# SMO vs Microscope App

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SMO at none against Microscope App's 2. SMO also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 26.0). Microscope App's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Microscope App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. SMO asks for nothing beyond the download.

SMO ships an update every 4 months, Microscope App weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMO | Microscope App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smo-blips/id1141381072/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **16** | — |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SmartMicroOptics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141381071) | [Priya Satralkar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855094521) |

## 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


### Microscope App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microscope-app/id6784896706)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMO free?

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

### Is Microscope App free?

Microscope App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do SMO or Microscope App have ads?

Neither SMO nor Microscope App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMO or Microscope App?

SMO ships an update every 4 months, and Microscope App weekly. Most recently, SMO was updated on October 3, 2026 and Microscope App on October 6, 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.*