Comparison

Portal Frame vs TimeBack

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

Head to head
About

Portal Frame

Features
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Frame the shot with your hands Portal Frame turns the simple "finger frame" gesture into a real-time effects camera. Hold up both hands, shape a rectangle with your thumbs and index fingers like you're framing a photo, and the app locks onto it instantly. Whatever effect you've picked plays out live, inside the frame you made, while the rest of the shot stays untouched. Hand tracking runs entirely on-device, so it keeps up in real time even without a signal. THE PORTAL EFFECT Open your palm and a glowing ring forms beneath it. Close it into a fist and the ring charges brighter, faster, more energy. Throw a punch and that hand's portal bursts outward in the direction you threw it. Each hand runs its own portal completely independently, so both can be open, charging, or bursting at the same time. 60+ REAL-TIME EFFECTS A full GPU-accelerated effects library across eight categories Color, Artistic, Retro, Distortion, Light, Cinematic, Experimental, and the signature Portal effect. Pixelate, glitch, VHS, oil painting, kaleidoscope, bloom, thermal, hologram, and dozens more, all rendered live at full frame rate. BUILT FOR PRIVACY Portal Frame doesn't have a backend. Your camera feed, microphone audio, and recordings are processed on your device and never transmitted anywhere there's no server for them to go to. No account, no analytics SDK, no ad tracking. Read exactly what the app touches and why in the in-app Privacy Policy. RECORD, SAVE, SHARE Record straight from the live preview, review it in your library, and save finished clips to your Photos app in one tap. Works offline record in airplane mode and every effect still runs. PORTAL FRAME PRO Unlock the complete 60+ effect library with no watermark, and run the portal effect on both hands at once. Weekly, monthly, yearly, and lifetime options are available manage or cancel anytime from your Apple ID subscription settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/fingerframeprivacy/home

About

TimeBack

This camera app continuously buffers recent footage, allowing you to save moments that have already happened. Capture unexpected events without constantly recording, saving storage space and battery life. Offers advanced controls and multiple recording options for various scenarios.

Highlights
  • Continuous pre-recording buffer
  • Instant replay saving
  • 4K video recording
  • Pro camera controls (ISO, shutter, WB)
  • Quick recording via volume buttons
  • Voice control for recording
  • Power-saving mode
Features
Read full description

TimeBack is a pre-recording camera and instant replay camera that continuously buffers recent footage, so when something happens, just press record to save what happened before and after. No need to record continuously while waiting, helping you avoid unwanted footage and save storage space. Perfect for fishing, sports, travel, pets, family moments, and everyday life. 【Key Features】 PRE-RECORDING CAMERA Set the pre-record duration for up to 2 minutes. 4K VIDEO RECORDING Record clear, detailed videos in up to 4K resolution. PRO CAMERA CONTROLS Adjust ISO, shutter speed, white balance, exposure, and more. QUICK RECORDING Start or stop recording with the volume buttons. VOICE CONTROL Start or stop recording with voice commands. POWER-SAVING RECORDING Reduce screen power consumption during long recordings. VIDEO MANAGEMENT Review, organize, and export your videos in the app. 【USE CASES】 FISHING Wait for the bite and capture the moment the fish takes the bait. SPORTS Capture unexpected highlights while skiing, cycling, skating, playing basketball, football, tennis, and more. TRAVEL & OUTDOOR MOMENTS Record scenery and unexpected moments along the way. BABIES & FAMILY Capture first steps, funny expressions, spontaneous reactions, playtime, and other moments that happen before you have time to press record. PETS Catch your cat or dog running, getting into mischief, or being playful. DRIVING & DASHCAM Use TimeBack as a flexible camera with a replay buffer when you want to preserve something that just happened. Save recent footage without keeping every minute as a permanent video file. 【FAQ】 Q1: What is pre-recording?
 A: Pre-recording is TimeBack's core feature. The camera continuously buffers recent footage. When you press record, the buffered footage and live recording are saved together as one video, capturing the full moment before and after the action. Q2: Does pre-recording use a lot of storage?
 A: No. Buffered footage isn't continuously saved as video files. Only the footage you choose to record is saved. Otherwise, the buffer continuously overwrites itself, using less storage than recording continuously for a long time. Q3: Can I use TimeBack without pre-recording?
 A: Yes. TimeBack also works as a regular camera with 4K video recording, camera controls, and voice control. Simply turn off pre-recording when you don't need it.

Screenshots

Portal Frame4 screens
TimeBack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TimeBack at none against Portal Frame's 4. On price, ads, 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. Portal Frame sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. TimeBack asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Portal Frame versus TimeBack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPortal FrameTimeBack
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequency—Daily
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOussama OumlilMEETFIRE LIMITED

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Portal Frame

Subscriptions3
  • Finger Frame Weekly pro$3.997 Days
  • Finger Frame Monthly pro$6.991 Month
  • Finger Frame Yearly pro$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • FaceFlow Lifetime pro$0.99
None

TimeBack

No in-app purchases

Questions

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

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