Comparison

Nitro Photo vs Cobalt Image

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

Head to head
About

Nitro Photo

This powerful photo editor and manager offers flexible storage, extensive camera support, and advanced editing tools. It allows for AI-powered masking, object removal, and a wide range of professional adjustments to enhance your images.

Highlights
  • Flexible storage options (Files.app, external, Photo Library)
  • AI-generated masks and object removal
  • Extensive camera RAW support
  • 16 professional adjustment tools
  • Presets, LUTs, and copy/paste adjustments
  • Smart album creation
Features
Read full description

Introducing Nitro, the brand new photo editor and manager from the developer of RAW Power. Nitro is designed for every photographer and every photograph. Try Nitro for free for 7 days without any obligation. No subscription signup, no nonsense. Requires iOS 16 or later. Easy, Powerful, Fast. Built with the latest technologies, Nitro has exceptional integration with iOS, including the most control over Apple’s RAW decoder. Its combination of flexible storage options, camera support, and editing tools is unmatched by any app. If you liked Aperture or RAW Power, you’ll love Nitro. Flexible Storage Options * Store your images in Files.app, external storage, or use Apple’s Photo Library * Rate, flag, and filter your images by 11 criteria, including rating, orientation and file type * Add keywords to images in the file system, manually or with AI assistance * With Photos, ratings, edits, and smart albums sync over iCloud * With Files.app and external storage, ratings and edits are stored in XMP sidecars * Move originals, ratings, and edits between the Photo Library and Files.app * UGreen NAS is not compatible with Nitro (bug reported to UGreen) Thoughtful purchasing and trial options * Try the app with absolutely no obligation. No signup, no unexpected charges. * Buy the app once, or get an inexpensive monthly and annual plan * All purchases include all platforms: macOS, iPhone, and iPad! Stop waiting for camera support * Supports more cameras than Photos, Darkroom, or Photomator, including compressed Fujifilm, Nikon HE and GoPro RAWs * By far, the most control over Apple’s RAW decoder. Fine tune your RAWs with noise reduction, moire, ProRAW tone mapping, and more. Seeing is Believing * View detailed metadata side-by-side * Synchronized Pan and Zoom of up to 4 images at once (iPad only) * Comparison mode helps you pick your favorites from a burst * Light and Dark user interface modes Masking with AI * AI-generated masks to quickly isolate a subject or background * Linear and radial gradients with invert and control over the ramp * Brushes provide full control over your mask, including softness, strength, and size * Edge Aware brushes automatically follow contours * Fine tune AI and gradients with brushes for maximum control Quick Fixes * Remove objects using Generative AI * Clone * Spot/Wire Removal * Highlight Recovery * Auto Enhance 16 Professional Adjustments * Tone, Enhance, White Balance, RAW * Crop, Lens Correction, Perspective * Levels, Curves, HSL, Split Toning * Detail, Depth, Black and White, Vignette, Channel Mixer * Apply most adjustments to masks including Levels, Curves, Blur, HSL, and Fringe control Presets, LUTs, and Copy/Paste * Quickly enhance images with a large set of presets and LUTs * Import your own LUTs and make your own presets * Advanced Copy and Paste of adjustments * Camera presets let you apply adjustments automatically by camera model Do More with the Photo Library * Make Smart Albums with complex queries * Search by file name, file type (including RAW+JPEG), and more * Sync everything over iCloud * Edit inside Nitro or with the included Photo Editing Extension Do More with the File System * Rate, flag, and edit non-destructively * All data is stored in XMP sidecars next to your originals * Search by file name, camera, lens, ISO, and more Workflow the way you want * Batch processing of presets, rotation and export * Export with control over size, compression, format, and metadata * Launch other apps after export for custom workflows * Integrated watermarking with both images and text * RAW Power edits are 100% compatible with Nitro After the trial, you need to purchase the app or subscribe to use all the features. Privacy Policy: https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/68647707 Terms of Use: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula

About

Cobalt Image

Enhance your iPhone photos with advanced AI, HDR, and smart portrait modes. This app offers unparalleled control over non-raw images, featuring cutting-edge white balance and Luma curve adjustments. Access renowned digital and film emulations for professional-level editing.

Highlights
  • AI-enhanced picture processing
  • HDR and smart portrait modes
  • Advanced color models for HEIC files
  • Unprecedented control over non-raw photos
  • White balance and Luma curve adjustments
  • Renowned digital and film emulations
  • Direct editing from Apple Photos
Features
Read full description

Please note that Cobalt Image PHOTO is available through subscription plans. The Full Access Yearly subscription provides a 7-day trial period during which you can try the full app and decide to cancel at any time. Our Digital and Film packs are renowned for their accuracy and are now available for all images taken by your favorite device. Your AI-enhanced pictures with HDR and smart portrait mode will be the starting point for our emulations. Cobalt Image PHOTO introduces a new advanced tool powered by the latest color models, specifically designed for treating AI-enhanced iPhone HEIC files. Leveraging the best color science available, it enhances and edits your cherished memories captured by the iPhone. Experience unparalleled freedom with our image editor, where you’ll be astonished by the unprecedented level of control over your non-raw photos. Our advanced color pipeline, featuring cutting-edge white balance and Luma curve adjustments, elevates the app to extraordinary heights, setting a new standard in photo editing. Features: - A complete set of renowned emulations made by Cobalt, both Digital and Film (Film available on Full Access subscription) - Advanced BW scientific conversion - Advanced White Balance - Luma curve on CIECAM16 - RGB curves on ProPhoto - Brightness, Contrast, Saturation all on CIECAM16 - Clarity - Structure - Advanced grain - Vignette The app can also be accessed directly from Apple Photos through the sharing function, allowing for direct editing of the selected photo. Standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Nitro Photo4 screens
Cobalt Image4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Nitro Photo at 4.8 against Cobalt Image's 2.3. Nitro Photo also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (86% vs 56%). Cobalt Image's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Nitro Photo sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Cobalt Image sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nitro Photo holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nitro Photo has 62 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Nitro Photo's written reviews are positive against 56% of Cobalt Image's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nitro Photo ships an update every 3 weeks, Cobalt Image every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Nitro Photo versus Cobalt Image: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNitro PhotoCobalt Image
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (62 ratings) — better2.3 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews86.4% of reviews — better55.6% of reviews
Number of ratings62 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size299 MB203 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGentlemen CodersCobalt Image LTD

Customer experience

Nitro Photo

All ratings62 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews235 reviews
Positive86.4%
Neutral6.0%
Negative7.7%

Cobalt Image

All ratings6 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%

Bugs and requests

Nitro Photo

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when processing large batches of photos
  • Incompatibility with older devices
  • Editing controls not always responsive

Requested features

4 requests
  • Luminosity masks
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Folder thumbnails
  • Location and time editing

Cobalt Image

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Nitro Photo

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly (RAW Power Discount)$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Plan$3.991 Month
  • Annual (RAW Power Discount)$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual Plan$29.991 Year
One-time5
  • 7 Day Free TrialFree
  • Full Version (RP - No Discount)$79.99
  • Lifetime (RAW Power Discount)$79.99
Show 2 more
  • Full Version (No discount)$99.99
  • Nitro Lifetime Purchase$99.99
3 purchases

Cobalt Image

Subscriptions3
  • Cobalt Image Pro Digital$3.491 Month
  • Cobalt Image Pro Monthly$5.491 Month
  • Cobalt Image Pro Yearly7 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is Nitro Photo free?
Nitro Photo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cobalt Image free?
Cobalt Image is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nitro Photo or Cobalt Image?
Nitro Photo is rated higher. Nitro Photo averages 4.8 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while Cobalt Image averages 2.3 from 6 ratings.
Do Nitro Photo or Cobalt Image have ads?
Neither Nitro Photo nor Cobalt Image shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nitro Photo or Cobalt Image?
Nitro Photo ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cobalt Image every 5 days. Most recently, Nitro Photo was updated on October 19, 2026 and Cobalt Image on October 8, 2026.

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