# MolyCam vs Chic

The clearest difference is rating: MolyCam at 4.6 against Chic's 3.8. MolyCam also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 58%) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 49). Chic's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MolyCam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year and Chic sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MolyCam holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MolyCam has 1.2K ratings behind it against 49, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of MolyCam's written reviews are positive against 58% of Chic's.

MolyCam ships an update every 3 weeks, Chic every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MolyCam | Chic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molycam-retro-effects-camera/id1304078556/reviews)** | [3.8 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chic-stylish-camera/id1462999056/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 49 |
| Positive reviews | **82.0% of reviews** | 58.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 40 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 10.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [思远 林](https://appshunter.io/developer/1438711695) | [Xiamen HongTianChuangShi Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1400726382) |

## What reviewers say

### MolyCam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molycam-retro-effects-camera/id1304078556)

This app allows users to edit photos with a variety of retro film filters, light leak effects, and vintage frames. It aims to give photos a nostalgic, analogue aesthetic, reminiscent of old film cameras. New content is frequently added to enhance the editing experience.

**Highlights:** 50+ retro film filters, 60+ analogue light leak effects, 50+ vintage frames, Instax photo frame styles, Frequent content updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MolyCam Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| MolyCam Pro | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Beautiful filters
- 🎨 Aesthetic photo effects
- 🤳 Easy to use
- 📸 Polaroid-like camera experience
- 🌟 Vintage/retro style

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many filters/features locked behind paywall
- 🌐 App interface mostly in Chinese
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing when trying to edit photos
- Subscription issues and inability to cancel
- Inconsistent photo quality after editing

**Requested features**

- More free filters and effects
- Ability to add text captions to photos
- Option to adjust photo aspect ratio
- Language localization options


### Chic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chic-stylish-camera/id1462999056)

This app recreates the aesthetic of vintage film cameras with unique filters and effects. It allows users to add artistic elements like light leaks, bubbles, and retro styles to their photos and videos, making everyday moments feel special.

**Highlights:** Vintage film camera aesthetic, Creative filters and effects, Light leak effects, Bubble and bling overlays, Y2K and retro styles, Minivlog recording, Lofi and oil-painted color styles

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chic Cam VIP（1 Month） | $2.99 | per month |
| Chic Cam VIP（1 Month） | $3.99 | per month |
| Chic Cam VIP（1 Year） | $21.99 | per year |
| Chic Cam VIP（1 Year） | $29.99 | per year |
| NIJI Flow | $3.99 | one-time |
| Satin Glow | $3.99 | one-time |
| Chic 3D Filter | $3.99 | one-time |
| Portrait G | $3.99 | one-time |
| Chic Gemini | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lofi Live Photo | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MolyCam free?

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

### Is Chic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MolyCam or Chic?

MolyCam is rated higher. MolyCam averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Chic averages 3.8 from 49 ratings.

### Do MolyCam or Chic have ads?

Neither MolyCam nor Chic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MolyCam or Chic?

MolyCam ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chic every 4 weeks. Most recently, MolyCam was updated on October 21, 2026 and Chic on October 21, 2026.

---

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