There are many iPhone photo apps on the market, and it can be overwhelming to choose which ones to use. We have been shooting travel photography on iPhones since 2009, and it has come a long way!
Recently, we have been testing out the new iPhone Max and iPhone 11 Pro. They have restored our confidence in iPhone photography again, as Apple got it right this time.
Consequently, we thought we would update our list and share the best photo apps to enhance your iPhone photography and help you shoot like a pro.
Photo Apps for iPhone
Many of these apps are also available for Android. We have used a few of them on our Huawei P30 Pro camera, and we have included links to them below as well.
Dave loves the new three-camera system offering wide, super wide, and telephoto zoom. He can now capture stunning landscape shots on his iPhone instantly.
Deb has fallen in love with the stabilization feature for filming walking and motion shots.
However, there are still limitations on the phone that cannot replace a proper DSLR. Nevertheless, with these apps, you can get pretty close!
Best Paid iPhone Apps for Editing
Adobe Lightroom
This is my go-to photo editing app on my desktop, and I edit all my photos here. Therefore, when they released the mobile version, I had to get it.
Adobe Lightroom has continually improved with each update and provides many of the same editing tools as the desktop version.
If you are familiar with Lightroom on Desktop, this is a must-have on your phone or tablet.
Check out Adobe Lightroom for iPhone in the Apps Store.
It is also available for Android on Google Play.
PhotoPills
Photopills is a paid app ($10.99) that is worth every penny as it does so many things. If you enjoy planning your shots for the perfect light, it offers a planner to facilitate that.
Moreover, it shows you the sun and moon phases, provides a night AR feature that overlays your location, allowing you to visualize and see where the Milky Way will be at a specific time of day. This is perfect for capturing stunning night shots.
Other impressive features include ND filter calculations, a Star Trails calculator, a time function, and a Time-Lapse Calculator.
If you are looking for an all-in-one planning and in-camera assistance app, then PhotoPills is one you will want to install immediately.
Check out PhotoPills on the Apps Store.
It is also available for Android on Google Play.
Pro Camera
One of the disadvantages of the iPhone, in my opinion, is that it does not give you the option to shoot RAW images or an uncompressed format natively.
Pro Camera is an app that allows me to capture my photos in RAW format.
This is a picture-taking app that I have just started using with my new iPhone 11 Pro, and I absolutely love it.
For me, I prefer to have as much information as possible in my images and to apply my desired style without relying on an algorithm.
The Adobe Lightroom app allows you to do this as well, but I appreciate that Pro Camera was the first to update for the wide-angle and telephoto lenses on the iPhone 11 Pro.
The controls and screen layout are exceptionally user-friendly.
This is also a paid app, but I have found that if you are looking for excellent control and editing tools, investing a little cash is worth it.
If you want to maximize your iPhone’s potential, I believe this is the best app for capturing high-quality pictures.
Get Pro Camera at the Apps Store.
Camera+ 2
I used the earlier version of this app for years before switching to Pro Camera.
It offers the same functionalities as Pro Camera, but I found it a bit clunky and without support for the iPhone 11 Pro when I went to update it.
I might switch back in the future, as I appreciate their addition of Focus Peaking and Siri shortcuts, which enhance its usability.
The price is also attractive; for just a couple of dollars, this app can turn your iPhone camera into a pro-style device quickly.
Check out Camera+ 2 in the Apps Store.
Touch Retouch
This is an app I have relied on for years. I am generally not one to alter images frequently, but if I need to remove a spot or blemish that detracts from the composition, this is the app I turn to.
I find its algorithm, brushes, and controls to be superior to other apps that offer similar functionalities.
By using a dedicated app, you gain greater control and consequently achieve better results.
Check out Touch Retouch in the Apps Store.
It is also available for Android on Google Play.
Enlight Quickshot
I began using Quickshot about a year ago and have observed significant improvements in the app. In my view, the filters and looks are creative, user-friendly, and incorporate great editing tools.
This app surpasses VSCO in offering additional tools and produces a more polished look.
Get Quickshot at the Apps Store.
Adobe Photoshop Express
I consider Photoshop Express to be one of the best photography apps on the market.
The team has continuously enhanced the features, which is evident in the advanced filters and added controls with HSL and Vignette tools.
Significantly, our favorite aspects of PS Express are the healing brush and noise reduction features. iPhones can sometimes produce noisy images, and PS Express helps us minimize that.
Dark clouds have always been challenging to photograph on the iPhone, yet with PS Express, we can smooth out unwanted pixels and noise.
The healing brush also enables you to remove dust spots or any unwanted elements from the image. Moreover, PS Express provides excellent control over highlights and shadows.
Check out Adobe Photoshop Express on the Apps Store.
It is available for Android too on Google Play.
SkySafari
I used this app frequently before transitioning to PhotoPills. It is the ultimate night sky app.
If you are interested in astrophotography and desire detailed layouts of the night sky at your specific location, then this is the app for you.
This paid app comes in three different versions depending on your desired level of detail.
I have friends who engage extensively in night sky photography, and they swear by this app.
Check out SkySafari on the Apps Store.
It is also available for Android on Google Play.
Sun Seeker
Sun Seeker shows you where the sun will be at any given time of day.
It features a 3D augmented reality interface that illustrates how shadows will fall and indicates the sun’s position.
Therefore, if you wish to return for a sunset shot of the Taj Mahal, Sun Seeker will assist you in determining the perfect time to achieve your desired look.
Check out Sun Seeker on the Apps Store.
It is also available for Android on Google Play.
Free Camera Apps for iPhone
Snapseed
Snapseed is an app we use regularly. It is the best free camera app for iPhone and among the most widely used.
This excellent all-around photo editing tool is easy to navigate. With several editing features, it has become my go-to photo editor app.
Snapseed includes powerful tools that sharpen and tune images, straighten and crop photos, and create drama and texture.
One of the reasons I appreciate it so much is that it provides control through brushes, which many other apps lack.
It is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to edit iPhone images.
Get Snapseed on the Apps Store.
Snapseed is also one of the best photography apps for Android, available on Google Play.
Hyperlapse from Instagram
Not strictly a photography app, Hyperlapse is perfect for creating fast-moving effects for posting on Instagram or other social media platforms. We also use it for Hyperlapses in our YouTube videos.
This is one of the best iOS photo apps to capture all the action and allows you to select your desired export speed. It supports stabilization if your phone is compatible. However, it doesn’t yet support stabilization for the iPhone 11, but updates are expected soon.
Deb still carries her iPhone XS Max for Hyperlapse.
Please check compatibility with your device before using it, as the stabilization can make a significant difference.
Make your app purchases for Hyperlapse at the Apps Store.
Hyperlapse isn’t available for Android, but for my Huawei phone, I use Frame Lapse, which works great. Check it out on Google Play.
Canva Stories
Canva Stories is among the best free photo apps for enhancing your social media shares.
If you’re creating Instagram Stories, TikTok videos, or Facebook Stories, you’ll want to install Canva Stories. I utilize it frequently.
The app offers pre-sized layouts and allows you to customize your stories to make them stand out from the crowd.
Get Canva Stories in the Apps Store.
VSCO
This app has been popular for a long time, not only as a photo editing app but also as a social network.
It was the first to effectively use filters while providing great control over the final product.
Although it doesn’t possess all the features of the paid apps mentioned above, it is ideal if you want to edit quickly while on the go using just filters.
Make your app purchases for VSCO at the Apps Store.
VSCO is also available for Android on Google Play.
Long Expo
We cannot believe how well this iPhone app works. Long Expo enables you to slow down your shutter speed on the iPhone to take long exposures.
If you have a small tripod, like the Gorillapod, you can set up your iPhone and use the timer to capture a shot.
Then, set your desired exposure time to capture stunning long exposure shots, such as silky water cascading over waterfalls.
It works—it really works!
Check out Long Expo at the Apps Store.
Timelapse Helper
If you enjoy capturing timelapse photography, Timelapse Helper is a great tool.
For instance, if you want to produce 30 seconds of timelapse video, the app calculates the intervals at which your shots need to be taken and how many shots will be required to achieve that length.
You can input your desired numbers, and it does the math for you!
Make your app purchases for Timelapse Helper at the Apps Store.
Most of these apps are free or reasonably priced, so explore your options! Do you have any app suggestions that you can’t live without for your iPhone?
We would love to hear from you, so feel free to share your amazing photos with us!
