# PicCollage vs Aura Frames

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Aura Frames at none against PicCollage's 11. Aura Frames also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). PicCollage's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 62%) and ratings volume (1.8M vs 27K). On price, rating, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PicCollage sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Aura Frames asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for PicCollage against 4.8 for Aura Frames. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PicCollage has 1.8M ratings behind it against 27K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of PicCollage's written reviews are positive against 62% of Aura Frames's.

PicCollage ships an update every 3 weeks, Aura Frames every 5 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PicCollage | Aura Frames |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piccollage-magic-photo-editor/id448639966/reviews) | [4.8 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aura-frames/id990062908/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8M** | 27K |
| Positive reviews | **91.1% of reviews** | 62.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#29** | #77 |
| Size | 225 MB | 260 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Cardinal Blue](https://appshunter.io/developer/381057842) | [Aura Home, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/909140012) |

## What reviewers say

### PicCollage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piccollage-magic-photo-editor/id448639966)

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #65 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Create personalized photo collages, cards, and video slideshows. Easily edit photos and videos with filters, cutouts, and animations. Personalize your designs with fonts, stickers, and backgrounds for any occasion.

**Highlights:** Create collages and cards, Edit photos and videos, Use ready-to-use layouts and templates, Personalize with fonts and stickers, Add videos to collages, AI-powered background removal, Curved text editor

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual | $35.99 | per year |
| Annual VIP for Collage Makers | $35.99 | per year |
| Party | $0.99 | one-time |
| Christmas Pattern Backgrounds | $0.99 | one-time |
| Words | $0.99 | one-time |
| Accessories | $0.99 | one-time |
| XOXO shape pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| *Bling Bling* | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Watermark and Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Glitter Party Backgrounds | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Easy to use
- 🎨 Lots of creative features
- 🤳 Great for making collages and cards
- 🌟 Awesome app overall
- 🎉 Fun and inspiring

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Too many premium features
- 🔒 Frustrating to be limited by VIP access
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Difficult to find specific stickers/backgrounds
- 🙄 Annoying pop-ups about VIP subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Collages randomly disappearing or getting deleted
- Layered text elements getting hidden
- Slow performance and crashes on certain devices
- Issues with restoring in-app purchases

**Requested features**

- More free stickers and backgrounds
- Ability to change text outline color
- Underline text option
- In-app camera with filters
- Easier layer management


### Aura Frames

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aura-frames/id990062908)

**Currently charting:** #77 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This smart photo frame app simplifies displaying and sharing your cherished memories. Easily preload photos, connect your frame to WiFi, and invite loved ones to contribute their own pictures and videos. Relive moments together and share meaningful experiences with those closest to you.

**Highlights:** Preload photos and messages as gifts, Quick WiFi frame setup, Invite family to share photos, Unlimited photo and video sharing, View family contributions, Scan prints with phone camera

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use app
- 👍 Ability to share photos with family
- 👍 Great quality of photos on frame
- 👍 Convenient way to display family photos
- 👍 Helpful for grandparents to stay connected

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes frequently
- 🐛 Issues with uploading and displaying photos
- 🐛 Inconsistent WiFi connectivity
- 🐛 Limited customization options for photo display
- 🐛 Buggy software after recent updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to upload photos
- Frame randomly disconnects from WiFi
- Live Photos feature not working as expected
- Inability to delete individual photos from frame
- Inconsistent behavior when changing WiFi networks

**Requested features**

- Add ability to organize photos into albums
- Implement manual photo sorting and ordering
- Allow more control over photo display timing
- Integrate with cloud storage services like OneDrive
- Improve photo positioning and cropping algorithms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PicCollage free?

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

### Is Aura Frames free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PicCollage or Aura Frames?

PicCollage and Aura Frames are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.8M and 27K ratings respectively.

### Do PicCollage or Aura Frames have ads?

Neither PicCollage nor Aura Frames shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PicCollage or Aura Frames?

PicCollage ships an update every 3 weeks, and Aura Frames every 5 days. Most recently, PicCollage was updated on September 24, 2026 and Aura Frames on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, PicCollage or Aura Frames?

PicCollage currently peaks at #29 in the App Store charts, and Aura Frames at #77. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*