# S Camera vs Private Recorder

The clearest difference is rating: Private Recorder at 4.1 against S Camera's 2.5. Private Recorder also leads on review sentiment (41% vs 17%) and ratings volume (231 vs 19). S Camera's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. S Camera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Private Recorder sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per 6 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Private Recorder holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Recorder has 231 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of S Camera's written reviews are positive against 41% of Private Recorder's.

S Camera ships an update every 7 months, Private Recorder every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | S Camera | Private Recorder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s-camera-record-instantly/id961510700/reviews) | **[4.1 (231 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-recorder/id1286814946/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **231** |
| Positive reviews | 16.9% of reviews | **41.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [春霞 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/376544204) | [Pradeep Yadav](https://appshunter.io/developer/1123417966) |

## What reviewers say

### S Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s-camera-record-instantly/id961510700)

Easily record videos with a single tap and apply artistic filters like sketch or cartoon. Share your creations instantly to popular video platforms or save them to your device. The app offers fast performance and quick launch capabilities.

**Highlights:** One-touch recording, Artistic effect filters, Fast launch, Tap to focus & exposure, Direct sharing to video channels, Auto-save on interruption

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 App works as a normal camera
- 👍 Some users find it awesome
- 👍 Good for filming (for some)
- 👍 Allows recording without going to camera app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 App is not a screen recorder
- 👎 Users feel it's a waste of time
- 👎 App is described as fake and a lie
- 👎 Users find it useless
- 👎 Takes up storage space

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't record screen
- Doesn't work
- No sound
- Can't figure out how to take pictures, only videos

**Requested features**

- Make on screen recording possible
- Add screen recording functionality
- Make it so it records screen


### Private Recorder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-recorder/id1286814946)

Record audio and video discreetly and store it securely within the application. This tool offers password protection and file management options for your recordings. It's useful for documenting important conversations, lectures, or meetings.

**Highlights:** Record audio and video, Secure password protection, Organized file listing, Rename and delete files, Proof of conversations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade To Pro | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Upgrade To Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads and Unlock Share | $23.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great simple app
- 👍 Works as intended
- 👍 Very easy and functional
- 👍 Good recorder
- 👍 Password protection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Recordings have no sound
- 🐛 App stops recording when screen is off
- 🐛 App stops recording when switching apps
- 🐛 Noticeable recording indicator
- 🐛 No way to delete recordings

**Reported bugs**

- Recordings have no sound
- App stops recording when screen is off
- App stops recording when switching apps
- Noticeable recording indicator
- No way to delete recordings

**Requested features**

- How to share or delete recordings
- Suppress orange mic indicator light
- Set different app icon/name
- Add a tracker for recordings
- Keep recording secretly while screen is locked


## Frequently asked questions

### Is S Camera free?

S Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Private Recorder free?

Private Recorder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, S Camera or Private Recorder?

Private Recorder is rated higher. S Camera averages 2.5 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Private Recorder averages 4.1 from 231 ratings.

### Do S Camera or Private Recorder have ads?

Private Recorder shows ads; S Camera does not.

### Which is updated more often, S Camera or Private Recorder?

S Camera ships an update every 7 months, and Private Recorder every 5 months. Most recently, S Camera was updated on September 19, 2026 and Private Recorder on September 11, 2026.

---

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