Comparison

SMO vs Macroscope Cam

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SMO

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
Read full description

Application with dedicated functions for easy use of the BLIPS lenses; for Macro photos or videos, or for observation at Microscopic scales. FEATURES: - Ability to take pictures and to shoot videos. - Digital Zoom to further increase the magnification and to observe microscopic details on the smartphone screen. - Flashlight can be activated whenever the user wants to increase the illumination on the observed subject, for enhancing the image definition. - Autofocus normally turned off; it can be easily activated and locked, if needed. - Full use of the screen to observe the tiniest details directly on your smartphone. - Timer: for keeping the camera still during the shot

About

Macroscope Cam

Transform your iPhone into a powerful magnifying tool to explore the intricate details of everyday objects. Capture stunning close-ups of nature, textures, and more with adjustable zoom and focus.

Highlights
  • iPhone to microscope conversion
  • 3x to 15x zoom ruler
  • Privacy-focused, no data collection
  • One-time purchase, forever access
  • Close-up photography of small details
Read full description

Macroscope – Basically turns your iPhone into a Microscope! If you ever wondered how things look up close, Macroscope is the app to answer you that question. From inspecting bugs, flowers to your own skin or something completely random, Macroscope will blow you away in how the close-up world looks like, and to what an iPhone is capable of. Key Features: - Our unique approach to a camera app and our secret focus locking sauce will turn your iPhone into a microscope*. - Zoom ruler from 3x to 15x -> there is no detail we can't capture**. - Privacy focused, we collect no data and only require write access to save Photos. - No in-apps, purchase once keep forever. *) Microscope is a slight exaggeration, you won't be able to replace real world microscopes with this app to see bacteria or other small items. But if you want to see the eyes of a spider, or a hair on a fly, this is definitely close enough! **) Your mileage may vary, depending on lightning and the object you're capturing, colorful objects tend to keep their sharpness much better than those of the same color or smooth surfaces. Pro Tips: - Bring your phone as close as 1,5 fingers distance away from the lens until you start seeing a sharp image. * - Turn on the flashlight even when under direct sunlight for even better sharpness! *) Limited mode is about two palm lengths. Whether you're diving deep into nature's mysteries, examining a minor injury, or just ensuring your meal is hair-free, Macroscope is your go-to app! Please don't get addicted to checking the food out so close, it might be bad for your appetite! !CAUTION! / IMPORTANT NOTICE : Macroscope is made for the following iPhones: - iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max - iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max - iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max - iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus - iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Non compatible iPhones can now use the app, but with LIMITED quality! See the World Like Never Before! Download Macroscope now and dive into a universe of unseen details!

Screenshots

SMO3 screens
Macroscope Cam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SMO at Free against Macroscope Cam's $3.99. SMO also leads on ratings volume (16 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). Macroscope Cam's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.2) and chart position (#177 vs unranked). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SMO is free to download; Macroscope Cam costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Macroscope Cam holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SMO has 16 ratings behind it against 1, 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 50% of Macroscope Cam's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMO ships an update every 4 months, Macroscope Cam every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
SMO versus Macroscope Cam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMOMacroscope Cam
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating3.2 (16 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.5% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings16 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#177 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmartMicroOpticsDon Vuckovic

Customer experience

SMO

All ratings16 ratings
Positive56.3%
Neutral12.5%
Negative31.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative45.5%

Macroscope Cam

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

SMO

No in-app purchases

None

Macroscope Cam

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SMO free?
SMO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Macroscope Cam free?
Macroscope Cam costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SMO or Macroscope Cam?
Macroscope Cam is rated higher. SMO averages 3.2 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Macroscope Cam averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SMO or Macroscope Cam have ads?
Neither SMO nor Macroscope Cam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMO or Macroscope Cam?
SMO ships an update every 4 months, and Macroscope Cam every 5 months. Most recently, SMO was updated on June 1, 2026 and Macroscope Cam on September 10, 2026.

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