# SMO vs Macroscope Cam

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMO | Macroscope Cam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [3.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smo-blips/id1141381072/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macroscope-cam/id1671238889/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#177** |
| Size | 2 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SmartMicroOptics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141381071) | [Don Vuckovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1176249791) |

## 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


### Macroscope Cam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macroscope-cam/id1671238889)

**Currently charting:** #177 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


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