# Microscope vs ACDSee Pro

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ACDSee Pro at 76% against Microscope's 4%. ACDSee Pro also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.0) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). Microscope's advantage is price (Free vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (3.1 vs 15.6). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Microscope is free to download; ACDSee Pro costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ACDSee Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ACDSee Pro has 1.1K ratings behind it against 223, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 4% of Microscope's written reviews are positive against 76% of ACDSee Pro's.

Microscope ships an update every 10 months, ACDSee Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microscope | ACDSee Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [2.0 (223 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microscope/id334954274/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acdsee-pro/id968591710/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 223 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 4.3% of reviews | **75.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 8 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **3.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LogSat LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699285728) | [ACD Systems International Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/461558826) |

## What reviewers say

### Microscope

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microscope/id334954274)

Transform your iPhone into a high-magnification microscope. Explore the intricate details of everyday objects like skin, eyes, and hair with impressive digital zoom. Amaze others by revealing hidden cellular structures and fine particles.

**Highlights:** High-magnification digital zoom, Magnify skin and reveal cell structure, View inner eye details, Examine hair particles, Impress friends with detailed views

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 😄 Fun prank app to trick friends
- ✨ Crisp and beautifully magnified images
- 📱 Doesn't crash
- 🎯 Realistic camera integration at start

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Displays same pre-loaded images regardless of input
- 🚫 Misleading as fake microscope
- 💾 Wastes storage and data
- 🎬 Only shows pre-recorded videos
- 😤 Repetitive content after first use

**Reported bugs**

- Information screen goes black and unresponsive
- Cannot return to main screen from info screen
- Camera recognition fails for non-hand/eye/hair objects
- App shows same image even with camera covered
- Works only once then requires app restart

**Requested features**

- Show actual magnified images of scanned objects
- Real microscope functionality
- Ability to take multiple different pictures
- Clearer description that app is a prank/gag
- Update for iPod Touch with camera compatibility


### ACDSee Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acdsee-pro/id968591710)

This app combines a professional-grade camera with a powerful, nondestructive photo editor. Capture stunning images with advanced manual controls and perfect them with selective adjustments and effects. Create collages from your memories with over 100 layouts.

**Highlights:** RAW, TIFF, PNG support, Manual camera controls, Nondestructive photo editing, Selective adjustments (gradients, brushing), Collage maker with 100+ layouts, Real-time effects and adjustments, HDR and Flash Fusion

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Powerful editing tools
- ⭐ Great for photographers
- 🎨 Excellent photo enhancement
- 💻 Familiar desktop-like experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 Battery draining
- 🚫 Lack of selective editing tools
- 📁 Issues with file management and saving
- 🔍 Missing key features like lens correction

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when using certain filters
- Inability to export photos in desired format
- Syncing issues with photos from other devices
- Inconsistent behavior after iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Add lens distortion correction
- Implement non-destructive editing
- Allow saving of original and edited versions
- Improve collage and layout tools
- Add support for more file formats


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microscope free?

Microscope is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ACDSee Pro free?

ACDSee Pro costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Microscope or ACDSee Pro?

ACDSee Pro is rated higher. Microscope averages 2.0 out of 5 from 223 ratings, while ACDSee Pro averages 4.8 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Microscope or ACDSee Pro have ads?

Neither Microscope nor ACDSee Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Microscope or ACDSee Pro?

Microscope ships an update every 10 months, and ACDSee Pro every 2 months. Most recently, Microscope was updated on October 23, 2026 and ACDSee Pro on November 1, 2026.

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