# The Simple Camera vs xZoom Cam

The clearest difference is ads: xZoom Cam at none against The Simple Camera's shown. xZoom Cam also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 55%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Simple Camera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and xZoom Cam sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for The Simple Camera against 4.4 for xZoom Cam. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 206 and 543 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of The Simple Camera's written reviews are positive against 77% of xZoom Cam's.

The Simple Camera ships an update weekly, xZoom Cam fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Simple Camera | xZoom Cam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-simple-camera/id1048899002/reviews)** | [4.4 (543 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xzoom-cam-pro-camera/id1643676119/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 206 | **543** |
| Positive reviews | 55.3% of reviews | **76.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 23 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KANAME OHARA](https://appshunter.io/developer/899986346) | [Slava Plisko](https://appshunter.io/developer/972879777) |

## 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

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**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


### xZoom Cam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xzoom-cam-pro-camera/id1643676119)

Enhance your mobile photography and videography with extended digital zoom capabilities. Capture distant subjects with clarity and control advanced camera settings for professional-quality results. Offers a range of formats and stabilization for stunning visuals.

**Highlights:** Extended digital zoom for photos and videos, Support for RAW and ProRAW formats, Advanced video stabilization, Manual focus, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance, Dolby Vision support, ProRes and HEVC codec support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly (Family) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Plan + Trial | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly (Family) | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual (Family) | $17.99 | per year |
| Lifetime (Family) | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent zoom capabilities
- 👍 Good camera quality
- 🤩 Impressive zoom range
- 💫 Vibrant photos
- 🌟 Amazing for astrophotography

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Blurry images at high zoom levels
- 💰 Subscription model
- 📵 Permissions issues after updates
- 🔌 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to save recorded videos
- Permissions not working after updates
- Freezing and crashing on certain devices
- Incorrect aspect ratio when zooming

**Requested features**

- Add AI-powered image enhancement
- Improve video recording quality and features
- Expand free features instead of paywall
- Provide more guidance and tutorials
- Add support for RAW image capture


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Simple Camera free?

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

### Is xZoom Cam free?

xZoom Cam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Simple Camera or xZoom Cam?

The Simple Camera is rated higher. The Simple Camera averages 4.5 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while xZoom Cam averages 4.4 from 543 ratings.

### Do The Simple Camera or xZoom Cam have ads?

The Simple Camera shows ads; xZoom Cam does not.

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

The Simple Camera ships an update weekly, and xZoom Cam fortnightly. Most recently, The Simple Camera was updated on September 24, 2026 and xZoom Cam on September 22, 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.*