When it comes to capturing on-set camera tracking data with your iOS device, both Omniscient and Simulon promise to streamline the visual effects workflow. Whether you’re a cinematographer, VFX artist, or student, choosing the right tool depends on your unique needs.

Below, we break down the key aspects of each solution.

Download size

Metric	Omniscient	Simulon
App download size	~45 MB	~570 MB

Omniscient installs quickly and takes less on-device storage, leaving more space for your footage and scans.

Pricing & Plans

Plan	Omniscient	Simulon
Free tier	✅	❌
Premium tier	✅	✅

Duration	Omniscient	Simulon
Weekly	✅	❌
Monthly	✅	✅
Yearly	✅	❌

Price isn’t explicitly stated here, as it is subject to currency and location changes and may vary over time.

Omniscient offers a generous free tier with many features unlocked. Simulon is fully paywalled; you can try it during a 7-day free trial before the subscription starts.

Try Omniscient

Cloud rendering & quotas

Feature	Omniscient	Simulon
Cloud rendering	❌	✅

💰 Paying feature

Simulon leans on a cloud-based pipeline with credits that cover rendering. Omniscient keeps capture on-device with no credits or monthly quotas to manage.

Pre-viz

Feature	Omniscient	Simulon
3D model import	❌	✅

💰 Paying feature

Simulon allows 3D models to be imported for pre-visualization and offers live compositing helpers, making it more suitable if you need to precisely view a CG element on set. Omniscient keeps pre-shoot prep lightweight and lets you focus on fast capture, scan, and export.

Recording settings

Feature	Omniscient	Simulon
HD resolution	✅	✅
30 fps	✅	✅
Landscape recording	✅	✅
Portrait recording	✅	✅
16:9 ratio	✅	✅
Focus control	✅	✅
White Balance control	✅	✅
Exposure control	✅	✅
4K resolution*	✅	✅
ProRes codec*	✅	✅

*On supported devices | 💰 Paying feature

Export

Software / File	Omniscient	Simulon
Blender	✅	✅
After Effects	✅	❌
Apple Motion (.motn)	✅	❌
Autodesk (.fbx)	✅	❌
Cinema 4D	✅	❌
Unreal Engine	✅	❌
Unity	✅	❌
Maya	☑️	❌
Nuke	☑️	❌

☑️ Compatible, but not optimized | 💰 Paying feature

Omniscient delivers a seamless workflow when it comes to importing shots into your VFX software. Thanks to software-specific export options and add-ons, importing shots recorded with Omniscient is a breeze—even if your software isn’t listed, as it exports an industry-standard format that can be imported into any VFX software.

Try Omniscient

Scan

Feature	Omniscient	Simulon
LiDAR Scanning*	✅	✅
Scale-accurate mesh	✅	✅
Texturing	❌	❌

*On supported devices

Omniscient and Simulon provide a scan of the environment for each shot. On LiDAR-equipped devices, the scan is detailed, while on devices without LiDAR, it remains basic.

Preview / Editing

Feature	Omniscient	Simulon
Shots management	✅	✅
3D review player	✅	❌
Shot duration cutter	✅	❌

Omniscient provides a project management interface where shots are organized and can be individually reviewed on the device. This ensures that each shot can be checked on-site, eliminating the possibility of discovering a bad shot later in the VFX software.

Confidentiality

Omniscient doesn’t rely on cloud upload, every shot is stored solely on your device, ensuring full confidentiality. Simulon can cache clips locally, but its workflow is built around cloud-based rendering, meaning your footage and assets leave the device whenever you use those features.

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Internet & Account

Requirement	Omniscient	Simulon
No Internet needed	✅	❌
No Account needed	✅	❌

Omniscient can be used completely offline without the need for an account. Simulon requires an account and an internet connection for its cloud-driven features.

Conclusion

Both Omniscient and Simulon push mobile filmmaking and virtual production forward:

• Omniscient excels in its simple capture–scan–export workflow, instantly arming post-production artists with precise camera tracks and a 3D scene mesh. If your focus is standard VFX compositing after the shoot and you want to skip the painful matchmove process, Omniscient is your go-to.

• Simulon shines when you need real-time pre-viz, cloud rendering, and an included asset library, great for client previews where live overlays matter most, as long as you’re comfortable working inside a credit-based pipeline

Omniscient lets you explore most features on its free tier, while Simulon provides a 7-day trial before the paid subscription and credit system kick in. Whether you’re an indie VFX hobbyist, a student learning matchmoving, or a professional cinematographer looking to preview CGI live on set, one of these apps will likely fit your workflow and budget.

Try Omniscient