Comparison

CropCamera vs PastCam

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

Head to head
About

CropCamera

Experience DSLR-like photography on your mobile device. Compose shots with a viewfinder, achieve natural bokeh with adjustable aperture, and fine-tune focus and framing after capture. Preview focal lengths and quickly launch the app to never miss a moment.

Highlights
  • Viewfinder shooting experience
  • Adjustable aperture for bokeh
  • Post-capture focus and framing adjustments
  • Multiple focal length previews
  • Quick app launch
  • Support for various aspect ratios
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Turn Everyday Moments into Timeless Memories Frame everyday scenes and travel memories with your favorite composition and color, and transform each moment into something unforgettable. This camera app lets you shoot exactly as you see through a camera viewfinder. Crop your composition in real time and capture it with your own custom look—so your photos are ready the moment you press the shutter. No editing required. Features * Choose from multiple focal lengths (35mm equivalent*) as if you’re switching between prime lenses on a camera. * Select from four beautifully crafted filters: Std, B&W, Warm, and Cool. * Fine-tune the contrast, saturation, highlights, and shadows of each filter to create your own signature look. * Record video instantly by simply pressing the red REC button—no need to switch camera modes. * Capture Live Photos. * Adjust the aperture (f-stop) to create beautiful background blur. * Record videos in 4K or Full HD at 30 fps or 24 fps. * Turn HDR (High Dynamic Range) capture on or off. * Take photos with a silent shutter. * Save both your customized photo and the original unedited image at the same time (optional in Settings). How to Use 1. Select a focal length (35mm equivalent*). 2. Check the semi-transparent framing guide. * Double-tap the screen to zoom into the selected frame for a closer preview. 3. Compose your shot. 4. Tap the subject to lock focus. 5. Adjust the exposure (EV). 6. Press the shutter button. Notes * Photos are saved to Apple’s built-in Photos app. * This app does not include an image preview gallery. Please use the Photos app to view your captured photos. * Videos are always recorded in a 16:9 aspect ratio, regardless of the selected photo aspect ratio. * Photos are saved after being cropped to the selected frame. As a result, image resolution may be reduced at certain focal lengths. Please keep this in mind if you plan to print your photos. * Focal lengths are approximate 35mm-equivalent values and are provided for reference only.

About

PastCam

Transform your photos and videos with authentic 2000s-era camera effects. This app uses real codecs for a genuine retro look, offering unique color, texture, and resolution for each camera profile. Convert existing media or capture new memories with an optional date stamp.

Highlights
  • Authentic 2000s camera codecs
  • Unique color, texture, and resolution per profile
  • Real H.263/MPEG-4 video encoding
  • Real AMR-NB audio encoding
  • Front and rear camera support
  • Optional date stamps
  • On-device processing
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New memories. That old feeling. Turn everyday moments into photos and videos that feel like they belong in your old phone. PastCam brings back the picture, motion and sound of the 2000s with three distinctive retro cameras. A PastCam Pro subscription is required to take photos, record videos and use the Converter. FIND YOUR ERA V3 FLIP — crunchy pixels, blocky video and lo-fi flip-phone sound. GS TOUCH — the color and motion of the early touchscreen years. Q-BOLD — the distinctive mobile-camera character of the late 2000s. REAL CODECS. NOT JUST ANOTHER FILTER APP. PastCam does more than put a retro filter over your footage. V3 FLIP uses real H.263 video processing; Q-BOLD uses MPEG-4 Part 2. Both pair their video with AMR-NB sound when audio is present. GS TOUCH uses H.264 video and AAC audio. Each profile combines its codec with its own resolution, color, texture and motion. SHOOT NOW. REWIND LATER. Capture with the front or rear camera, or give an existing photo or video the PastCam treatment. Your original stays untouched. Compare the result, create a Before / After reel, then save or share your memories. YOUR PASTCAM PRO • All three retro cameras • Unlimited photo and video creation • Photo and video Converter • Before / After reels • Watermark-free exports • Optional date stamps Photo and video processing happens on your device. Your PastCam Gallery is stored locally. SUBSCRIPTION & FREE TRIAL PastCam Pro is available as an auto-renewable weekly subscription. Eligible users can receive a 3-day free trial where offered. After the trial, your subscription renews weekly at the price shown before purchase unless canceled. If you are not eligible for a trial, payment begins when you subscribe. Manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Existing active PastCam Pro subscriptions remain supported and can be restored. Memories already saved in your local PastCam Gallery remain available to view, save and share without an active subscription. Privacy Policy: https://pastcams.com/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

CropCamera3 screens
PastCam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PastCam at Free against CropCamera's $2.99. PastCam also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). On 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

PastCam is free to download; CropCamera costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CropCamera ships an update every 2 months, PastCam every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
CropCamera versus PastCam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCropCameraPastCam
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShinji NishijimaMichil Khabarov

Customer experience

CropCamera

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

PastCam

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

CropCamera

No in-app purchases

None

PastCam

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CropCamera free?
CropCamera costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PastCam free?
PastCam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CropCamera or PastCam have ads?
Neither CropCamera nor PastCam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CropCamera or PastCam?
CropCamera ships an update every 2 months, and PastCam every 3 days. Most recently, CropCamera was updated on October 8, 2026 and PastCam on September 23, 2026.

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