LaunchCut

What is LaunchCut?

LaunchCut is a Mac app for building interactive iOS app demo previews from the iOS Simulator. Instead of distributing an app via a device install or TestFlight, it records a user flow and exports it as a shareable experience that can be viewed in a web browser.

The core purpose of LaunchCut is to help you “ship your app demo before you ship your app” by turning simulator interactions into a navigable demo. You can record only the screens you want, map interactions like tap targets, and export the result either as a self-contained offline HTML file or (in Pro) as a hosted link.

Key Features

• Record directly from the iOS Simulator: Start recording in LaunchCut after launching your app in the Simulator, then capture interactions as you click through the flow.
• Manual capture control: Choose which screens to capture, rather than being locked into an all-or-nothing recording.
• Interactive flow builder: After recording, map screens and interactive hotspots (tap points) to create a guided, clickable navigation between states.
• Self-contained HTML export (Free): Export a fully offline HTML file with no dependencies for sharing and review.
• Publishing and hosted links (Pro): Generate a shareable demo.launchcut.app link for instant browser viewing without handling files.
• Transparent background export (Pro): Export demos with transparent backgrounds for embedding into marketing pages, documentation, and portfolios; the demo can be embedded in an iframe.

How to Use LaunchCut

1. Set up your environment: Use macOS with Xcode installed, and ensure the iOS Simulator is available.
2. Launch in the iOS Simulator: Start your iOS app in the Simulator.
3. Start a recording in LaunchCut: Begin recording in LaunchCut.
4. Click through your flow and capture: Navigate your app flow naturally and capture the screen(s) or animation(s) you want to include.
5. Map screens and hotspots: Define how screens connect and which tap targets are interactive.
6. Export the demo: For Free, export a self-contained HTML file for offline sharing. For Pro, publish to generate a shareable demo.launchcut.app link (and use transparent background export if needed).

Use Cases

• Stakeholder review of a work-in-progress UI flow: Record the key screens and interactions from the Simulator so non-developers can click through the experience in a browser.
• Feedback collection without device installs: Share a demo via an exported HTML file (Free) or a hosted link (Pro) instead of distributing an install or requiring TestFlight.
• Design and product walkthroughs: Use the interactive flow to demonstrate navigation and tap behavior as it would feel in the app, while keeping the demo independent of devices.
• Portfolio and case study presentation: Embed transparent-background demos (Pro) into a website, portfolio page, or case study so the preview fits the surrounding design.
• Team alignment during early prototyping: Replace early preview distribution workflows with a link or offline HTML export that can be shared quickly for review.

FAQ

• Does LaunchCut require TestFlight or installing an app on a device? No. The product is designed to share interactive previews via a browser link or an exported HTML file, without requiring TestFlight or a device for viewing.

• What do I need to run LaunchCut? LaunchCut requires macOS with Xcode installed and the iOS Simulator. It also requests Accessibility permissions on first use.

• What output formats does LaunchCut support? The Free version supports exporting a self-contained offline HTML file. LaunchCut Pro adds hosted publishing with shareable demo.launchcut.app links.

• Can demos be embedded on a website? Yes. LaunchCut Pro supports transparent background export for cleaner embedding (including via iframes).

• Is LaunchCut dependent on an internet connection? For Free export, the output is described as a fully offline HTML file with no dependencies. Hosted links are part of Pro publishing.

Alternatives

• Static UI prototypes (e.g., Figma prototypes): Useful for showcasing screens and flows, but they may not use the same simulator-recorded interactions as LaunchCut and often require a separate viewing environment.
• TestFlight or device-based preview builds: These provide a fully running build on real devices, but they require app distribution and device access rather than link-based browser playback.
• Other interactive walkthrough/prototyping tools: Alternatives in this category typically focus on authoring interactive screens or flows; the key difference is whether the workflow starts from the iOS Simulator recording and export to browser HTML.
• Web-based demo hosting for screen recordings: You can share videos or interactive web pages, but they may not support interactive hotspots and navigation the same way LaunchCut does when mapping screens and tap points.