# Mavis Camera vs Video Pencil

The clearest difference is rating: Mavis Camera at 4.4 against Video Pencil's 4.2. Mavis Camera also leads on ratings volume (746 vs 106). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mavis Camera sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per 7 days and Video Pencil sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mavis Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mavis Camera has 746 ratings behind it against 106, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Mavis Camera's written reviews are positive against 57% of Video Pencil's.

Mavis Camera ships an update fortnightly, Video Pencil every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mavis Camera | Video Pencil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (746 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mavis-camera-pro-capture/id979227459/reviews)** | [4.2 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/video-pencil/id1642987677/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **746** | 106 |
| Positive reviews | **59.2% of reviews** | 57.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 253 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mavis Broadcast Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1458348258) | [Good To Hear](https://appshunter.io/developer/501992448) |

## What reviewers say

### Mavis Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mavis-camera-pro-capture/id979227459)

This app offers advanced video recording and live streaming capabilities for creators and professionals. It provides manual camera controls, professional monitoring tools, and various output options for seamless integration into modern workflows.

**Highlights:** ProRes, HEVC 10-bit, Open Gate recording, Custom and Filter LUTs for filmic looks, Advanced monitoring tools (focus peaking, zebras), Manual camera controls (focus, exposure, ISO), NDI® HX3 Certified, Camera to Cloud integrations (Frame.io, MediaSilo), Live streaming to YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, Facebook

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mavis C2C | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Pass | $29.99 | per year |
| Mavis C2C | $29.99 | per month |
| Timecode UltraSync BLUE | Free | one-time |
| Timecode | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gimbals | $2.99 | one-time |
| Buy us a coffee | $4.99 | one-time |
| Viewfinder | $5.99 | one-time |
| Formats | $5.99 | one-time |
| Pro Tools | $5.99 | one-time |
| Film Kit | $14.99 | one-time |
| Pro Pack | $14.99 | one-time |
| Big Bundle | $17.99 | one-time |
| API | $19.99 | one-time |
| NDI® | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎥 Excellent video quality and features
- 🔧 Comprehensive manual controls
- 🎨 Useful tools like focus peaking and waveform monitor
- 🔒 Stable and reliable performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🚫 Removal of useful features like OpenGate
- 💰 Paywall for essential features like LUT support
- 🤔 Confusing layout and settings navigation
- 🔇 Issues with audio codec and sync

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent video metadata and resolution
- Upside-down video playback after switching cameras
- Inability to lock manual shutter speed and ISO
- Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity with external devices
- Saving videos taking an unusually long time

**Requested features**

- Dolby Vision HDR support
- Log color profile and flat picture settings
- Smooth zoom functionality
- Remote monitoring and control capabilities
- Improved gimbal integration and support


### Video Pencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/video-pencil/id1642987677)

Annotate directly onto any video source, including your iPad's camera or external feeds. Customize your drawing tools and record your annotations as a video or transparent layer. Ideal for presentations, coaching, and live streaming.

**Highlights:** Draw on any video source, Smart shuttle control for precise scrubbing, Customizable toolbar with colors and pen styles, Record with or without annotations, Pause and rewind live video (extra), Seamless Mac connection via CueCam Presenter, Transparent NDI feed for professional workflows

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Video Pencil for Zoom | $7.99 | per month |
| Soccer Toolkit | $19.99 | per month |
| Soccer Toolkit | $149.00 | per year |
| Laser Pointer | $3.99 | one-time |
| Magic Wand | $3.99 | one-time |
| Action Replay | $19.99 | one-time |
| Video Pencil Pro Essentials | $39.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Updates | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mavis Camera free?

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

### Is Video Pencil free?

Video Pencil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mavis Camera or Video Pencil?

Mavis Camera is rated higher. Mavis Camera averages 4.4 out of 5 from 746 ratings, while Video Pencil averages 4.2 from 106 ratings.

### Do Mavis Camera or Video Pencil have ads?

Neither Mavis Camera nor Video Pencil shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mavis Camera or Video Pencil?

Mavis Camera ships an update fortnightly, and Video Pencil every 3 weeks. Most recently, Mavis Camera was updated on October 24, 2026 and Video Pencil on October 25, 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.*