What is a product demo video?
A demo video shows your product being used, usually in 30 to 90 seconds: on your landing page, in a launch post, or as an App Store app preview. A device-mockup video places a screen recording inside a rendered phone or laptop and animates the camera around it, which makes a plain recording look like a finished product shot.
Where Wolfix raises it. It does not check for a demo video. The nearest checks are the Brand department's App Store and Google Play screenshot checks, which flag a store listing with missing screenshots — the same audience a demo video speaks to.
When you need a demo video — and when you don't
You need one now if your product is hard to understand from a screenshot, if you are launching on a site where video drives attention, or if you want an App Store app preview.
You don't need one yet if the product is still changing weekly — every UI change dates the video. A good set of screenshots and a short screen recording from your phone will carry an early launch.
The options, one by one
Rotato is a service Wolfix refers customers to. Screen Studio, Loom and Arcade are not Wolfix partners and are included because a fair comparison needs them. They make different things: Rotato places your recording in a 3D device mockup, Screen Studio polishes a screen recording, Loom records quick shareable videos, and Arcade builds click-through interactive demos.
Rotato
What it is. A Mac app that turns screen recordings and screenshots into animated 3D device-mockup videos and images, with templates for common shots.
Pricing (as of 2026-10-04). A one-time payment, not a subscription: Basic is $79 with all phone mockups and no templates, Standard $89 with 30+ devices and 18 video templates, and Premium $199 with 100 video templates [S1]. Each includes a year of new mockups and features [S1].
Pros
- One-time payment with no monthly or yearly fees, and you keep using it after the year of updates ends (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]).
- Studio-style 3D device shots in minutes, with more than 30 mockup devices on Standard and Premium (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]), without learning a 3D tool.
Cons
- The app is Mac only, needing macOS 11 or newer (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]); Windows users get only a public beta that runs in the browser (as of 2026-10-04, [S3]).
- New devices and features arrive only during the included year (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]); after that, the next new phone model means paying again or keeping older mockups.
Who it suits. A founder on a Mac who wants polished product shots for a landing page, launch post or store listing without hiring a motion designer.
Screen Studio
Not a Wolfix partner. Named for comparison; Wolfix earns nothing from it.
What it is. A macOS screen recorder that adds automatic zoom, smooth cursor movement and device frames, built for product demos and tutorials.
Pricing (as of 2026-10-04). $29 a month billed monthly, or $9 a month billed yearly, with every feature in both [S4]. Students and educators can request 40% off [S4].
Pros
- Automatic zoom and smoothed cursor movement (as of 2026-10-04, [S4]) turn a plain recording into a watchable demo with no editing.
- Records an iPhone or iPad over USB with device frames (as of 2026-10-04, [S4]), which covers a mobile app demo too.
Cons
- A subscription, not a one-time purchase: $29 billed monthly or $9 a month billed yearly (as of 2026-10-04, [S4]), so it keeps costing money between launches.
- Mac only; its FAQ says there are no near-future plans to add Windows support (as of 2026-10-04, [S4]).
Who it suits. A founder on a Mac who records demos and tutorials regularly.
Loom
Not a Wolfix partner. Named for comparison; Wolfix earns nothing from it.
What it is. A screen and camera recorder for quick shareable videos, acquired by Atlassian, used for walkthroughs, updates and async demos [S5].
Pricing (as of 2026-10-04). Starter is free for 25 videos of up to 5 minutes each [S5]. Business is $18 per user a month billed monthly or $180 a year, and Business + AI $24 a month or $240 a year [S5].
Pros
- A free plan with transcriptions and comments (as of 2026-10-04, [S5]), enough to send a demo to one investor or customer.
- Apps for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android (as of 2026-10-04, [S5]), so the whole team can record.
Cons
- The free plan caps you at 25 videos and 5-minute recordings, and removing Loom branding is a Business feature (as of 2026-10-04, [S5]).
- Its plans list no device frames or automatic zoom (as of 2026-10-04, [S5]), so it suits a sales walkthrough more than a launch video.
Who it suits. A team sending quick demos and walkthroughs to specific people.
Arcade
Not a Wolfix partner. Named for comparison; Wolfix earns nothing from it.
What it is. A tool for interactive, click-through product demos that visitors step through themselves, with AI voiceovers, and MP4 and GIF exports on its paid plan [S6].
Pricing (as of 2026-10-04). Free with 1 published demo and 1 published video [S6]. Growth is $50 per seat a month, with 15% off on yearly billing [S6]. Companies before their Series A can ask for a startup discount on Growth; the page publishes no percentage [S6].
Pros
- Unlimited views of published demos, even on the free plan (as of 2026-10-04, [S6]).
- The free plan includes AI voiceovers and 200 AI credits a month (as of 2026-10-04, [S6]).
Cons
- The free plan allows only 1 published demo and 1 published video (as of 2026-10-04, [S6]), and Growth costs $50 per seat a month (as of 2026-10-04, [S6]); a pre-Series-A startup can ask for an unpublished discount on it [S6].
- Exporting a demo as MP4 or GIF, and custom branding, are Growth features (as of 2026-10-04, [S6]), so a video for a store listing or social feed means paying.
Who it suits. A SaaS founder who wants visitors to try the product on the landing page.
Still undecided: record it yourself
Your phone and computer already record the screen for free, and a plain, well-paced recording is often more convincing than a stylised one. Apple publishes specifications for App Store app previews, which are screen recordings rather than mockups.
Side-by-side comparison
| Service | What it makes | Platform | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotato | 3D device-mockup videos and images [S1] | macOS 11 or newer; browser beta [S1], [S3] | One-time $79 to $199, 1 year of updates [S1] | 2026-10-04 |
| Screen Studio | Polished screen recordings [S4] | macOS [S4] | $29/month monthly, or $9/month billed yearly [S4] | 2026-10-04 |
| Loom | Quick shareable screen and camera videos [S5] | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android [S5] | Free to 25 videos; Business $18/user/month [S5] | 2026-10-04 |
| Arcade | Interactive click-through demos [S6] | Chrome extension, desktop app (Mac, Windows), Figma plugin [S6] | Free for 1 demo; Growth $50/seat/month; startup discount before Series A [S6] | 2026-10-04 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tool to make an app demo video?
Screen Studio for a polished recording on a Mac, Rotato to place it in a 3D device mockup, Loom for a quick shared walkthrough and Arcade for an interactive demo (as of 2026-10-04, [S4], [S1], [S5], [S6]).
How do I make a demo video for my app?
Record the key flow on a real device, trim it to under a minute, and add captions for viewers watching without sound. A mockup tool such as Rotato can then place the recording in a device frame.
How long should a product demo video be?
Short: 30 to 90 seconds for a landing page or launch post. Show one flow from start to the result, not every feature.
Is Rotato a subscription?
No. It is a one-time payment from $79 that includes a year of new mockups and features, and it keeps working after that year (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]).
Does Rotato work on Windows?
The app requires a Mac running macOS 11 or newer; on Windows there is a public beta in the browser (as of 2026-10-04, [S1], [S3]).
Sources
Read from each provider's public pages on the date shown.
- [S1] Rotato pricing — rotato.app/pricing, checked 2026-10-04.
- [S3] Rotato for Windows — rotato.app/about/windows, checked 2026-10-04.
- [S4] Screen Studio homepage and pricing — screen.studio, checked 2026-10-04.
- [S5] Loom pricing — loom.com/pricing, checked 2026-10-04.
- [S6] Arcade pricing — arcade.software/pricing, checked 2026-10-04.
Last reviewed
Last reviewed on 2026-10-04. Tool prices and platform support change; confirm them on the sources above before you buy.