# SMO vs Macro Mode

The clearest difference is price: SMO at Free against Macro Mode's $2.99. SMO also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). Macro Mode's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.2) and review sentiment (60% vs 45%). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

SMO is free to download; Macro Mode costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Macro Mode holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Macro Mode has 95 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of SMO's written reviews are positive against 60% of Macro Mode's.

SMO ships an update every 4 months, Macro Mode every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMO | Macro Mode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [3.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smo-blips/id1141381072/reviews) | **[4.4 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macro-mode/id1587381734/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **95** |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **59.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#141** |
| Size | 2 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SmartMicroOptics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141381071) | [Kenneth Kao](https://appshunter.io/developer/288711611) |

## 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


### Macro Mode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macro-mode/id1587381734)

**Currently charting:** #141 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Capture detailed close-up photos and videos with advanced manual controls for focus and exposure. This app automatically selects the best lens for macro shots and supports high-resolution video recording with HDR.

**Highlights:** Macro photography and videography, Focus peaking and manual controls, Adjustable LED flashlight brightness, Automatic optimal lens selection, 4K 60fps and 1080p 240fps slow-motion video, HDR Dolby Vision support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMO free?

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

### Is Macro Mode free?

Macro Mode costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SMO or Macro Mode?

Macro Mode is rated higher. SMO averages 3.2 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Macro Mode averages 4.4 from 95 ratings.

### Do SMO or Macro Mode have ads?

Neither SMO nor Macro Mode shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMO or Macro Mode?

SMO ships an update every 4 months, and Macro Mode every 7 months. Most recently, SMO was updated on June 1, 2026 and Macro Mode on September 26, 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.*