# PhotoLayers vs Beyond the Frame

The clearest difference is ads: Beyond the Frame at none against PhotoLayers's shown. Beyond the Frame also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PhotoLayers ships an update every 3 months, Beyond the Frame every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhotoLayers | Beyond the Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photolayers/id501882698/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **20K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 9 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [handyCloset Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/434388697) | [TAKASHI ISHIKAWA](https://appshunter.io/developer/6809795227) |

## What reviewers say

### PhotoLayers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photolayers/id501882698)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Beyond the Frame

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beyond-the-frame/id6816573844)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhotoLayers free?

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

### Is Beyond the Frame free?

Beyond the Frame is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do PhotoLayers or Beyond the Frame have ads?

PhotoLayers shows ads; Beyond the Frame does not.

### Which is updated more often, PhotoLayers or Beyond the Frame?

PhotoLayers ships an update every 3 months, and Beyond the Frame every 2 days. Most recently, PhotoLayers was updated on October 28, 2026 and Beyond the Frame on October 19, 2026.

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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.*