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What is MakiRoll?
MakiRoll is a video app that replaces the usual self-view with a stream of questions. Instead of staring at yourself or reading a script, you describe a topic, answer what Maki asks out loud, and receive a captioned talking-head video. It runs on iPhone and on the web, and it targets people who keep putting off making video.
The site names the problems it addresses: freezing when the red light comes on, scripts that sound like a brochure, a mind that goes blank, and editing that feels like a full-time job. The homepage also cites a 5.0 rating on the App Store and early-user quotes.
How does MakiRoll work?
You begin with a rough thought, typed or spoken. Maki suggests how to talk it through and roughly how long, and you can change both. The camera records while Maki asks adaptive questions, one at a time, and your face stays off the screen unless you turn on a small self-view.
When you stop, MakiRoll finds the strongest self-contained segments and suggests a main story, sometimes with extra takes that fold in. You preview, reorder, remove, add and trim clips, then approve the result. Nothing is exported until you say so.
Key features of MakiRoll
Recording offers two modes. Guided has Maki ask and you answer, while Ramble is for when you already know what to say. Maki can play a curious friend, a sharper interviewer or a story finder, and Prompter can show your own notes one line at a time. A timer and warm-up questions are optional.
Editing includes trimming false starts, fixing a wrong word in the captions without re-recording, and caption styles called Movie and Outline, or your own. You can record vertical, wide or both, and on iPhone choose 720p, 1080p or 4K. Extras include .srt export and multiple cuts.
Key Features
Rough-thought starting point — Type or say a loose idea and Maki suggests how to talk it through and roughly how long to record.
Topic suggestions — If you have no idea, set a channel, a goal or a product and Maki proposes topics to talk about.
Question-driven recording — One question appears on screen at a time, with your face hidden by default. Questions adapt as you speak.
Guided and Ramble modes — Guided has Maki ask and you answer. Ramble lets you talk freely, with Prompter showing your own notes one line at a time.
Selectable Maki styles — Maki can act as a curious friend, a sharper interviewer or a story finder, and can look at your product with you.
Automatic story and clip selection — MakiRoll identifies the strongest self-contained segments and suggests a story, which you can preview, reorder, remove or add to.
Trimming and caption fixes — Trim false starts and long pauses, and correct a wrong word in the captions without re-recording the take.
Caption styles — Choose Movie, Outline or your own style, with optional word highlighting for viewers watching on mute.
Weekly goal, reminders and widget — Set a cadence you can keep, get reminders, and see on an iPhone home screen widget whether you recorded this week.
Vertical, wide or both formats — Record in one or both orientations at once. On iPhone, 720p, 1080p or 4K is available if the phone supports it.
Backup and export options — Finished videos can back up to iCloud, along with original recordings if you choose. You can also export .srt files and share directly to platforms.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Hides your own face by default, which removes the self-monitoring that causes freezing on camera.
Adaptive questions mean no script or memorization is needed; a rough topic is enough.
Automatically selects strong clips and adds captions, while you keep final approval over every cut.
Three free videos with no card required let you test the full workflow before paying.
All paid plans include unlimited exports and no watermark, with a yearly discount of 25% to 37%.
Habit tools such as weekly goals, reminders and a home screen widget support regular posting.
Cons
Requires a live internet connection, so it cannot be used offline.
Free videos export with a watermark, and Casual and Creator cap videos at 120 and 250 per year.
Built for talking-head video; it is not a general video editor for other styles.
Transcripts are sent to MakiRoll's servers, and some features such as the widget are described for iPhone only.
Pricing
Casual $7.50/month Billed yearly at $89.99 (save 25%)
Creator $14.50/month Billed yearly at $174.99 (save 27%)
Unlimited $25.00/month Billed yearly at $299.99 (save 37%)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MakiRoll?
MakiRoll is an app that records talking-head videos by showing you questions instead of your own face. It then picks your strongest takes, suggests a story, adds captions and lets you approve the final cut. It runs on iPhone and on the web.
How much does MakiRoll cost?
Plans start at $7.50 per month, billed yearly at $89.99, for Casual with 120 videos per year. Creator is $14.50 per month ($174.99 yearly) for 250 videos, and Unlimited is $25.00 per month ($299.99 yearly) for unlimited videos.
Does MakiRoll have a free trial?
Yes. You can make three videos free without a card, though free exports carry a watermark. The Unlimited plan also lists a 14-day free trial.
Do I need a script to use MakiRoll?
No. A rough topic is enough. Maki asks follow-up questions and you can stumble, pause or change your mind. A Prompter option can show your own notes one line at a time in Ramble mode.
Where are my videos stored?
Raw interview recordings and finished cuts stay on your device, and raw recordings never touch MakiRoll's servers. Transcripts are processed on the servers. Finished videos can optionally back up to iCloud.
Does MakiRoll work offline?
No. MakiRoll needs a live internet connection to work as intended.
Is MakiRoll available on Android?
There is no Android app named in the sources. MakiRoll works on the web and as an iOS app, and Android users can add it to the home screen for a similar experience.
Who is MakiRoll best for?
It suits people who want to make talking-head video but freeze on camera, dislike scripts or find editing slow. Creators, founders and other professionals who record short spoken videos are the clearest fit.