Best Loop Recording App for Commuting: Hawk Dashcam
Hawk by MRVL is a loop recording app that turns your iPhone or Android into a court-ready dashcam, with continuous recording, GPS overlay, and one-tap evidence export you can send to insurance or police.
What Is Hawk Loop Recording?
Hawk is a dashcam app, not a subscription service disguised as one. It records continuously to your phone's storage, looping over old footage once you run out of space, so you're always protected during your commute. Every clip gets a SHA-256 integrity hash written to it, meaning the footage is cryptographically locked against tampering. If you're in an accident or need to dispute a claim, you export the clip as a ZIP file with a manifest that proves it hasn't been altered. The app works on any phone mounted on your dashboard. No hardware device, no cloud subscription required to start. As of June 2026, Hawk's free tier records up to 10 clips per month with 7 days of retention, making it ideal for testing before upgrading.
Continuous Recording During Your Commute
Loop recording means Hawk keeps filming the moment you start the app or enable shift mode. When your phone storage fills up, old clips cycle out automatically. You never miss a moment. Every frame includes cinematic optical-flow stabilisation, so footage stays clear even on rough roads. GPS data is overlaid on clips if you enable it in your privacy settings, showing speed and timestamp. If you're a daily commuter or rideshare driver, you can use shift mode in Rideshare Pro to record multiple trips in a single session without manually starting and stopping. The app doesn't require an internet connection to record, so it works in tunnels, rural areas, or anywhere you drive.
Evidence-Grade Export for Insurance and Police
The core reason commuters choose Hawk is the one-tap dispute export. When you need proof of what happened, you select a clip, tap export, and Hawk creates a ZIP file containing the video, a SHA-256 manifest, and metadata. You can email this directly to your insurance company, police, or small-claims court. The hash proves the footage is authentic and unedited. On iOS, Hawk can also submit police reports directly through NDSP (National Driver Safety Program) without leaving the app. Rideshare drivers appreciate this feature when dealing with passenger complaints or accident claims. The Evidence Locker stores your most important clips with biometric lock, so they can't be accidentally deleted.
Free vs. Pro: Which Tier for Your Commute?
Hawk Free gives you 10 clips per month, 7-day retention, and basic loop recording. Enough to test the app and capture occasional incidents. Local Pro costs £3.99 per month, £39.99 per year, or £49.99 lifetime, and removes clip limits. You get GPS overlay, trip map replay, iCloud sync for locked clips, and Siri Shortcuts. Rideshare Pro (£8.99/mo or £69.99/yr) adds cabin-facing camera, shift mode for multi-trip sessions, and a passenger recording notice. If you commute daily and want full evidence coverage without subscription stress, the lifetime Local Pro tier pays for itself within a year.
Why Loop Recording Matters for Commuters
Loop recording is the feature that makes dashcams practical for phones. Without it, you'd have to manually manage storage and remember to save clips after incidents. Hawk's approach means you can mount your phone, enable the app, and forget about it. The moment something happens, the footage is already there, hashed, and ready to export. For commuters in busy cities or anyone new to driving, this passive protection is invaluable. The app is light on battery because it uses your phone's native camera hardware and doesn't stream video anywhere unless you choose to sync Pro clips to iCloud. Unlike dedicated hardware dashcams, you already own your phone, so there's no extra device to buy, wire, or maintain.
Getting Started with Hawk
Download Hawk, mount your phone on your dashboard, open the app, and tap record. That's it. The app will ask for camera and location permissions, and you can choose whether to enable GPS overlay in your privacy settings. If you want shift mode for multiple trips, subscribe to Rideshare Pro. If you want unlimited clips and iCloud sync, go for Local Pro. You can cancel or change tiers anytime. Your recorded clips stay on your phone until you delete them, unless you lock them in the Evidence Locker, in which case Pro plans sync them to your own iCloud account for backup.
Start recording your commute today. Download Hawk on iOS or Android in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawk require a subscription to loop record?
No. The free tier records up to 10 clips per month with 7-day retention. You can loop record indefinitely without paying. Pro tiers unlock unlimited clips, GPS overlay, and iCloud sync.
Is Hawk evidence accepted by insurance companies?
Yes. Every clip is signed with a SHA-256 integrity hash that proves it hasn't been tampered with. You export as a ZIP file with manifest and metadata, ready for insurance, police, or court submission.
Can I record multiple trips in one session?
Yes, if you subscribe to Rideshare Pro. Shift mode lets you record multiple trips without stopping and restarting the app, ideal for Uber, Lyft, or Bolt drivers.
Does Hawk upload my video to the cloud?
No. Hawk records to your phone's storage by default. Pro plans can optionally sync locked clips to your own iCloud account, but cloud sync is not automatic or mandatory.
What happens when my phone storage is full?
Hawk loops, meaning it automatically deletes the oldest clips to make room for new ones. Important clips you lock in the Evidence Locker are protected and won't be overwritten.
Can I use Hawk with a rideshare app open at the same time?
Yes. Hawk runs in the background or in picture-in-picture mode, so you can drive for Uber, Lyft, or Bolt while recording. Rideshare Pro includes a passenger recording notice for legal compliance in many jurisdictions.