# Rarevision VHS vs MainframePunch

The clearest difference is price: MainframePunch at Free against Rarevision VHS's $5.99. Rarevision VHS's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 12 months) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

MainframePunch is free to download; Rarevision VHS costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Rarevision VHS ships an update every 5 weeks, MainframePunch every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rarevision VHS | MainframePunch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rarevision-vhs-retro-cam/id679454835/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 82.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 31 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rarevision](https://appshunter.io/developer/464591028) | [Thomas Gillan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828513781) |

## What reviewers say

### Rarevision VHS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rarevision-vhs-retro-cam/id679454835)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Paid · Photo & Video, #175 Top Paid (US App Store)

Create authentic retro videos with a vintage VHS camcorder look. Add custom titles, glitch effects, and change the on-screen date to make your footage appear from the past. Perfect for throwback content and creative projects.

**Highlights:** Authentic VHS video simulation, Custom animated titles, On-screen date manipulation, Glitch effects, Fake zoom feature, Retro audio simulation, Import and edit existing videos

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔥 Realistic VHS look and feel
- 👍 Customizable settings (date, time, title)
- 🎥 Accurate audio and video distortion
- 💯 Worth the one-time purchase price
- 🤩 Nostalgic and fun to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty importing and editing existing videos
- 🔧 Some settings reset after updates
- 🔴 Stretched/distorted video when importing
- 🔊 No option to play music while recording

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to import certain videos
- Landscape mode issues on newer iPhones
- Recorded videos sometimes have audio/video sync issues

**Requested features**

- Add more VHS-style glitches and interference effects
- Allow changing time in addition to date
- Implement a video editing timeline/workspace
- Option to save videos directly to the app
- Ability to import photos and apply VHS filter


### MainframePunch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mainframepunch/id6751125827)

Transform your text into animated, retro punch-card videos with authentic hole patterns and sounds. Add custom captions, preview your creations, and share them instantly. All processing is done on your device for maximum privacy.

**Highlights:** Authentic 80-column punch card creation, Live preview and video recording, Customizable bottom caption, Synchronized punch audio, Automatic text flow across multiple cards, Adjustable animation speed and card scale, On-device processing for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rarevision VHS free?

Rarevision VHS costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MainframePunch free?

MainframePunch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Rarevision VHS or MainframePunch have ads?

Neither Rarevision VHS nor MainframePunch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rarevision VHS or MainframePunch?

Rarevision VHS ships an update every 5 weeks, and MainframePunch every 12 months. Most recently, Rarevision VHS was updated on September 24, 2026 and MainframePunch on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*