purchases

NoLight

One-time1
  • NoLight Pro$14.99

Questions

Is BlackOut free?
BlackOut is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NoLight free?
NoLight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BlackOut or NoLight have ads?
Neither BlackOut nor NoLight shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BlackOut or NoLight?
BlackOut ships an update every 3 days, and NoLight every 4 days. Most recently, BlackOut was updated on November 5, 2026 and NoLight on October 31, 2026.

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