Pulsefy
Heart Rate from Your Camera
Turn your iPhone into a heart rate monitor. Using PPG technology, just place your finger on the camera to measure your pulse in real time. No Apple Watch or wearable needed. Your measurements stay on your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pulsefy?
Pulsefy is a heart rate measurement app for iPhone that uses PPG (photoplethysmography) technology through the camera and flashlight to measure your pulse in real time.
How does camera-based heart rate measurement work?
When you place your fingertip over the camera lens with the flashlight on, the app detects tiny color changes in your skin caused by blood flow. This technique is called photoplethysmography (PPG) and is the same optical principle that smartwatch heart rate sensors use.
How accurate is the measurement?
Camera-based PPG gives an estimate of your heart rate for general wellness. Movement, pressing too hard, cold fingers and low light all affect the reading, so sit still, rest your finger gently over the lens and wait for the signal quality indicator to show a good signal. Pulsefy is not a medical device and must not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.
What are Simple and Advanced modes?
Simple mode is free: a quick BPM reading with a signal quality dot and live min/avg/max while you measure. Advanced mode is part of Pulsefy Premium and adds a real-time PPG waveform chart, a signal quality meter, torch brightness control and lens selection.
What happens to my data?
Your heart rate, HRV, waveform and measurement history stay on your iPhone. There are no accounts and no ads. To keep the app reliable we use Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics for anonymous usage and crash statistics (never your measurements), and RevenueCat to manage Premium purchases. Details are in the privacy policy.
Does it support Siri Shortcuts and accessibility?
Yes. You can start a measurement via Siri Shortcuts or Home Screen Quick Actions. The app also offers full VoiceOver support, Reduce Motion support, and high-contrast semantic colors (WCAG AA compliant).
Which iPhone cameras are supported?
Pulsefy supports multi-lens selection. It works with both the back camera (torch-illuminated, recommended) and the front camera (screen as light source). The app provides a device-specific finger placement guide to help you position your finger correctly.
Is Pulsefy free?
Measuring is free and ad-free, including the last 3 results. Optional Pulsefy Premium (weekly or yearly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase) unlocks Advanced mode, full result details (min/max and waveform), unlimited history, trends, HRV and CSV/PDF export. Subscriptions renew automatically until you cancel them in your App Store account settings.