# Microscope vs Flipper

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Flipper at 52% against Microscope's 4%. Flipper also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.0) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). Microscope's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Flipper sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Microscope asks for nothing beyond the download.

Flipper holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Flipper has 8.2K 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 52% of Flipper's.

Microscope ships an update every 10 months, Flipper every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microscope | Flipper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (223 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microscope/id334954274/reviews) | **[4.6 (8.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flipper-mirror-image-editor/id986445990/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 223 | **8.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 4.3% of reviews | **51.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 19 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) | [Aleksandr Romanchev](https://appshunter.io/developer/986445989) |

## 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


### Flipper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flipper-mirror-image-editor/id986445990)

Easily transform your photos with a variety of mirror effects. Select images from your library or camera, choose from dozens of unique reflection styles, and fine-tune the positioning and size with intuitive gestures. Save and share your creative mirror images to social media.

**Highlights:** Apply mirror effects to photos, Choose from 36 unique mirroring styles, Adjust mirror image position and size with gestures, Save and share to social media, Select photos from camera roll or take new ones

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Version | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use on the first try
- 🎨 Helps generate creative ideas
- 💡 Useful for mirroring images

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Ads even after paying for ad-free
- 🚫 Watermark added to images
- 🐛 Freezing and crashing issues
- 🚫 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to delete pictures after editing
- Incompatibility with iOS 13
- Ads still shown after purchasing premium

**Requested features**

- Add random mirror function
- Support more aspect ratios
- Improve image quality and resolution
- Allow landscape mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microscope free?

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

### Is Flipper free?

Flipper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Microscope or Flipper?

Flipper is rated higher. Microscope averages 2.0 out of 5 from 223 ratings, while Flipper averages 4.6 from 8.2K ratings.

### Do Microscope or Flipper have ads?

Flipper shows ads; Microscope does not.

### Which is updated more often, Microscope or Flipper?

Microscope ships an update every 10 months, and Flipper every 2 months. Most recently, Microscope was updated on October 8, 2026 and Flipper on October 11, 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.*