# Instant Camera vs Hardcover OG

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instant Camera | Hardcover OG |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instant-camera/id371430640/reviews) | **[3.4 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcover-og/id942858776/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **19** |
| Positive reviews | 37.9% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 2 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [bbcddc](https://appshunter.io/developer/308471658) | [Peta Vision](https://appshunter.io/developer/401432180) |

## What reviewers say

### Instant Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instant-camera/id371430640)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hardcover OG

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcover-og/id942858776)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Purchase 1500 coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Purchase 4000 coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock all features | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Strong privacy and security features with password protection
- 👍 Clean, intuitive, and beautiful user interface design
- 📁 Easy photo organization and album management
- 💰 Free version available with daily coin rewards
- 👆 Touch ID/fingerprint authentication support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive in-app purchases and coin system
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- ⚠️ Photos mysteriously disappearing or getting lost
- 🎥 Video playback issues (no sound, no rotation)
- 📤 Export/backup functionality unreliable

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Daily earn points system for free album creation
- Password confirmation before deleting albums
- Encrypted photo storage
- Backup and restore functionality
- Cross-device synchronization


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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