# Pearla - Pro Filmic Camera — user reviews > 292 indexed App Store user reviews of Pearla by Guy Cassidy, rated 4.20/5 from 305 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearla-pro-filmic-camera/id6477783991/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearla-pro-filmic-camera/id6477783991.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 211 · 4★ 25 · 3★ 18 · 2★ 18 · 1★ 33 ## What do users think of Pearla? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Great film simulations - 👍 Intuitive interface - 🔍 Excellent image quality - 💡 Useful features like open gate video capture - 🎨 Customizable recipes **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy, crashes and freezes - 🔧 Clunky UI and controls - 💰 Subscription-only model - 🔍 Inconsistent image rendering - 🔍 Slow processing and saving **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes when switching lenses - Saved photos don't match preview - Inability to delete account - Inconsistent behavior when locking settings **Most requested features** - Ability to record to external storage - More advanced video features like focus peaking and zebras - Easier access to film simulations - Option to purchase app outright instead of subscription - Improved performance and stability ## Newest reviews (19 of 292) ### 2/5 — Wait… *2026-08-16, version 3.2.7* This is literally just VSCO 😭 ### 3/5 — Monthly subsciption *2026-07-08* Yes this app might be good but an expensive subscription with ongoing payments is just awful. I would totally pay for a good app but not in sub model! ### 3/5 — Fix the user experience *2026-07-02, version 3.2.6* I love your app and love the simulations and how I have been able to record some great videos with it, but please improve your UX. Example, when I am on the film emulation screen, how do I go back to the camera view? There is no back arrow no indicator, nothing. Fix this please. It should be an easy fx. ### 4/5 — Just a bit more… *2026-06-30, version 3.2.6* I’ll get right to it: the results I’ve gotten with this app have been astonishing. I love exactly where this app is taking me. My only criticism is an inability to customize the UI so that things are easier to see and that settings are easier to find and to lock once I have Established them. I still haven’t been able to get the zebras to work, which is my only main criticism. ### 3/5 — Great for LUTs, missing basic features *2026-06-09, version 3.2.6* There’s no alternative if you want to use custom LUTs from non-iPhone color spaces like Fuji. However, it’s missing a lot of basic features. For example, there is no option to save photos only to my camera roll. To save to my camera roll, it also saves to the app storage, which is now taking up 13GB and there’s no way to bulk delete these photos either so I have delete one by one or uninstall and reinstall the app. The navigation is also tricky - multiple swipes and taps to simply change the focal length. Would be nice if we can customize the top bar. Lastly, it mutes all audio when entering the app which feels unnecessary. ### 4/5 — Great App But Missing One Thing *2026-06-09, version 3.2.6* I love this app. The color profiles are great, the level of control is insane, and it’s all super easy to understand. The ONLY thing it’s missing is that it can’t be opened via the Camera Control button, and that there’s no control to add it to the Control Center or Lock Screen, which means if you wanna open it quickly, it either needs to rest on your Home Screen, or you need to make a Siri Shortcut for it. ### 2/5 — Crashes often *2026-06-03, version 3.2.6* Nice features, but it’s pretty unstable. 100% not worth paying for currently. Unreliable in the field. 17P ### 3/5 — Buggy *2026-05-19, version 3.2.6* I absolutely cannot get the animorphic part of this app to work correctly. No matter what setting I try , my footage doesn’t look correct . I even have to turn off “ record “ in the anamorphic section because it does this weird zoom in to the left . It seems if you close the app , all sorts of weird things happen , like lens choice disappearing. Or maybe just changing a setting messes everything up . Plus lack of user luts is a bummer . I really want to love this app , but I have already emailed them , messaged on Instagram , no response ### 2/5 — So slow and buggy *2026-04-20, version 3.2.6* Promising though not free if you want access to more features the app is almost impossible to use and doesn’t have the option to use the camera button on the phone. Very slow. ### 3/5 — Concept is good but didn’t liked the interface *2026-04-03, version 3.2.6* The ability to change film presets is really difficult. Also we can’t see the effects in real time. For a first time user this app is really complicated. ### 1/5 — Vibe coded app *2026-03-31, version 3.2.6* So buggy it feels like they vibe coded the app ### 1/5 — Subscription only model *2026-03-30* The app seems nice. It is stuck behind a subscription wall and you have to put your card info to get the free trial. A one time purchase option would be nice :) ### 1/5 — Stuck on Login *2026-03-30* After Installing this App. I tried to sign in, but it stuck at Sign in Page. ### 2/5 — Pretty misleading *2026-03-28, version 3.2.6* Despite the app being free to download, it puts you through the setup, sets all permissions and signs you in, only to lock you behind a subscription plan where the only “free trial” is on the yearly plan, this is mentioned at the very bottom of the app description when i personally feel like it should be at the top. Prices arent too terrible, but for a camera app it should at most be a one time purchase. For those willing to subscribe, im sure the app is good and does exactly as it says, but for those expecting a free app offering this functionality you need to look elsewhere. ### 1/5 — Signing in issue *2026-03-27* For the past 3 hours I’ve been trying to sign in but to no avail. ### 2/5 — Misleading as free *2026-03-26* Cannot even click one picture without payment which shows the actual intend of the developer. UI is extremely confusing. Spent 2 days in this app and still cant figure out how to switch films on the go while seeing previews. Asking for full payment and subscription for a half baked application. I think nofusion is much better ### 2/5 — UIUX is so bad *2026-03-26, version 3.2.6* To delete one photo you still have to select. To export one photo you still have to select. Who is making these ux choices ? Could you also add ability to open the app with camera control? ### 1/5 — Subscription only and they charge for “free trials”?! *2026-03-24, version 3.2.6* The app forces you to subscribe for either a month, 3 months or 12 months, with no option to purchase the app for a lifetime just like competitors like Mood or Dazz. It said that there was a free trial option only with the 3 and 12 month plans, for which it required my credit card (similar to other apps) but it immediately charges you?! It should not charge anything until that free trial has ended, which at no point does it tell you for how long it is throughout the process? Would love to support app developers working on cool things like these but not at the expense of good customer service and user friendliness. ### 1/5 — Not usable 14 pro max *2026-03-18, version 3.2.6* Constant freezing and crashing since purchased a year ago (Gaslighting me into a support ticket won't fix your broken code. If your app can’t stay open on a fresh-out-the-box flagship without crashing, the issue isn't my 'technical cause' it's your development) ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Subscription only *2026-08-17, version 3.2.7* Hopefully I save people a download. Subscription based only. What a let down. ### 1/5 — Very buggy *2026-07-21, version 3.2.7* Adds a green cast to all photos, crashes, and doesn’t give as good of a result as other apps ### 1/5 — Scam *2026-07-13, version 3.2.6* Do not download ### 1/5 — You dont even allow to try the app and ask money with first log in? *2026-07-07, version 3.2.6* Needs improvement. ### 1/5 — Let me try before making an account *2026-06-30* Ask for an account and then for a payment... really ? So now i will receive emails and i have another account that i don't want ### 1/5 — Horrible UI design *2026-06-29, version 3.2.6* very difficult to change settings, some config(like exposure)are unable to save. Tap the viewfinder and focus mode will change to manual forever(unless I switch it back), I means, seriously? Bad UI design, I’m confused by the way to switch between photo/video, when tapping the video bottom, what’s the photo/video capsule for? Why not just change to photo. The developer should pay me to use this app ### 1/5 — Economic Model *2026-06-15* And that’s one more app that does offer only subscriptions… even though the app is nice, with free options on the market such as the Black Magic App, I don’t think it’s worth it for anyone to bind themselves to one more subscription just for the sake of using this app. Having a one-time payment would be a great improvement. ### 1/5 — Not free *2026-04-28, version 3.2.6* App shows free in App Store, and requires you to pay monthly or yearly… no thanks ### 1/5 — No back button *2026-04-10, version 3.2.6* Where’s the back button after we get into the settings. Let this app be wonderful, but if I’m not able to navigate within the app how will i use it? ### 1/5 — Unable to sign in. *2026-04-01* Is this app available in India ? I can’t go past the sign in page. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Stunning - after figuring it out.. *2026-06-04, version 3.2.6* Absolutely Fabulous 4k Colour Rendering … .. have been looking at 17pro options to improve 4k capture @ 60fps beyond Apple camera - which actually work easily.. Eventually after working through Black magic, CinemaP3 & Final Cut Camera, I settled on Pearla… - in my opinion these all are very good but for me.. Pearla is the easiest to quickly and actually obtain stable acutely coloured footage.. Black Magic..too many settings to set each time before shooting .. Cinema P3… very good a close second, for quick usability.. Final Cut camera - biggest issue was non being able to bake in or view the shoot with LUT’s - yes Pearla costs £25/year.. but when I consider that I can get such an improved 4k image on an iPhone 17 pro - which will dramatically improve further with the forthcoming 18 pro new variable iris main camera - I find I will not need to upgrade my Sony AX700 or Nikon Z7 - the iPhone is actually better quality route..!!! ### 5/5 — Love it *2026-03-04, version 3.2.5* Really loving the app so far for both videos and photos, especially with an anamorphic lens and taking XPAN style shots . However I’m currently having an issue with the desqueezing on videos. When recording the desqueeze to the footage, it only gets it right about 25% of the time. I have to toggle back and forth between desqueeze or not and record multiple videos for it to work right. ### 5/5 — Good control *2026-02-28, version 3.2.5* Nice app, I like the quality of the photos and simulations. I think as the UI/UX is refined the access to shutter/focus/aperture will be easier. Thanks for the app! ### 5/5 — Great App *2026-01-28, version 3.2.2* So far so good I will complete my own review on my YouTube channel I’ve subscribed for a year to see how it evolves and performs. ### 5/5 — Great *2026-01-26, version 3.2.2* I’ve been using this for a bit now on subscription and really like it. I don’t think there is anything else like this that I’ve found on the App Store, film emulation but realistic and lot over the top. There are bugs here and there, more than I’d like to see, but definitely worth using and worth the subscription cost for me. I will say I am not a professional or anything, just enjoy this! ### 5/5 — I hope they add a save feature with game assist in the video *2026-01-14, version 3.2.2* I really love the app and the versatility that it offers but can you please add so that you can save the video with the gamma assist ### 5/5 — Honest Take After Usage *2026-01-12, version 3.2.2* For starters, 4K open gate is amazing, love it, Love the grain, love taking photos, The image quality you can get is amazing, i haven’t touched the base camera app for a while, however there are persistent issues i must point out. 1. Applying a Monitor LUT freezes the live preview 2. UI is nice but a bit impractical, the concept of swiping is cool but it would be easier to make a toggle option to use buttons instead, at times it seems like the swipe feature just decides to not work, maybe user error, but Id rather just have a button so i don’t miss a moment because I was changing my grain level. 3. I deeply hate having to scroll to enable auto features (white balance for example) it would be easier to make it a toggle option to “Auto” ### 5/5 — Sensational!! *2025-12-25, version 3.2* properly removes the iPhone processing, so the images appear to be taken with a genuine and authentic camera ### 5/5 — Camera Control Shortcut *2025-11-29, version 3.1.2* Great camera app just hoping they add camera control shortcut ### 5/5 — LOVE THE APP BUT *2025-10-17* needs zebras and needs a back button badly is frustrating and the save file location keeps shifting from files to library and many more idk just do it man this app is lovely --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*