Comparison

Slow Shutter Cam vs PhotoPills

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

Head to head
About

Slow Shutter Cam

Capture stunning long exposure photographs with three distinct modes: Motion Blur for dynamic effects, Light Trail for light painting, and Low Light for enhanced detail. Achieve DSLR-quality results with manual controls and real-time previews.

Highlights
  • Motion Blur capture mode
  • Light Trail capture mode
  • Low Light capture mode
  • Unlimited shutter speed
  • Manual ISO control
  • Real-time live preview
  • Multiple exposure photos
Features
Read full description

Slow Shutter Cam brings new life into your device's photo toolbox by letting you capture a variety of amazing slow shutter speed effects that you only thought you could get with a DSLR. Continue reading to learn more about this unique app! ----------------------- • Featured numerous times by Apple: - App Store Essentials: Camera & Photography - Photography for Professionals - Total Control - Extraordinary Photo Apps - Best New App ----------------------- "It’s one of those rare photography apps that creates effects that few others are capable of, and it does it easily and with better results." — Marty Yawnick, Life In LoFi ----------------------- How many times have you tried to capture artful images with your iPhone camera but were left wishing you had more features to work with? Slow Shutter Cam puts an end to mere snapshots and gives you some of the most powerful features of a DSLR camera. All this, in a package that fits in your pocket. Slow Shutter Cam offers three capture modes to capture unique images: MOTION BLUR: Equivalent to the shutter priority mode on a DSLR, the Motion Blur mode is perfect for creating ghost images, waterfall effects or suggesting movement in your photographs by adding a blur. LIGHT TRAIL: The Light Trail mode allows you to 'paint' with light, show car light trails and fireworks or capture any other moving light in a unique way. Unlike shooting with a DSLR and being tied to specific rigid settings to obtain good results, the Light Trail mode takes care of the essentials, letting your creativity soar! LOW LIGHT: In low light conditions, this capture mode allows the camera to accumulate every photon of light hitting the sensor. The longer the shutter speed, the more light it will accumulate. You can even fine-tune the result using the exposure compensation slider to achieve the exact effect you want! Highlights: • Unlimited Shutter Speed and manual ISO • Option to resume capture and create multiple exposure photos • Real time live preview - See the result in real time • Innovative 'Freeze' and ‘Blur Strength’ controls • Tap to adjust focus/exposure • Time-lapse Intervalometer • Apple Watch support and handy Self-Timer • Full resolution support on every devices • Camera Control support (iPhone 16) With Slow Shutter Cam on your iPhone you get the features of a DSLR camera with the convenience of a device that you can drop in your pocket and take with you wherever you go. Download it now and put an end to mere snapshots! Search #slowshuttercam on Instagram or visit the "Slow Shutter Cam - iPhone" group on flickr for amazing samples!

About

PhotoPills

Plan and capture stunning photos of the sun, moon, and Milky Way. This app helps you visualize celestial events and landscape compositions with advanced planning tools and augmented reality.

Highlights
  • 2D Map-Centric Planner (Sun, Moon, Milky Way)
  • 3D Augmented Reality Views
  • Celestial Event Finder
  • Photo Plans Manager
  • Location Scouting Tool
  • Calculators (Long Exposure, Timelapse, etc.)
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Unlock your creative potential! Discover how to easily turn any Sun, Moon and Milky Way scene you imagine into a real picture… and start shooting truly legendary photos every time you pick up the camera! Whether your passion is to capture beautiful landscapes, immortalize the infinite night sky, surprise the bride and the groom in their happiest day... or to travel the world, PhotoPills will make you love exploring new artistic possibilities to tell visual stories in a way it wasn’t possible before. * All in one app PhotoPills is your iPhone and iPad personal assistant in all photographic matters. It provides tasty remedies to answer most of the questions when planning and shooting your creative ideas: - The First 2D Map-Centric Planner: Sun, Moon, Milky Way - Sun, Moon Alignments Fast Finder - 3D Augmented Reality: Sun, Moon, Milky Way, Celestial Equator, Polaris, DoF, FoV - Photo Plans Manager - Location Scouting Tool - Key information: Sunrise/set, Twilights, Golden Hour, Blue Hour, Moonrise/set, Supermoon dates, Moon Calendar - Calculators: Long Exposure, Timelapse, Spot Stars, Star Trails, Hyperfocal Table, DoF, FoV - Widgets: Sun, Moon, Milky Way - PhotoPills Awards… and much more! * Endorsed by Masters “PhotoPills is an invaluable tool which I use every time I plan a shoot.” – Mark Gee, Astronomy Photographer of the Year. “A tool every photographer should have.” – Kevin Raber, Luminous-landscape.com. “It pays off! Using such a tool ensures that we are repeatedly capable of quickly planning powerful shots; leaving maximum opportunity for more creative ruminations.” – José B. Ruiz, Innovation Award, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. * How it works Have you ever walked around a place and thought: "What a pity the Moon isn't EXACTLY right there... I would have captured a great photo!"? What about the Sun? And the Milky Way? Well, now you can let your imagination fly and calculate when this specific magic moment happens in just a few seconds: - IMAGINE: the Milky Way arching over a powerful landscape, a giant full Moon appearing from behind a nearby hill or a sunset between two rocks on a magic beach... The only limit is your imagination! - PLAN: easily calculate the exact date and time the scene you’ve imagined happens. Work smarter, not harder! - SHOOT: just get out there, immerse yourself in the great outdoors, and enjoy living and capturing unique moments. * Become a Legend Because we know the huge amount of time, energy and love you put in your photos. We want to HONOR them, SHOW them to the World, and REWARD you with up to $6,600 in cash prizes. It's easy and FREE! Just submit your creative photos from PhotoPills and join the Legacy! * Never waste an unmissable scene again Create a To-Do list of planned photos and get to the location on time. * Get it right Adjust your frame for the best composition before you shoot. Use the 3D Augmented Reality Views to see whether Sun, Moon and Milky Way will be at the desired position when pressing the shutter. * Explore, discover great places and create your own database of locations If you come across a location you’d like to remember, save it as a Point of Interest. * Enjoy all daily information in just one swipe with the Widgets Just swipe down from the top of the screen to get all the Sun, Moon and Milky Way events for your current location and date, in addition to your upcoming photo plans. * Get more than an app Our goal is not only to help you plan your shots, but also to help you nail them. Whenever you need help, take a look at our How-To articles and videos, join our free online courses or just contact us! “This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take PhotoPills – you stay in Wonderland and we show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. Remember: all we’re offering are Legendary Photos and Goosebumps in your skin, nothing more.”

Screenshots

Slow Shutter Cam4 screens
PhotoPills4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Slow Shutter Cam at $2.99 against PhotoPills's $10.99. Slow Shutter Cam also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). PhotoPills's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 71%). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Slow Shutter Cam costs $2.99 and PhotoPills $10.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Slow Shutter Cam against 4.7 for PhotoPills. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.8K and 1.5K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of Slow Shutter Cam's written reviews are positive against 85% of PhotoPills's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Slow Shutter Cam ships an update every 10 days, PhotoPills every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Slow Shutter Cam versus PhotoPills: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSlow Shutter CamPhotoPills
Price$2.99 — better$10.99
Rating4.6 (2.8K ratings)4.7 (1.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.5% of reviews84.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.8K — better1.5K
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#12#9 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB41 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperCogitap SoftwarePhotoPills S.L.

Customer experience

Slow Shutter Cam

All ratings2,779 ratings
Positive91.4%
Neutral3.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews1,242 reviews
Positive71.5%
Neutral6.8%
Negative21.7%

PhotoPills

All ratings1,525 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.0%
Written reviews478 reviews
Positive84.9%
Neutral4.0%
Negative11.1%

User reviews

Slow Shutter Cam

From 2.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Powerful controls
  • 🎨 Great for creative photography
  • 💡 Useful for low light and long exposure shots
  • 🎨 Excellent for light trails and motion blur

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly
  • 🤔 Confusing interface for some users
  • 🤷‍♀️ Limited functionality compared to DSLR
  • 🤔 Struggles with astrophotography and night sky shots

PhotoPills

From 1.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Comprehensive planning tools
  • 🚀 Powerful features for astrophotography
  • 💡 Excellent tutorials and support
  • 🌟 Indispensable for photographers
  • ⭐ Incredible value for money

Room to improve

  • 🤔 Steep learning curve
  • 🤯 Overwhelming complexity
  • 🤖 Confusing user interface
  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 🗺️ Inaccurate location tracking

Bugs and requests

Slow Shutter Cam

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Lens flare or distortion issues on some devices
  • Inconsistent performance on iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • Saved photos not showing up in camera roll

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for RAW image format
  • Implement a hands-free bulb mode with remote activation
  • Include a countdown timer for stabilizing the camera
  • Integrate with Apple Watch for easier shutter control
  • Provide more detailed tutorials and guidance for beginners

PhotoPills

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when using depth of field calculator
  • Location settings not persisting between sessions
  • Milky Way position not aligning correctly

Requested features

5 requests
  • User guide in multiple languages
  • Improved integration with other apps
  • More customization options
  • Weather forecast integration
  • Apple Watch companion app

In-app purchases

None

Slow Shutter Cam

No in-app purchases

None

PhotoPills

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Slow Shutter Cam free?
Slow Shutter Cam costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PhotoPills free?
PhotoPills costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Slow Shutter Cam or PhotoPills?
PhotoPills is rated higher. Slow Shutter Cam averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while PhotoPills averages 4.7 from 1.5K ratings.
Do Slow Shutter Cam or PhotoPills have ads?
Neither Slow Shutter Cam nor PhotoPills shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Slow Shutter Cam or PhotoPills?
Slow Shutter Cam ships an update every 10 days, and PhotoPills every 2 months. Most recently, Slow Shutter Cam was updated on September 23, 2026 and PhotoPills on September 23, 2026.
Which is more popular, Slow Shutter Cam or PhotoPills?
Slow Shutter Cam currently peaks at #12 in the App Store charts, and PhotoPills at #9. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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