Polaroid vs INSTAX Pal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Polaroid
This app enhances the analog Polaroid experience by connecting to compatible cameras for advanced features. It also includes a high-resolution scanner for digitizing physical prints and allows users to print photos from their phone.
- Connect compatible Polaroid cameras
- Advanced camera modes (Portrait, Double Exposure)
- High-resolution Polaroid scanner
- Print phone photos as Polaroid pictures
- Create photo grids and collages
- Digital scrapbook for memories
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Unlock the full creative power of Polaroid — the film, the camera and the community. GET INSPIRED Join photography challenges and capture beautiful imperfection to win prizes and expand your knowledge with Polaroid cameras and photography. CONNECT YOUR CAMERA Link your Now+, OneStep+, I-2 or Flip to unlock additional features like: - Portrait Mode - Double Exposure - Self Timer - Aperture Priority - Tripod Mode - Light Painting - Manual Mode HIGH-RES POLAROID SCANNER Use our in-built scanner to scan, store and share high quality digital copies of your Polaroid pictures. Works for i-Type, 600, SX-70, and Spectra film. PRINT POLAROID PICTURES Load photos from your phone into the Polaroid app and place it on top of the Lab and your favorite memories will be printed as beautifully imperfect Polaroid pictures. Or create grids and collages of two, three, four, six or nine frames to share with others. CURATE YOUR GALLERY Once scanned, create your own digital scrapbook of your favorite memories.
INSTAX Pal
Connect your INSTAX Pal device via Bluetooth to unlock enhanced shooting modes and creative possibilities. This application expands the functionality of your instant camera, offering new ways to capture and share your memories.
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Enhanced shooting modes
- Expanded camera functionality
- Creative shooting options
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This app is designed exclusively for the FUJIFILM palm-sized photography devices instax Pal™ and instax Pal 2™. Connect the camera to the app via Bluetooth® to enjoy a variety of features! ＜App connectivity features for instax Pal 2™＞ 1. Effect customization Choose effects to install on the camera from a total of 30 organized into five themes. Select effects to match your mood or subject and express your own unique style through photography. 2. High-speed transfer Use a USB Type-C connection to transfer photos from the camera to the app. Wireless transfer via Bluetooth® is also supported. ＜App connectivity features for both instax Pal™ and instax Pal 2™＞ 3. Gallery View, manage, save and share your photos all from within the app. 4. Remote shooting Check the composition on your smartphone while operating the shutter remotely. This feature makes taking group photos and selfies easy. 5. instax Animation™ Combine a sequence of photos taken with the camera to create an animated video that looks like a flipbook. Capture the movement of your subject with a charming, stop-motion-like effect. 6. instax™ device connectivity Print photos taken with the camera using compatible instax™ smartphone printers or hybrid instant cameras. [Recommended OS] iOS 17.0 or later
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Polaroid at 19K against INSTAX Pal's 746. Polaroid also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Polaroid against 4.8 for INSTAX Pal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polaroid has 19K ratings behind it against 746, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Polaroid's written reviews are positive against 55% of INSTAX Pal's.
Polaroid ships an update every 3 weeks, INSTAX Pal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Polaroid | INSTAX Pal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (19K ratings) — better | 4.8 (746 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.0% of reviews — better | 55.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 19K — better | 746 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 215 MB | 1.1 GB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Polaroid | FUJIFILM Corporation |
Customer experience
Polaroid
INSTAX Pal
User reviews
Polaroid
From 19K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great app features
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive
- 💡 Useful scanning and sharing capabilities
- 🎨 Enhances analog Polaroid experience
- 📷 Seamless integration with Polaroid cameras
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔋 Issues with photo printing and exposure
- 💰 Expensive film and accessories
- 🤔 Limited editing and customization options
INSTAX Pal
From 746 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💖 Best investment
- 🤩 Súper cool camera
- 👍 Easy to use
- 📸 Fun camera to use
- 💡 Remote shooting option
Room to improve
- 😠 Setup issues with serial number
- 🔒 Unnecessary photo permissions
- 🐛 Animation sharing broken
- 🐛 QR code errors
- 🐛 App crashes during editing
Bugs and requests
Polaroid
Reported bugs
4 issues- Compatibility issues with newer iPhone models
- Printing problems with Polaroid Lab device
- Unreliable Bluetooth connection with cameras
- Scanning feature not working consistently
Requested features
4 requests- Self-timer option in manual mode
- Ability to customize AR photo display
- Quicker access to frequently used settings
- Improved photo library organization
INSTAX Pal
Reported bugs
9 issues- Serial number not accepted during setup
- App requires full photo access
- Animated photo sharing broken
- QR code leads to error page
- App crashes during photo editing
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Evo Wide model not supported
- Low resolution of transferred photos
- Photos automatically deselected after transfer
- Remote shooting is sluggish
Requested features
7 requests- Add support for Evo Wide
- Improve photo resolution transfer
- Add basic settings to main page
- Allow text box repositioning on frame
- Add swipe selection for photos
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Add select all/deselect all option
- Add more print app options
In-app purchases
Polaroid
No in-app purchases
INSTAX Pal
No in-app purchases
