# The Simple Camera vs StageCameraPro2

The clearest difference is price: The Simple Camera at Free against StageCameraPro2's $3.99. The Simple Camera also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (55% vs 46%). StageCameraPro2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

The Simple Camera is free to download; StageCameraPro2 costs $3.99 up front. The Simple Camera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. StageCameraPro2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for The Simple Camera against 4.6 for StageCameraPro2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StageCameraPro2 has 1.7K ratings behind it against 206, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of The Simple Camera's written reviews are positive against 46% of StageCameraPro2's.

The Simple Camera ships an update weekly, StageCameraPro2 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Simple Camera | StageCameraPro2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-simple-camera/id1048899002/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagecamerapro2/id1437885179/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 206 | **1.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **55.3% of reviews** | 45.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KANAME OHARA](https://appshunter.io/developer/899986346) | [sky-nexus Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/512522554) |

## What reviewers say

### The Simple Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-simple-camera/id1048899002)

Capture high-quality photos and videos with a minimalist interface. This app offers intuitive controls, supports multiple camera lenses, and integrates with Apple Watch for quick access.

**Highlights:** High quality photos (48MP), Live photos and videos, Minimal User Interface, Support UltraWide/Wide/Telephoto, Apple Watch support, Lock screen widget launch, Lockable focus and exposure

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full feature option | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and user-friendly interface
- 📸 High photo quality
- 🤫 Silent shooting capability
- 🚀 Fast performance
- 💡 Useful features like gridlines and Live Photo

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Ads in free version
- 📉 Quality not as good as native app
- ❓ Inconsistent silent mode functionality
- 😵 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- Camera access button not working
- Cannot switch between front and rear cameras
- App freezes or closes unexpectedly
- Photos not saving

**Requested features**

- Add 24MP resolution option
- Improve zoom functionality and buttons
- Option to switch between main, telephoto, and ultra-wide lenses at 48MP
- Add option to always have shutter sound on or off
- Allow saving to custom albums


### StageCameraPro2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagecamerapro2/id1437885179)

Capture high-quality photos and videos with manual control over camera settings. Offers advanced features like HEIF/HEVC support, resolution and aspect ratio switching, and up to 10x zoom. Includes video recording up to 4K at 60fps and HDR capabilities.

**Highlights:** Manual camera operation, HEIF and HEVC support, Up to 10x zoom, 4K video recording at 60fps, Resolution and aspect ratio switching, Camera shake correction, iOS 16 lock screen widget support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Simple Camera free?

The Simple Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is StageCameraPro2 free?

StageCameraPro2 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Simple Camera or StageCameraPro2?

StageCameraPro2 is rated higher. The Simple Camera averages 4.5 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while StageCameraPro2 averages 4.6 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do The Simple Camera or StageCameraPro2 have ads?

The Simple Camera shows ads; StageCameraPro2 does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Simple Camera or StageCameraPro2?

The Simple Camera ships an update weekly, and StageCameraPro2 every 2 months. Most recently, The Simple Camera was updated on October 15, 2026 and StageCameraPro2 on October 17, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*