The best camera app for iPhone gives you control the built-in app hides, such as manual focus, shutter speed, RAW capture or cinema-style video settings. Choose by what you shoot most: natural stills, film looks, social posts or video. Ten apps follow in no particular order, plus the storage catch that comes with shooting RAW.
Apple's Camera app is brilliant at point and shoot, but it makes a lot of decisions for you. If you've ever wanted a photo to look less processed, a video to have a set shutter speed or a sky that isn't blown out, a third-party camera app is where that control lives.
The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from pro photo and video tools to fun film filters. Each description comes from the app's own App Store listing, re-checked this week. If your camera ever won't open at all, my fixes for an iPhone camera black screen come first.
iPhone camera apps compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own listing describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many free camera apps keep their pro features behind a subscription or one-off purchase.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Cam | Film look camera | Retro film filters | Yes |
| Adobe Lightroom | Editor with camera | Shooting and editing in one app | Yes |
| Blackmagic Camera | Pro video camera | Film-style video controls | Yes |
| Camera+ | Camera and editor | Manual shots plus quick edits | Yes |
| Final Cut Camera | Video capture | Apple editing workflows | Yes |
| Halide Mark III | Pro photo camera | Natural, unprocessed photos | Trial only |
| Moment Pro Camera II | Pro photo and video | Moment lens owners | No |
| Obscura | Pro photo camera | A clean manual interface | Yes |
| ProCamera | Pro photo and video | HDR and low light | Yes |
| VSCO | Camera with presets | Consistent filter looks | Yes |
Ten camera apps for iPhone
1998 Cam
Best for: Social posters who want a nostalgic film look straight out of the camera, without editing afterwards.
Adobe Lightroom
Best for: Photographers who already edit in this app and want its camera for raw shots that drop straight into their library.
Blackmagic Camera
Best for: Video makers who want frame rate, shutter angle and colour controls like a cinema camera.
Camera+
Best for: Casual shooters who want a step up in control without learning a pro interface.
Final Cut Camera
Best for: Creators who edit in Apple's pro video tools and want manual video capture that fits that workflow.
Halide Mark III
Best for: Photographers tired of over-processed phone pictures who want manual focus and natural-looking RAW files.
Moment Pro Camera II
Best for: People using add-on phone lenses who want settings that remember their setup between shoots.
Obscura
Best for: Minimalists who want dials for focus and exposure in a tidy layout that stays out of the photo.
ProCamera
Best for: Keen hobbyists who want HDR, RAW capture and manual video controls together in one long-running, well-known app.
VSCO
Best for: Instagram users who want a consistent look across their feed from filters and presets.
Why RAW files fill your phone
RAW photos give you far more room to edit, but they're big. Apple says a ProRAW image is approximately 25 MB at 12 MP and approximately 75 MB at 48 MP, and ProRAW files are 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files.
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What that means for you: shoot RAW for photos you plan to edit, and keep everyday snaps in HEIF. If you use iCloud Photos, a few days of RAW-only shooting can fill a storage plan faster than you'd expect.
Natural photos, film looks or video?
Pro photo apps give you manual focus, exposure and RAW, often with less of the heavy processing the built-in app applies. Film-look apps add grain, colour and light leaks as you shoot, which is perfect for social posts. Pro video apps add frame rates, shutter angle and colour profiles like a cinema camera, and suit people who edit footage afterwards.
Most people need one of each type at most, and many need only one.
Getting more from a pro camera app
- Learn exposure and focus first; they make the biggest difference.
- Turn on the grid to help with straight horizons.
- Shoot RAW only when you plan to edit the photo.
- Lock white balance when shooting a series so colours match.
- Add the app to Control Center or your Lock Screen for quick access.
- Back up RAW files before your storage fills.
Mistakes that waste a good camera app
- Leaving everything on auto. You've installed it for the manual controls.
- Shooting RAW all day. Storage fills and most shots never get edited.
- Ignoring lens choice. Some apps let you pick lenses the built-in app chooses for you.
- Never cleaning the lens. A fingerprint softens every shot more than any setting.
Why some photos look over-processed
Modern iPhones merge several frames into every picture to reduce noise and brighten shadows. It's clever, but it can make skin look smooth and skies look flat. Apps that shoot with less processing, or let you choose, give you a more natural starting point, which is why photographers love them.
Do you make an iPhone camera app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on iPhone camera apps
Don't download five. Pick the one that matches what you shoot most and learn its controls well over a few weeks; a single app you know well beats a folder of apps you never open.
If you mostly post to social media, a film-look app gives you the most joy for the least effort. If you want better photos to print or edit, a pro photo app with RAW is worth learning, and for video, a cinema-style app plus some editing will lift your footage. My guide to editing a video on iPhone covers the next step.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best camera app for iPhone?
It depends on what you shoot: a pro photo app for manual control and RAW, a film-look app for social posts or a pro video app for footage you'll edit.
Are third-party camera apps better than the iPhone Camera app?
They're not always better, but they give you control the built-in app hides, like manual focus, shutter speed and RAW.
Are iPhone camera apps free?
Many are free to download with pro features behind a subscription or one-off purchase. Check each app's listing.
How big are ProRAW photos?
Apple says about 25 MB at 12 MP and about 75 MB at 48 MP, roughly 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG.
Which camera app is best for video?
Pro video apps with frame rate, shutter and colour controls suit people who edit footage afterwards.
Can I set a third-party camera as my default?
Not as the system camera, but you can add many apps to Control Center or the Lock Screen for quick access.
