Comparison

Instant Camera vs Hardcover OG

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

Head to head
About

Instant Camera

Capture and personalize photos with an instant camera aesthetic. Add handwritten notes and drawings to your images for a unique, nostalgic touch. Import photos or take new ones directly within the app.

Highlights
  • Instant camera photo simulation
  • Handwritten notes and drawings
  • Zoom and pan while drawing
  • Two frame styles
  • Direct shooting mode
  • Import from photo library
Features
Read full description

InstantCamera recreates the look and feel of instant camera photos on your iPhone. After taking a photo, you can write or draw directly on it by hand to create a memorable keepsake. Why not capture everyday moments with InstantCamera, just like the protagonist in the film Alice in the Cities? Main Features - Paint function You can zoom in up to 2x while drawing. When zoomed in, move the image by dragging/swiping with two fingers. - Two types of frames - Opens directly in shooting mode - Take photos with the camera or import images from your photo library We welcome your feedback and comments. mail: info@bbcddc.com X: bbcddc

About

Hardcover OG

Securely store and admire your photos with a private album app. Upload from various sources, customize with beautiful themes and transitions, and protect your memories with Face ID or PIN.

Highlights
  • Face ID/Touch ID Access
  • Multiple Accounts
  • Upload from Cloud Services
  • Customizable Album Skins
  • 37 Slideshow Transitions
  • PIN Protection
Features
Read full description

Admire your photos with Hardcover, the best and easiest way to store photos on your iPhone. Conveniently upload from numerous sources, from the Camera Roll to iTunes, Dropbox & iCloud Drive. With an array of classic and charming themes, you can watch your favorite memories in slideshows with incredible transitions. The Newest, Most Convenient iOS App Hardcover uses new Face ID™ feature. Now you can avoid PIN numbers-- All it takes without just one tap. Also, with multiple accounts, you can make sure those private photos stay for your eyes only. Beautiful Albums that are Good on the Eyes User friendly and beautiful, it's like killing two birds with one stone. Choose between two modes: albums in a classic motif and a convenient general list. The album skins are modern, bold, and animated, with timeless illustrations. Find a skin that matches your style, or get a wider variety for $0.99. Matchless Transition Effects We have what you need: 37 transition effects to take your slideshows to the next level. Upload and Share Hardcover lets you grab your photos from anywhere- Dropbox, iTunes & iCloud Drive. Just pick one and start uploading. Share your albums on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites! Features: Face ID™ Access Touch ID™ Access Multiple Accounts (for those photos you don't want anyone to see) Uploading from iCloud Drive, Dropbox, iTunes PIN Protection (With decoy account) Beautiful Vintage Album Skins Using Your Photos for Custom Skins 37 Slideshow Transition Effects Supports High-Resolution Images Exif Photo Information Video Playback Supports App Extension (Allows Users to Send photos from Their Camera Roll to Hardcover App.) Supported media type: - JPEG, PNG image - Video (Including 120 & 240 FPS Slo-mo movie) - GIF Animation - Live Photo image Face ID and Touch ID are a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Screenshots

Instant Camera3 screens
Hardcover OG4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Hardcover OG at Free against Instant Camera's $1.99. Hardcover OG also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 38%) and rating (3.4 vs 3.0). Instant Camera's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On ads 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

Hardcover OG is free to download; Instant Camera costs $1.99 up front. Hardcover OG sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Instant Camera asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hardcover OG holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hardcover OG has 19 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Instant Camera's written reviews are positive against 78% of Hardcover OG's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Instant Camera ships an update every 2 months, Hardcover OG every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Instant Camera versus Hardcover OG: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstant CameraHardcover OG
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (1 ratings)3.4 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.9% of reviews77.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings119 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1713.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB78 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperbbcddcPeta Vision

Customer experience

Instant Camera

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive37.9%
Neutral48.3%
Negative13.8%

Hardcover OG

All ratings19 ratings
Positive57.9%
Neutral5.3%
Negative36.8%
Written reviews378 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral8.5%
Negative13.8%

Bugs and requests

Instant Camera

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Hardcover OG

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • App crashes on startup or password entry
  • Videos won't play or display with sound
  • Photos disappear after import or sync
  • Export to camera roll fails silently
  • Import from photo library causes app crash
Show 10 more
  • Touch ID/Face ID not working properly
  • In-app purchases not registering
  • Coins not being credited after purchase
  • App freezes when loading photos
  • iOS 9+ compatibility issues
  • iPhone X/newer device support problems
  • Security flaw: accessing locked albums via settings
  • Password not working after app update
  • Photos reappearing in gallery after deletion
  • Reverse/sort button malfunction

Requested features

16 requests
  • Daily earn points system for free album creation
  • Password confirmation before deleting albums
  • Encrypted photo storage
  • Backup and restore functionality
  • Cross-device synchronization
Show 11 more
  • Video landscape/horizontal mode support
  • Crop and edit photo features
  • Complex password support (not just 4-digit PIN)
  • Photo sorting and reordering options
  • Integration with cloud services (Dropbox, iCloud)
  • Website transfer capability
  • HEIC image format support
  • Double-tap zoom for image viewing
  • Black background option for photo viewing
  • Direct sharing to messaging apps
  • Account recovery with phone number

In-app purchases

None

Instant Camera

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Hardcover OG

One-time3
  • Purchase 1500 coins$0.99
  • Purchase 4000 coins$1.99
  • Unlock all features$3.99

Questions

Is Instant Camera free?
Instant Camera costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hardcover OG free?
Hardcover OG is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Instant Camera or Hardcover OG?
Hardcover OG is rated higher. Instant Camera averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Hardcover OG averages 3.4 from 19 ratings.
Do Instant Camera or Hardcover OG have ads?
Neither Instant Camera nor Hardcover OG shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Instant Camera or Hardcover OG?
Instant Camera ships an update every 2 months, and Hardcover OG every 7 months. Most recently, Instant Camera was updated on October 19, 2026 and Hardcover OG on October 21, 2026.

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