# TimeLens — Longterm social timelapse vids > Create long-term social timelapse videos with easy photo alignment and sharing. (iPhone/iPad app by Saril Raghu.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timelens/id1240390371 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Saril Raghu](https://appshunter.io/developer/691043034) - Category: Photo & Video - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.30/5 from 20 App Store ratings · 9 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 4 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2017-05-27 - Data updated: 2026-08-01 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timelens/id1240390371/reviews.md ## What is TimeLens? Create time lapse videos that span days, weeks, or even years without special hardware or leaving your phone in the same spot. Not just your iPhone, but anybody standing in the right spot can add a picture to the TimeLens. Geolocation, Footprints, and HoverMode make it easy to align the pictures. Features: • Scan any part of the globe to reveal TimeLenses using TimeLens Explorer • Easy and intuitive alignment: HoverMode superimposes a pic in the TimeLens over your shot • Get in the right spot with Footprint: a picture of where you stood when you started the TimeLens • Use the self-timer and a tripod to get everbody in the TimeLens. Long-press the shutter button to activate. • Create private TimeLenses that are only visible by you • Create viewable TimeLenses that people can see, but only you know the location • Dynamically adjust the speed of the TimeLens playback • Overlay and compare two pictures with SideSwipe • Long press rows to change the HoverMode pic, select pics for SideSwipe, rename or delete TimeLenses, or delete pictures • Export a TimeLens to your camera roll and share it on Facebook, YouTube, etc • Export before-and-after pictures, SplitPics (half pic A and half pic B), and GridPics (4 pics of your choice) • Send a deep link to your friend directly from the app. They will open your TimeLens with one tap. • Offline mode: create TimeLens and add to existing ones even when you don't have internet access. The app will sync your pictures after you go online again. ## Key features - Long-term timelapse video creation - Geolocation-based photo alignment - Private and viewable timelapse options - Dynamic playback speed adjustment - Multiple export formats (video, split pics, grid pics) - Offline mode for creating and adding photos ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | HD Timelapse | $0.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (9 of 9) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timelens/id1240390371/reviews.md ### 3/5 — Cool *2020-08-29* This is definitely good for people who want to take photos of something and mash them together. However, it won’t let you upload your other pictures in your camera roll and there is no camera switch option. That was something I wanted to use. ### 3/5 — Unintuitive; permissions flaws *2020-05-12* Good interface, great idea, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get back to a project I’ve already started! Which defeats the whole point of the app ☹️ UPDATE 5/2020: Gave this app another try after coming across an awesome picture from the 1800’s of a building nearby. Unfortunately, while I can import the picture from my saved photos (a feature other apps lack) I cannot edit the GPS points for it upon upload, and, because I still can’t edit existing projects that I started (Error says you can only edit your own TimeLens... even when it IS mine!) I can’t update the coordinates once I have the benefit of Hovermode to help me figure out the exact location the photo was taken from. Super bummed, yet again. **Developer response:** Thanks for checking out the app, but I'm really sorry about it not being intuitive enough. I have plans to make it better on the next release. Until then, to get back to your project, click on "Browse all TimeLenses" from the home page. Find the one you want to add to from the list. It should be on the top if you're close by and sorting by distance. If you're close enough to add a picture, you'll see a plus sign you can tap to jump directly to adding a picture. Or, you can tap the row and view all the old pics, compare pics, play the TimeLens, add a pic (plus sign on the top-right), or other actions. Hopefully this gets you going! UPDATE 5/2020: Thanks for checking it out again. Be sure you're using the same email address you used when you created the TimeLens in order to edit them. You should be able to update the coordinates from the info page of the TimeLens itself (gear icon will pull up the menu, then click on "Update Coordinates". If you still cannot edit your TimeLenses, I can check stuff in the DB and make sure everything is in order. ### 1/5 — Unable to use without providing GPS access *2020-01-04* This app requires you to provide GPS access even though you start a project that clearly says private GPS (home project). You can’t progress pass the provide access prompt. It also stores the images on their server. Not your phone, then is cheeky enough to ask for $1 to cover the cost of storing larger HD photos. Really? My phone can hold THOUSANDS. No cost to me. Don’t waste your time. **Developer response:** Hi! Sorry to read your review, but I'd like to respond to your concerns. The app uses the GPS coordinates on every TimeLens to know if you're close enough to add a new picture or not. So, Private TimeLenses still store the GPS location, but the location is only used by your account. Nobody else can view your Private TimeLenses. If you want other people to see your TimeLens, but you don't want the location shared, you can make it Viewable. Pictures are stored on the server, like you mentioned, and there are reasons for this. First, the app intends to be a social, crowd-sourced time-lapse video app. The pics need to be on a shared server so all users can view and add to the TimeLens (if it's public). Second, if you are making TimeLenses over a span of 10 or more years (like mine of my daughter growing), the odds are that you'll upgrade your phone. You can continue the TimeLens for years and all the pictures will be on the server (at my cost) for as long as I can afford it. It is absolutely free to use the app for standard definition pics, but I only charge for storing HD images ($1 per TimeLens...which can be thousands of pics for one TimeLens). Third, with the images on the server instead of individual devices, you can use multiple iPhones or iPads to add pictures if they are logged in with the same account. I hope this explains why it's set up the way it is. I'm not trying to be cheeky at all, and I truly hope you give the app a chance and make some cool TimeLenses! ### 5/5 — Great app! *2018-05-03* Great for showing the changes over time. Easy to use. Give it a try! ### 5/5 — Cool app *2018-05-03* Really great way to see how image changes with time ### 5/5 — Awesome! *2018-05-03* Innovative and easy to use interface to track time lapse pictures over time. ### 5/5 — Great effect *2018-04-29* Cool app. Let’s you easily stitch together pics to create a time lapse. ### 5/5 — Great app *2017-06-18* That's what I need ### 5/5 — Great app! *2017-05-31* This app is a great way to see change all around you. Taking pics of your feet and hovermode make it easy to line up your pics. ## Frequently asked questions about TimeLens ### What is TimeLens? TimeLens is a mobile application designed for creating long-term timelapse videos. It allows users to capture and compile photos over extended periods, such as days, weeks, or even years, to create dynamic visual narratives. ### How does TimeLens help align photos? TimeLens uses features like Geolocation, Footprints, and HoverMode to assist users in aligning new photos with existing ones. HoverMode superimposes a previous image over the live camera view, making precise placement easier. ### Can I create private timelapses with TimeLens? Yes, TimeLens offers the ability to create private timelapses that are only visible to you. You can also create viewable timelapses where others can see the content, but only you know the specific location. ### What export options are available in TimeLens? TimeLens allows you to export your completed timelapses as videos to your camera roll. Additionally, you can export before-and-after pictures, SplitPics (half of one image and half of another), and GridPics (a selection of four images). ### Does TimeLens work offline? Yes, TimeLens supports an offline mode. You can create new timelapses and add pictures to existing ones even without an internet connection. The app will sync your captured images once you reconnect to the internet. ### What is the user rating for TimeLens? TimeLens has a strong user rating of 4.3 stars, based on 20 ratings. This indicates generally positive user sentiment and satisfaction with the app's functionality. ### On which devices can I use TimeLens? TimeLens is currently supported on iPhones and iPods. It is designed for iOS devices. ### How often is TimeLens updated? The latest version of TimeLens, 1.35, was released on August 21, 2023. This suggests the app is actively maintained and receives updates periodically. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.37 — 2026-05-23 Bug fixes: - Scan button on the starting page - Response to rotating the device ### 1.35 — 2023-08-21 Major fix to adjust to web host changes. Huge apology to all the TimeLens users! The web host company I use made some fundamental changes that broke TimeLens for quite some time. I am uploading this version to restore all the existing functionality, and I plan to have an upcoming release that will enable users to restore any pictures that were not uploaded correctly between the version 1.34 and 1.35. ### 1.34 — 2020-12-03 Now, it's easy to remember to add a picture with built-in reminders. Super useful to capture the change around you in consistent intervals. - Create daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly reminders. Set them on the info page. - Support for Dark Mode and iOS 13 - Playback now smoothly fades back to the first picture when playing a TimeLens ### 1.33 — 2020-09-14 By popular demand, now you can export four pictures in a grid to clearly show the change of seasons, your home project's progress, or your garden blooming. Choose any four pictures in your TimeLens and export the GridPic to your photo album. You can still export the time lapse video, SplitPics, and before-and-after pics, too. Also, some good old bug fixes make the app more stable and improve functionality. ### 1.32 — 2020-05-22 Bug fix and some cool additions! Thanks to user feedback on the App Store, we discovered a bug when registered email addresses had a "+" sign. That's fixed now! Sometimes, a 50% split just won't do it. Now, when you slide the A:B location, the SplitPic has the same location when exported. Also, exported before-and-after and SplitPics have the timestamps on them. ## Apps similar to TimeLens | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [PhotoAlign: Before and After](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photoalign-before-and-after/id6452679281) | 3.0 (5) | Free | Photo & Video | | [Timeshot: Progressive snapshot](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timeshot-progressive-snapshot/id1532748384) | 4.3 (7) | Free | Photo & Video | | [FrameApart: Recreate Photos](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frameapart-recreate-photos/id1565207014) | — | Free | Photo & Video | | [Memorygraph](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memorygraph/id1621992557) | — | Free | Photo & Video | | [Easy Overlay](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/easy-overlay/id6448210266) | — | Free | Photo & Video | | [RepliCam - Replicate photos](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/replicam-replicate-photos/id6473665085) | 3.0 (1) | Free | Photo & Video | --- *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 2026-08-01.*