MaxCurve vs Hipstamatic® Analog Camera
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MaxCurve
This professional photo editor offers advanced curve editing with 28 unique curve types, surpassing even desktop software. It includes a manual camera, HDR, layers, masks, and blend modes for detailed image reconstruction and artistic expression.
- 28 comprehensive curve editing tools
- Pro manual camera controls
- Layer management with blend modes
- Masking and channel adjustments
- HDR and vignette tools
- Sync with Photoshop via Wi-Fi
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Best Apps of 2016, as Chosen by Apple. MaxCurve is a professional photo editor, which has the most comprehensive curve editing function and pro manual camera. MaxCurve achieves great innovation with 28 curves, most of which users have never seen on other apps. Even Photoshop can't achieve such an exquisite adjustment performance. Furthermore, manual camera, HDR, layer, channel, mask, preset, blend mode, opacity, crop and vignette are available. MaxCurve is able to edit every detail of your photos to its maximum design and also help to perfectly reconstruct your photography works. It's an indispensable app for photographers, and an essential tool serving as great assistant for artists. "MaxCurve should satisfy even the most perfectionist image editors." -- DPReview "Take your iPhone photography to new levels with MaxCurve." -- App Advice "MaxCurve brings professional image editing that even goes beyond some of the Photoshop curve functions. Recommended." -- Life in LoFi "Even more powerful desktop applications like Photoshop don’t offer the same level of control over some of their adjustments as MaxCurve does through its diverse range of curves tools." -- iPhone Photography School RGB KIT - RGB, Red, Green and Blue curves CMYK KIT - CMYK, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black curves LIGHTNESS KIT - Contrast/Lightness curve - Exposure/Lightness curve, like shadow/highlight in Photoshop - Gamma/Lightness curve - Temperature/Lightness curve - Lightness/Hue curve, like hue/saturation in Photoshop - Black & White/Hue curve, best BW tool ever HSL KIT - Hue curve, like hue/saturation in Photoshop - Hue/Saturation curve - Hue/Lightness curve, like color balance in Photoshop - Saturation curve - Saturation/Hue curve - Saturation/Lightness curve LAB KIT - a curve - a/Luminosity curve - Copy a to b curve - b curve - b/Luminosity curve - Copy b to a curve - Luminosity curve LAYER KIT - Manage curves using maximum 40 layers - Add color layer, texture layer or self-blending layer; then set blend modes like in Photoshop - Adjust blending opacity using curves - Add mask for every layer CHANNEL KIT - RGB, CMYK, HSL and LAB channels - Check and adjust channels separately MORE KITS - HDR brings a stunning look to your image by using one image - Crop, rotation, mirror and ratio tools - Sharpness, blur, grain, structure and vignette tools - Powerful history function with snapshot - Pixelate and border tools MANUAL CAMERA - Adjust the exposure, ISO, shutter speed, temperature and focus by manual - Use the presets to be the filters while taking photos - Use it as a standalone camera SYNC TO PHOTOSHOP - MaxCurve can be linked to your Mac or PC's Photoshop using Wi-Fi, import images from Photoshop and export them back again after processing - Output presets as the format of 3D LUT, and use them in the function named 'Color Lookup' of Photoshop - You can perform collaborative work with Photoshop like a plugin, first of its kind ever created PROFESSIONAL EDIT - Process and save images as FULL size without downscaling resolution - Support for JPEG, TIFF, PNG and RAW (CRW, CR2, DNG, ARW, RAF, ORF, NEF, MRW, PEF, and others) - Reserve EXIF and GPS information as original picture - Add copyright info into EXIF, or add watermark for protecting your copyright - Choice of export quality - Analyze pictures by professional histogram and gradient map - Open MaxCurve in system's Photos app, and have it serve as a filter extension - Support is available for split view on iPad and 3D touch SHARE CURVES - Save curves into presets for subsequent and future use - We set up an online curve sharing platform for users to share photography artworks and curves without registration - Find inspiration on a publication highlighting creativity from around the globe - Save curves of other photographers to local presets Have suggestions or problems? Contact us via email: support@ maxcurve. net
Hipstamatic® Analog Camera
This app simulates shooting with a vintage analog film camera, applying effects like lenses and films before you take the photo. Explore over a thousand unique analog combinations and connect with a community of photographers without algorithms or ads.
- Analog film camera simulation
- Pre-shoot effect application
- 1000+ lens and film combinations
- Chronological community feed
- No ads or algorithms
- Photo challenges and stamps
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Your iPhone takes perfect photos. Hipstamatic® doesn't. That's the point. Hipstamatic is not a photo editor. It's a camera... the original analog film camera for iPhone, made since 2009. —— SHOOT FIRST. EDIT NEVER. Pick a lens. Pick a film. Shoot. Hipstamatic® applies the analog look before you press the shutter — exactly the way a real film camera works. No editing. No tweaking. No second-guessing. The photo is finished the moment you take it. —— 200+ LENSES. 200+ FILMS. EVERY ONE A REAL CAMERA. Over 1,000 analog combinations across TinType, Instant, Classic Toy and more. Each one gives you grain, color shifts, light leaks and vignettes you can't fake and can't replicate anywhere else. None of them perfect. All of them honest. Don't want to choose? Shuffle, and let the camera surprise you. —— NO ADS. NO TRACKING. NO ALGORITHM. EVER. Hipstamatic® runs on members, not advertisers. No VC funding. No data harvesting. No feed deciding what you should look at. When you join, you're keeping an independent camera alive… One that's been here since before Instagram existed. —— A SMALL, QUIET ROOM. If you want it, there's a community of people who shoot the way you do. Chronological. No algorithm. No brand accounts. No promoted posts. No follower math. Just photographs people actually meant to make. And it's opt-in — if you only ever want a private camera, that's the whole app too. —— FREE TO START. MORE LOOKS WITH MEMBERSHIP. The camera is free. Join the Hipstamatic® Camera Club to open the whole shelf. Every lens, every film, every camera we've made in 15+ years and go as deep as you want to go. Your first month is on us. —— P.S. Hipstamatic was Apple's very first App of the Year (2010). We just never stopped pointing the camera at something.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Hipstamatic® Analog Camera at Free against MaxCurve's $0.99. Hipstamatic® Analog Camera also leads on ratings volume (2.8K vs 923). MaxCurve's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 39%) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Hipstamatic® Analog Camera is free to download; MaxCurve costs $0.99 up front. Hipstamatic® Analog Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. MaxCurve asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for MaxCurve against 4.6 for Hipstamatic® Analog Camera. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 923 and 2.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of MaxCurve's written reviews are positive against 39% of Hipstamatic® Analog Camera's.
MaxCurve ships an update every 4 weeks, Hipstamatic® Analog Camera monthly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.
| Parameter | MaxCurve | Hipstamatic® Analog Camera |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (923 ratings) — better | 4.6 (2.8K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.5% of reviews — better | 39.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 923 | 2.8K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 112 MB | 184 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | 晓东 王 | Hipstamatic, LLC |
Customer experience
MaxCurve
Hipstamatic® Analog Camera
User reviews
MaxCurve
From 923 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Powerful photo editing capabilities
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🎨 Excellent color correction and curve tools
- 💻 Great for desktop and mobile editing
- 🖌️ Versatile layering and blending options
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔁 Lack of updates and bug fixes
- 📱 Compatibility problems with newer devices/OS
- 💰 Concerns about in-app purchases and subscription model
- 🤔 Steep learning curve for some advanced features
Hipstamatic® Analog Camera
From 2.8K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Simple and intuitive interface
- 👍 Variety of creative filters and effects
- 💡 Ability to create custom camera presets
- 🤩 Fun and engaging community features
Room to improve
- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 😞 Loss of previous purchases and customizations
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 💸 Expensive subscription model
Bugs and requests
MaxCurve
Reported bugs
4 issues- Lower interface elements being cut off
- Filter masks appearing misaligned
- Photos disappearing after editing
- Frequent, unpredictable crashes
Requested features
5 requests- Local masking and selective editing tools
- Levels and histogram adjustments
- Skin smoothing and portrait enhancement
- Improved undo/redo functionality
- Expanded RAW file support
Hipstamatic® Analog Camera
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to save custom camera presets
- Inconsistent behavior when editing photos
- Syncing issues with photo library and cloud storage
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to import photos from camera roll
- Option to change aspect ratio beyond square format
- Restore previous purchases and customizations
- Improved search and organization for lenses/films
In-app purchases
MaxCurve
No in-app purchases
Hipstamatic® Analog Camera
- Hipstamatic Camera Club$7.991 Month
- Hipstamatic Camera Club3 Months trial$19.996 Months
- Hipstamatic Camera Club1 Month trial$29.991 Year
Questions
Is MaxCurve free?
Is Hipstamatic® Analog Camera free?
Which has better reviews, MaxCurve or Hipstamatic® Analog Camera?
Do MaxCurve or Hipstamatic® Analog Camera have ads?
Which is updated more often, MaxCurve or Hipstamatic® Analog Camera?
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