Comparison

SMO vs Macro Lens

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

Macro Lens

This camera app offers a streamlined workflow for macro photography, providing real-time controls for focus, zoom, and flash intensity. It allows for quick switching between photo and video modes, and optionally tags captures with location data for better organization.

Highlights
  • Streamlined interface for fast shooting
  • Manual focus and zoom sliders
  • Adjustable flash intensity
  • Quick photo/video mode switching
  • Location-aware capture tagging
  • Clear permission onboarding
Read full description

Simple yet powerful, Macro Lens is an all-in-one camera app designed for macro photography enthusiasts. Macro Lens gives iPhone creators a focused macro workflow with real-time controls for focus, zoom, flash intensity, and brightness, plus quick switching between photo and video. • Streamlined Interface: Keep your attention on the subject with dedicated adjustment panels and convenient shortcuts. Touch and hold a control to access its options. • Easy Setup: Get started with guided camera and photo library permissions. Location access is optional, and no account is required. • Manual and Auto Focus: Fine-tune focus with a dedicated slider, or enable continuous autofocus to let the camera adjust as you compose your shot. • Zoom and Pinch Control: Frame tiny subjects using the Zoom slider or a familiar pinch gesture directly on the camera preview. • Adjustable Lighting: Control continuous torch intensity to illuminate small subjects and balance light on dark or reflective surfaces. • Brightness Control: Adjust exposure to brighten or darken your image before capturing. • Photo and Video Modes: Switch directly on the camera screen to capture still images or motion. Record video at 60 fps when supported by your iPhone’s camera configuration. • Photo Viewfinder: Enable an optional overview with a framing guide to help you compose shots while zoomed in. Drag it to either upper corner—the app remembers your preferred position. • Camera Control Support: Take photos and start or stop video recording using the physical Camera Control button on compatible iPhones. • Lock Screen and Control Center Access: Add the Macro Lens control to quickly open the camera from your Lock Screen or Control Center. • Keep the Screen Awake: Take your time composing and capturing without interruptions from Auto-Lock while the app is active. • Save to Photos: Captured photos and videos are saved directly to your photo library. • Optional Location Tags: Add location information to your photos and videos to help you remember where each shot was taken. Have an idea for Macro Lens? Submit a feature request directly from Settings or contact us by email for support. Requires iOS 26 or later. Close-focus capability, torch availability, and video frame rates depend on your iPhone’s camera hardware.

Screenshots

SMO3 screens
Macro Lens4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SMO at Free against Macro Lens's $4.99. SMO also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). Macro Lens's advantage is rating (3.6 vs 3.2) and review sentiment (73% vs 45%). On ads 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; Macro Lens costs $4.99 up front. Macro Lens sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SMO asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Macro Lens holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of SMO's written reviews are positive against 73% of Macro Lens's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMO ships an update every 4 months, Macro Lens monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
SMO versus Macro Lens: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMOMacro Lens
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating3.2 (16 ratings)3.6 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.5% of reviews72.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings16 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#177 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS8.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmartMicroOpticsEduardo Callado

Customer experience

SMO

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

Macro Lens

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

None

SMO

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Macro Lens

One-time1
  • Tip the develop$0.99

Questions

Is SMO free?
SMO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Macro Lens free?
Macro Lens costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SMO or Macro Lens?
Macro Lens is rated higher. SMO averages 3.2 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Macro Lens averages 3.6 from 5 ratings.
Do SMO or Macro Lens have ads?
Neither SMO nor Macro Lens shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMO or Macro Lens?
SMO ships an update every 4 months, and Macro Lens monthly. Most recently, SMO was updated on October 24, 2026 and Macro Lens on October 13, 2026.

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