Comparison

AuraHDR Camera vs HDR Merge Pro

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

AuraHDR Camera

This app enhances mobile photography with advanced HDR and focus stacking capabilities. It allows users to capture detailed images in challenging lighting, achieve edge-to-edge sharpness for close-ups, and shoot in high resolutions like 48MP ProRAW. Tutorials are available to help master its professional-grade features.

Highlights
  • RAW HDR bracketing
  • 100-shot Focus Bracketing
  • 48MP ProRAW shooting
  • Moon Shooting Mode
  • Long exposure capabilities
  • Built-in HDR editing sliders
  • Low Light preset
Features
Read full description

AuraHDR Camera gives iPhone photographers advanced tools for capturing scenes that ordinary camera apps struggle with. Create detailed HDR images with up to 16-stop RAW exposure bracketing, achieve edge-to-edge sharpness with focus bracketing and automatic focus stacking, and shoot in Bayer RAW or Apple ProRAW—all from one powerful camera app. WHAT MAKES AURAHDR DIFFERENT? ADVANCED HDR CAMERA AuraHDR’s proprietary AuraEngine tone mapping recovers detail in challenging lighting conditions. Each scene is analyzed automatically, while built-in tone controls let you fine-tune the result. For darker scenes, the Low Light preset helps produce cleaner photographs with improved detail. 1. 16-STOP EXPOSURE BRACKETING Capture RAW or JPEG exposure brackets across a range of up to 16 stops for merging in your preferred HDR software. • Capture up to seven bracketed exposures. • Customize the number of exposures and interval between them. • High Quality Low Light mode uses a lower ISO for cleaner brackets. • Supports Bayer RAW and Apple ProRAW on compatible iPhones. 2. RAW FOCUS BRACKETING Capture tack-sharp close-ups and landscapes with greater depth of field. • Choose automatic or manual focus bracketing. • Capture up to 100 bracketed images. • Adjust the focus interval for different subjects. • Capture in RAW or JPEG. • Use the draggable magnifier and real-time focus peaking to identify areas of sharp focus. In Auto mode, select the nearest focus point and let AuraHDR capture the sequence. In Manual mode, tap different areas of the frame to choose each focus position. Import the frames into apps such as Affinity Photo or Luminar Neo to create images with edge-to-edge sharpness. 3. AUTOMATIC FOCUS STACKING CAMERA Automatic Focus Stacking combines bracketed images inside AuraHDR and saves the completed result—no external stacking software required. • Ideal for macro, product, and food photography. • Select the nearest focus point and press the shutter. • Both the bracketed sequence and focus-stacked image are saved. • Designed for use with the iPhone’s main camera. 4. BAYER RAW AND APPLE PRORAW CAPTURE Choose the RAW format that best suits your workflow. • Capture minimally processed Bayer RAW files for maximum editing flexibility. • Use Apple ProRAW for RAW flexibility with Apple’s computational processing. • Capture Apple ProRAW at up to 48MP on supported Pro iPhones. • Available formats and resolution depend on your iPhone model. 5. LONG EXPOSURE AND FRAME STACKING Create smooth long exposures of flowing water, moving lights, and other moving subjects directly inside AuraHDR. Frame Stacking captures a sequence of individual images for processing in compatible software. Blend them to simulate longer exposures or average them to reduce noise in static low-light scenes. 6. ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES Moon Mode captures four exposures to help photograph visible lunar detail. A tripod is recommended for focus stacking, long exposures, frame stacking, and High Quality Low Light capture. Visit the AuraHDR YouTube channel for tutorials covering HDR merging, focus stacking, frame stacking, and other features.

About

HDR Merge Pro

Features
Read full description

Create editable HDR DNG files from bracketed camera RAW photos—right on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. HDR Merge Pro combines multiple exposures of the same scene into one high-dynamic-range Digital Negative (DNG), ready for continued editing in a compatible RAW editor. It is designed for photographers working with real estate, interiors, architecture, landscapes, and any scene where a single exposure cannot capture the full range from shadows to highlights. FREE SINGLE-BRACKET WORKFLOW The complete single-bracket workflow is free. No subscription is required for single-bracket merging. • Merge one bracket of 2–3 RAW exposures. • Review your selected images before processing. • Follow clear progress through every stage of the merge. • Create one editable HDR DNG. • Save, share, add to Photos, or continue in a compatible RAW editor. OPTIONAL MONTHLY PRO Optional Pro unlocks Batch Merge for photographers who regularly process multiple scenes or larger brackets. • Import and process multiple brackets in one batch. • Merge brackets containing 2–7 exposures each. • Automatically organize images into recommended brackets. • Review and adjust every group before merging. • Process multiple groups efficiently while following both individual and overall progress. • Cancel a batch whenever needed. • Keep successful results even if another group cannot be completed. SPEND LESS TIME SORTING Choose your RAW images and let HDR Merge Pro recommend how they should be grouped. You remain in control: review the suggested brackets, remove unwanted images, and make corrections before processing begins. RELIABLE INPUT PREPARATION Import from Files, iCloud Drive, supported file providers, or connected storage. Once preparation is complete, temporary local working copies help protect your merge if the original cloud or external source becomes unavailable. Temporary files are cleaned up when they are no longer needed. SUPPORTED RAW FORMATS Compatible inputs include Canon CR2 and CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, and camera-original Bayer RAW DNG files. Compatibility may vary by camera model, recording mode, operating system, and destination app. OUTPUT DESTINATIONS Save completed DNG files to Files or Finder, share them using your device’s sharing options, add them to Photos, or open them in a compatible RAW editor such as Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop. Available destinations depend on your device and installed apps. PRIVATE, LOCAL PROCESSING Your RAW merge processing happens locally on your device. HDR Merge Pro does not require an account or upload your photos for processing. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Monthly auto-renewable subscription access is available as an optional Pro upgrade. The current price and billing period are shown before purchase. Payment is charged through your Apple Account. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account subscription settings, and Restore Purchases is available in the app. Adobe, Lightroom, and Photoshop are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe in the United States and/or other countries. HDR Merge Pro is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Adobe. TERMS & CONDITIONS Terms and Conditions: https://www.hdrmergepro.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://www.hdrmergepro.com/privacy/

Screenshots

AuraHDR Camera4 screens
HDR Merge Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HDR Merge Pro at none against AuraHDR Camera's 1. HDR Merge Pro also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AuraHDR Camera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HDR Merge Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AuraHDR Camera ships an update every 2 months, HDR Merge Pro fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
AuraHDR Camera versus HDR Merge Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAuraHDR CameraHDR Merge Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (8 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews17.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB76 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAppJudRight Home Media Inc.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AuraHDR Camera

One-time1
  • Unlock Features$24.99
None

HDR Merge Pro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AuraHDR Camera free?
AuraHDR Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HDR Merge Pro free?
HDR Merge Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do AuraHDR Camera or HDR Merge Pro have ads?
Neither AuraHDR Camera nor HDR Merge Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AuraHDR Camera or HDR Merge Pro?
AuraHDR Camera ships an update every 2 months, and HDR Merge Pro fortnightly. Most recently, AuraHDR Camera was updated on October 24, 2026 and HDR Merge Pro on October 8, 2026.

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