Comparison

Superimpose vs PhotoLayers

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

Head to head
About

Superimpose

This app allows for powerful multi-layer photo editing, enabling users to combine images, cut out objects, and blend them with various tools. It also integrates AI features for image generation, background removal, and enhancements, offering a comprehensive creative suite for visual content creation.

Highlights
  • Multi-layer photo editing
  • Combine and arrange image layers
  • AI image generation from text
  • AI-assisted background removal
  • Advanced masking tools
  • Blend modes for creative effects
  • Text tools for designs
Features
Read full description

Superimpose is a complete creative studio for photo editing, image compositing, video editing, and AI-powered visual creation. Build complex edits by hand with layers, masks, blend modes, brushes, effects, adjustments, shadows, text, blur, warp and perspective tools. Cut out people and objects, combine several images, paint masks, adjust colours, add depth and shadows, and refine every detail. When you want faster results, use AI to generate images from text, edit and repair photos, replace backgrounds, expand a picture beyond its edges, enhance details, relight a scene, create headshots, swap faces, turn a sketch into finished art, or animate a still photo into a short video. And it is not only about photos any more. A true multi-track video editor is built in, so one project can carry you from a single image to a finished video without ever leaving the app. PHOTO EDITING AND COMPOSITING • Layer-based editing with up to 24 layers • Advanced masking, including Magic Wand, Magic Lasso, brush masks and shape masks • 18 blend modes and 16 adjustment layers • Non-destructive layer blur and adjustments • 63 photo effects, plus clarity, colour, tone and detail controls • Text and curved text tools • Motion Blur, Zoom Blur, Spin Blur, Lens Blur, Selective Blur and Gradient tools • Warp, perspective transform and distortion tools • Paint, smudge, clone stamp and effect brushes • Built-in shadow and Light Wrap tools • Camera fill with real-time masks and blend modes • Masking Library for reusable cutouts and stickers • Session Library that saves your projects automatically • PSD export with layers • More than a million royalty-free stock photos VIDEO EDITING • Multi-track timeline for video, images, audio and text • Split, trim, rotate and freeze clips with ease • Speed control, including speed ramps • Keyframe animation with adjustable curves • Transitions between clips • Stack effects and animations on any track for unique results • Use masks for precise editing, including green screen and more • Audio from your device, voiceovers and royalty-free music • Stickers and animated GIFs • Royalty-free stock video and photos • Export in the format and resolution you choose AI TOOLS • AI people masking • AI image generation from text • AI image editing and inpainting • AI background creation and replacement • AI outpainting and image expansion • AI image enhancement • AI relighting • AI sketch-to-image creation • AI headshot generation • AI face swap • AI image-to-image transformation • AI image-to-video generation Whether you are making social posts, thumbnails, designs, artwork, product images, profile photos, memes, edits or professional composites, Superimpose X gives you manual precision and AI speed in one app. Start with an idea, a photo, a sketch, a video or a blank canvas. Superimpose gives you the freedom to create by hand, the speed of AI when you need it, and the control to make every result your own. Terms of use: https://www.superimposeapp.com/terms-of-use--superimpose-classic-.html Privacy Policy: https://www.superimposeapp.com/privacy2.html

About

PhotoLayers

Easily create stunning photo collages and composite images by layering up to 11 photos. Remove unwanted backgrounds to make subjects transparent and adjust color tones for more attractive visuals.

Highlights
  • Photo layering
  • Background eraser
  • Create collages
  • Composite photos
  • Color control
Read full description

◇ PhotoLayers makes photo editing and layering simple and fun. ◇ PhotoLayers is a photo montage app that helps you create beautiful photo collages, composite photos, and photomontages easily. ◇ Background Eraser Make unwanted areas transparent to cut out subjects and create a clean transparent background. ◇ Layer compositing Combine up to 11 photos at the same time to build your own montage. ◇ Color control Adjust color tone to make your images look more attractive.

Screenshots

Superimpose4 screens
PhotoLayers4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PhotoLayers at none against Superimpose's 8. PhotoLayers also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (20K vs 3.2K). Superimpose's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price and review sentiment 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

Both are free to download. Superimpose sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. PhotoLayers asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PhotoLayers holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhotoLayers has 20K ratings behind it against 3.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Superimpose's written reviews are positive against 80% of PhotoLayers's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Superimpose ships an update fortnightly, PhotoLayers every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Superimpose versus PhotoLayers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSuperimposePhotoLayers
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (3.2K ratings)4.8 (20K ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.6% of reviews80.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.2K20K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size378 MB9 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPankaj GoswamihandyCloset Inc.

Customer experience

Superimpose

All ratings3,189 ratings
Positive87.3%
Neutral2.1%
Negative10.6%
Written reviews586 reviews
Positive77.6%
Neutral2.4%
Negative20.0%

PhotoLayers

All ratings19,764 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.7%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews281 reviews
Positive80.4%
Neutral5.0%
Negative14.6%

User reviews

Superimpose

From 3.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Powerful photo editing capabilities
  • 🎨 Versatile tools for creative projects
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🔍 Excellent masking and layering features
  • 🕰 Long-term reliable app (10+ years of use)

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Recent updates have added paywalls for core features
  • 🤯 Confusing new UI layout after recent update
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches with latest version
  • 🔍 Difficult to find and access certain tools
  • 💰 Paid upgrade (Superimpose X) required for advanced features

PhotoLayers

From 20K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful editing tools
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 💡 Versatile layering options
  • 🎨 Excellent for photo manipulation
  • 🆓 Fully functional free version

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Quality loss when saving images
  • 📢 Intrusive ads
  • 🔒 Concerns about data privacy
  • 📐 Lack of zoom/pan for precise positioning

Bugs and requests

Superimpose

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Freezing and crashing issues
  • Saved images losing quality
  • Masking tools not working as expected
  • Imported images not displaying properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Ability to save and resume projects
  • Background blending tools
  • Improved layer management
  • Automatic background removal

PhotoLayers

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Eraser tool issues after recent update
  • Crashes and freezes on some devices
  • Inability to access photo library in certain cases

Requested features

4 requests
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Horizontal/landscape mode support
  • Increased layer limit
  • Ability to save edited images in higher quality

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Superimpose

Subscriptions6
  • Superimpose Premium$2.991 Month
  • Superimpose (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Full Access Yearly$17.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Full Access Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
  • Superimpose Pro (Yearly)3 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • Superimpose Pro (Yearly)$34.991 Year
One-time2
  • 500 Pro AI Coins$3.99
  • 1000 Pro AI Coins$6.99
None

PhotoLayers

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Superimpose free?
Superimpose is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PhotoLayers free?
PhotoLayers is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Superimpose or PhotoLayers?
PhotoLayers is rated higher. Superimpose averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while PhotoLayers averages 4.8 from 20K ratings.
Do Superimpose or PhotoLayers have ads?
PhotoLayers shows ads; Superimpose does not.
Which is updated more often, Superimpose or PhotoLayers?
Superimpose ships an update fortnightly, and PhotoLayers every 3 months. Most recently, Superimpose was updated on September 24, 2026 and PhotoLayers on September 23, 2026.

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