# SMO vs mScopePal

The clearest difference is rating: SMO at 3.2 against mScopePal's 2.7. SMO also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SMO holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 27 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of SMO's written reviews are positive against 44% of mScopePal's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMO | mScopePal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smo-blips/id1141381072/reviews)** | [2.7 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mscopepal/id1446207192/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **27** |
| Positive reviews | **45.5% of reviews** | 44.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 2 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SmartMicroOptics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141381071) | [Studio Phiz](https://appshunter.io/developer/427443339) |

## What reviewers say

### SMO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smo-blips/id1141381072)

Capture detailed macro and microscopic photos and videos with enhanced magnification and illumination. Features digital zoom, adjustable autofocus, and a timer for stable shots.

**Highlights:** Capture photos and videos, Digital zoom for magnification, Adjustable flashlight for illumination, Manual and autofocus control, Full-screen observation, In-app timer for stable shots

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### mScopePal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mscopepal/id1446207192)

This camera app aids in capturing microscopic images by allowing easy adjustment of color and brightness. It supports zooming and manual focus to avoid disturbing the microscope's settings. It's designed to be used with a microscope and an adapter on compatible Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Microscopic image capture, Color adjustment (white balance), Brightness adjustment (exposure), Zooming support, Manual focus function

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMO free?

SMO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is mScopePal free?

mScopePal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SMO or mScopePal?

SMO is rated higher. SMO averages 3.2 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while mScopePal averages 2.7 from 27 ratings.

### Do SMO or mScopePal have ads?

Neither SMO nor mScopePal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMO or mScopePal?

SMO ships an update every 4 months, and mScopePal every 4 months. Most recently, SMO was updated on October 3, 2026 and mScopePal on October 2, 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.*