The Ballpark Research app lets participants complete studies directly on their phone, including sharing their screen while they use other apps. Get it at get.ballparkhq.com.
Why the app exists
Some studies require screen recording on a mobile device. Mobile web browsers block websites from capturing the screen, so a native app is needed for these studies.
With the app, participants can:
Share their full phone screen with researchers during a study
Record their front-facing camera at the same time as the screen
Record their microphone
Complete website tasks, Figma prototype tasks, and AI-moderated interviews
Join without creating an account (no sign-up or sign-in required)
For researchers
Enabling the app for a study
In your study builder, click Recording at the top of the page.
Toggle on Screen recording.
Toggle on Collect mobile screen recording. Participants who open your study link on a phone are then directed to install the app (or open it, if they already have it) before they can start the study.
Mobile-only studies: Collecting mobile screen recording still lets participants complete the study on desktop, without the app. If you want to restrict a study to mobile devices only, please also restrict to mobile devices.
What study types work in the app
Self-guided studies with screen recording
AI-moderated interviews
Studies with website tasks
Studies with Figma prototype tasks
For participants
Installing the app
Download Ballpark Research at get.ballparkhq.com. This takes you to the right store automatically for iPhone or Android. You don't need to create an account, just open the app and join a study.
Joining a study
If you already have the app installed:
Tap a Ballpark study link on your phone and deep linking takes you straight into the study, or
Open the app, tap Scan QR code, and point your camera at the QR code on your screen, or
Open the app and enter the 6-digit code shown on the study page into the code entry field
If you don't have the app yet:
On the study page, open get.ballparkhq.com on your phone to download the app.
Open the app and either scan the QR code or enter the 6-digit code shown on the study page.
What happens during a study
You'll see a screen explaining you're about to take part in a research study, with a link to the Privacy Policy and a note that parts of the platform are AI-powered. Tap I'm ready to start.
If your study needs camera or microphone recording, allow access when prompted, then tap Continue.
If your study needs screen recording, tap Start screen share, select Ballpark from the system list, and tap Start Broadcast (iOS) or Start now (Android).
Review your setup on the confirmation screen, then tap Start the study.
Your study tasks appear. These work the same as on the web: questions, tasks on websites, Figma prototypes, or a conversation with an AI moderator.
Note: your recording keeps running while you browse websites or other apps during a task.
Finishing a study
When you reach the end of your tasks, follow the on-screen prompt to submit your responses. This stops any active recording and completes the study. If you exit early instead, return to the app and follow the same on-screen prompt to end the study rather than closing the app directly, so your recording stops properly.
Leaving and coming back
If you leave the app during a study (for example, to switch to another app), a small floating window appears. This is Picture-in-Picture mode, and it shows your camera feed if your study includes camera recording, or a simple recording indicator if it doesn't. The study keeps running in the background either way.
If you stay away for 30 minutes, the study pauses automatically and you'll get a notification. Tap the notification (or reopen the app) to pick up exactly where you left off. No data is lost.
Platform differences
| iOS | Android |
Screen sharing | Tap "Start Broadcast" in the iOS system picker | Tap "Start now" in the Android recording prompt |
Website tasks | Browser slides up inside the app | Browser opens full-screen inside the app |
Tablets (iPad and Android) aren't supported in the app yet. Studies currently complete in the browser without screen recording. Native tablet support is in development.
Frequently asked questions
Does the app record me even when I'm not looking at it? Yes. If your study requires screen and camera recording, the recording continues when you switch to another app. This is necessary so you can complete tasks naturally. If you're away for 30 minutes, the study pauses and you get a notification.
Do I need to create an account to use the app? No. You can join a study by scanning a QR code or entering a study code. No sign-up or sign-in required.
I scanned the QR code but the study didn't open. What do I do? Try the code entry instead. Find the code displayed on the study page and type it into the app's home screen.
The study says my code is expired or invalid. Codes expire after a set time. Go back to the original study link in your browser, refresh the page, and copy the new code.
I started the study on my desktop and want to continue on my phone. Open the original study link on your phone. You'll be directed to the app with the option to resume from where you left off.
Can I take studies on a tablet? Not yet through the app. Tablet studies currently run in the browser without screen recording. Native tablet support (iPad and Android) is coming.
The screen recording permission was denied. How do I fix it? Go to your phone's Settings, find Ballpark Research, and enable Screen Recording (iOS) or Display over other apps / Screen capture (Android). Then return to the app and try again.
I denied camera or microphone access by mistake. How do I fix it? Go to your phone's Settings, find Ballpark Research, and enable Camera and Microphone access. Then return to the app and try again.
What's coming
Moderated sessions on mobile: joining a live moderated session from the app (in development)
Tablet support: completing app-based studies, including screen recording, on iPad and Android tablets (in development)
App Test step: a dedicated step type for testing your own app inside a Ballpark study (in development). In the meantime, you can test your app today by pointing a website task at your App Store, Play Store, or TestFlight listing.