Iris vs Obscura
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Iris
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Taking the perfect photo has never been easier than with Iris - Pro Camera Control for iOS. Iris allows for quick, single-gesture adjustments to all camera settings, including exposure, ISO, Focus, Zoom, colour temperature and tint. Iris allows you to adjust all of these settings within a simple and beautiful user interface. If you've ever struggled to take photos at night or of small objects close to your phone, then this is the app for you! Iris also allows you to control all of these features from your Apple Watch. Simply open the companion Watch application, swipe to the setting you wish to adjust, and rotate the digital crown. It couldn’t be simpler. You can also take photos on your iPhone with the simple tap of a button on Apple Watch. Highlights - Make quick adjustments to all camera settings with a single swipe of the thumb. - Adjust each camera control using Apple Watch - perfect when using your iPhone with a tripod. - Instantly share your best photos with the world quickly without leaving the app. - Access all cameras on your device, including the telephoto lens on the iPhone 7 Plus. - Easily review and browse the photos you have taken with the in-app photo browser. - Reset the camera to completely automatic settings with the tap of a single button.
Obscura
This camera app offers advanced manual controls and professional formats like ProRAW for enhanced photo and video capture. Its intuitive design and tactile interface allow for precise adjustments, while features like focus peaking and histograms aid in achieving stunning results.
- Manual exposure, focus, and white balance controls
- ProRAW, RAW, HEIC, and JPEG capture formats
- Live filters and multiple aspect ratios
- Histogram, focus peaking, and exposure clipping highlights
- Integrated photo library with editing and sharing
- Video and Live Photo capture
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Obscura V is a camera app packed full of features to help you take incredible photos. Obscura pairs a stunning design with intuitive controls that make taking photos a delight. — Over its 10+ years on the App Store, Obscura has been featured numerous times around the world, including as Editors’ Choice and App of the Day. — Design Obscura squeezes a bunch of powerful features into simple controls anyone can master. The interface balances aesthetics, ergonomics, and intuitiveness. You won’t want to use anything else. Controls can be reached with one thumb, and gestures and haptics combine to create a tactile experience that lets you stay focused on your subject. — Capture Modes & Formats Obscura captures photos, videos, Live Photos, and portraits. Photos can be captured in RAW, ProRAW, HEIC, and JPEG (on supported devices, see http://obscura.camera/compatibility). Capture images in multiple different aspect ratios, or apply filters live in camera for a wide variety of styles. — Camera Settings Obscura gives you control over exposure, focus, white balance, ISO, shutter speed, and flash, with intuitive controls that make you feel in control of your device’s camera. — Live Filters Obscura includes a bunch of great filters to give your photos instant style but you can also create your own and use them live in-camera. It’s very cool and very powerful. — View Options Obscura lets you display a grid, a spirit level, a histogram, focus peaking, a focus loupe, and exposure clipping highlights to help you understand every detail of what you’re shooting. — Photo Library Obscura has its own interface for browsing, rating, editing, and sharing images, but it’s fully integrated with your system photo library, so images captured with Obscura are available everywhere. — Obscura Ultra Obscura is free to use, with an annual subscription for premium features. See http://obscura.camera/ultra for full details. — I hope you love using Obscura as much as I’ve loved designing and building it. If you do, please consider subscribing to Ultra, leaving a review, or just sharing with a friend. All the best, Ben ———— Privacy Policy: http://obscura.camera/privacy Terms of use: http://obscura.camera/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Iris at none against Obscura's 5. Iris also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18). Obscura's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Obscura sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 7 days. Iris asks for nothing beyond the download.
Iris ships an update every 8 months, Obscura fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Iris | Obscura |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.0 (263 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 52.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 263 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 173 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stephen Anthony | Ben McCarthy |
Bugs and requests
Iris
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Obscura
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes when trying to use Pro Raw mode
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between lenses
- Manual settings randomly resetting
- Photos not saving properly
- Freezing and black screen issues
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to save custom camera settings
- Variable zoom function in pro mode
- Separate manual control for exposure and ISO
- Dedicated selfie button
- Live audio capture for Live Photos
In-app purchases
Iris
No in-app purchases
Obscura
- Obscura Ultra - Weekly$1.497 Days
- Obscura Ultra - Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Obscura Ultra7 Days trial$24.991 Year
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- Obscura Ultra Upgrade1 Year trial$24.991 Year
- Obscura Ultra - One Time$74.99
Questions
Is Iris free?
Is Obscura free?
Do Iris or Obscura have ads?
Which is updated more often, Iris or Obscura?
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