รีวิวเด้อ
Post a job

The beginner's guide to reviewing apps: record, show features, deliver

Last updated 13 September 2026

Your first paid app review doesn't need expensive gear — a phone and some care will do. This guide collects the basics that make a first clip look professional and make a poster want to hire you again.

Reviewing a game? Read the beginner's guide to reviewing games

1. Before you start: read the brief, prepare your phone

A phone, a small tripod and decent light are enough for your first review.

Read the whole job post before you apply, and again before you record. Most posters have already said what they want in the description and video spec.

  • Clip length, and vertical (9:16) or horizontal (16:9)
  • Which features to show, and anything to avoid
  • Hashtags, links or codes to include
  • Deadline, revision rounds, and whether the poster may reuse the clip (for ads, say)

Install the app and really use it for a day or two before recording. You'll talk about it more naturally and find what real users care about.

Prepare your phone

  1. Turn on Focus / Do Not Disturb so no notification pops up mid-clip
  2. Charge fully and free at least 2–3 GB of storage
  3. Close other apps and switch to a plain wallpaper
  4. Set the app's language to match your audience

Always use a sample account or sample data. Keep phone numbers, emails, balances, addresses and private chats out of the clip.

2. How to record your screen

Most modern phones have a screen-record button in their quick controls.

iPhone / iPad

  1. Open Control Center: swipe down from the top-right corner, or up from the bottom edge on models with a Home button
  2. If there's no Screen Recording button, add it in the Control Center settings
  3. To narrate as you go, long-press the Screen Recording button and turn the microphone on
  4. Tap record, wait for the 3-second countdown, then use the app
  5. Stop by tapping the red indicator at the top; the clip lands in Photos

Android

  1. Swipe down from the top twice to open Quick Settings
  2. Tap Screen record (Screen recorder on some phones); if it's missing, tap edit to add it
  3. Pick audio: none, device audio, microphone, or both
  4. Some phones can show taps on screen — it helps viewers see where you pressed
  5. Stop from the notification; the clip lands in your gallery
Reviewing a web app or desktop software? Record just the part of the screen you need.

Mac

  1. Press ⌘ Command + Shift + 5
  2. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion
  3. Open Options to choose a microphone
  4. Click Record, and stop from the button in the menu bar

Windows 11

  1. Open Snipping Tool and switch to Record (the video camera icon)
  2. Click New and drag to select the area to record
  3. Click Start, stop when done, then save the file

Export at 1080p, 30 or 60 fps. For TikTok, Reels and Shorts use vertical 9:16.

3. A structure people watch to the end

A good review has a clear rhythm, from the first second to the call to action.

Before recording, jot down a rough outline as bullet points — no need for a full script. For a 60-second clip:

  1. 0–3 sHookOpen with the result or a problem viewers know, like "a month of expenses logged in 10 seconds"
  2. 3–10 sProblemBriefly say what was painful before this app
  3. 10–45 sFeaturesTwo or three features from the brief, one scene each
  4. 45–55 sHonest takeWhat you liked, and what's worth knowing before using it
  5. 55–60 sCall to actionWhere to download or try it, with the hashtags or link from the brief

4. Showing a feature so it's easy to follow

Tap slowly, hold on the result, and zoom in on what matters.
  • Tell it as a real situation — "at the end of the month I need to…" — instead of reading a feature list
  • One scene per feature: start screen → the steps → the result
  • Tap slower than usual, and hold on the result for a second or two
  • Cut loading and waiting, and zoom or circle the key spot when editing
  • Show before/after where you can, like time saved — but only numbers you actually saw
  • Mention limitations politely and usefully; viewers trust reviews that aren't all praise

Hit a serious bug while testing? Tell the poster before you publish. Most will thank you and may fix it before the clip goes out.

5. Sound and picture

  • Sound matters more than picture. Use earphones with a mic or a clip-on mic about 15–20 cm from your mouth
  • Record in a quiet room; switch off noisy fans or air-con. Curtains and rugs cut echo
  • You can record the voice-over separately afterwards — it's often smoother than talking while tapping
  • If you're on camera, face a window, keep the camera at eye level, and use a plain background
  • Add subtitles: many people watch muted. Editing apps can auto-caption, but always check the words

6. Tell viewers it's a paid review

Saying you were paid doesn't make the clip worse — it makes viewers trust you over time.

  • Say in the clip or caption that it's a paid review
  • Turn on each platform's sponsored-content disclosure: Paid partnership on Instagram and Facebook, Branded content on TikTok, Paid promotion on YouTube
  • Only review what you actually tried, and don't promise what the app can't do
  • Follow each platform's rules, which can change — check before you publish

7. Checklist before you deliver

Always send the poster a draft before publishing.
  • Length and aspect ratio match the brief
  • Every agreed feature is shown
  • No personal data or notifications slipped into the clip
  • Clear audio, correct subtitles, app name spelled right
  • Hashtags, link or code from the brief included
  • Paid-content label turned on
  • Draft sent to the poster, with revision rounds agreed up front
  • Original files kept until the job is done
  • After publishing, send the poster the link and any agreed stats

On a Reviewder job page the poster can copy a draft agreement to discuss with you. Use it to pin down scope, revisions and payment before you start.

8. Pricing your first jobs

Reviewder never holds money and takes no commission: you set your price and agree payment directly with the poster. The budget sizes on the board are guidance only:

  • XS ฿100–500
  • S ฿500–2,000
  • M ฿2,000–5,000
  • L ฿5,000–15,000
  • Count all the time: trying the app, outlining, recording, editing and revisions
  • For your first jobs, bid near the poster's budget to build a portfolio, then raise it once you have samples
  • If the poster will run your clip as an ad, agree an extra usage fee
  • Agree how you'll be paid, such as a deposit before starting and the rest on delivery