# SMO vs Macro Lens

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | SMO | Macro Lens |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smo-blips/id1141381072/reviews) | **[3.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macro-lens/id6450160206/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **72.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#177** |
| Size | 2 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SmartMicroOptics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141381071) | [Eduardo Callado](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462820054) |

## 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 Lens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macro-lens/id6450160206)

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

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip the develop | $0.99 | one-time |


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