# Lens Buddy vs Lens

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lens Buddy at 94% against Lens's 0%. Lens Buddy also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (35K vs 2). Lens's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lens Buddy sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Lens sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lens Buddy holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lens Buddy has 35K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Lens Buddy's written reviews are positive against 0% of Lens's.

Lens Buddy ships an update every 2 weeks, Lens every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lens Buddy | Lens |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (35K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lens-buddy-self-timer-camera/id1289471945/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lens/id1303452138/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **35K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **94.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#152** | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 109 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lens Buddy Selfie Timer Photo Video Filter Camera LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1289471944) | [LONG XIANG EXPORTACION IMPORTACION SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/917902692) |

## What reviewers say

### Lens Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lens-buddy-self-timer-camera/id1289471945)

**Currently charting:** #152 Top Grossing · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Capture hands-free photos and videos with a customizable timer. This app allows you to set intervals between shots, organize your pictures in a built-in gallery, and offers advanced features like RAW capture and tracking focus for professional-quality results.

**Highlights:** Customizable timer, Photo Booth mode, 48MP capture, RAW photo support, Tracking focus, Built-in gallery, Burst mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly PRO | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly PRO | $4.99 | per month |
| Special | $14.99 | per year |
| Special | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly PRO | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly PRO | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly PRO | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly PRO | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Customizable timer and photo settings
- 💡 Ability to take multiple photos at once
- 👍 Convenient for solo photography
- 👍 Organized photo management within the app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes
- 🐛 Issues with photo saving and transfer
- 🔒 Cannot fully mute the shutter sound
- 💰 Subscription model concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Photos not saving in order
- Inconsistent photo count between app and export

**Requested features**

- Ability to invert camera view
- Option to only save liked/approved photos
- Zip/batch photo export
- Apple Watch integration as a viewfinder


### Lens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lens/id1303452138)

Access your security cameras from anywhere using your iPhone or iPad. View live HD video, navigate through recordings with a timeline, and easily add CCTV devices from various brands.

**Highlights:** Live HD video streaming, Timeline navigation for recordings, Add CCTV devices remotely, Compatible with major brands, Easy, intuitive interface, QR code device setup

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proteção24H | Free | one-time |
| Serviel | Free | one-time |
| Rafa Cámaras | Free | one-time |
| SelectVigi | Free | one-time |
| SM Sistemi | Free | one-time |
| NIX GRUP DE SEGURETAT | Free | one-time |
| TBO WORKING SEGURIDAD | Free | one-time |
| Securcast | Free | one-time |
| M.T.S. Multi Tech System | Free | one-time |
| Sistemi and Tecnologie | Free | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lens Buddy free?

Lens Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lens free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lens Buddy or Lens?

Lens Buddy is rated higher. Lens Buddy averages 4.9 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while Lens averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Lens Buddy or Lens have ads?

Neither Lens Buddy nor Lens shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lens Buddy or Lens?

Lens Buddy ships an update every 2 weeks, and Lens every 3 weeks. Most recently, Lens Buddy was updated on November 7, 2026 and Lens on November 4, 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.*