# SphereLens vs Photon Camera

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SphereLens at 75% against Photon Camera's 24%. SphereLens also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 26.0). Photon Camera's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (64 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photon Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. SphereLens asks for nothing beyond the download.

Photon Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photon Camera has 64 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of SphereLens's written reviews are positive against 24% of Photon Camera's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SphereLens | Photon Camera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spherelens/id530098078/reviews) | **[4.0 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-camera/id1439310090/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **64** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 23.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Salamander Factory Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/325906085) | [LateNiteSoft S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283292600) |

## What reviewers say

### SphereLens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spherelens/id530098078)

Transform your photos into unique spherical lens effects. Emphasize specific parts of your image by aligning them within a guiding circle. Adjust the sphere size and save your creations in high resolution.

**Highlights:** Spherical lens photo processing, On-screen camera guide, Adjustable sphere size, High-resolution saving, Direct Twitter sharing, Customizable settings

**In-app purchases:** none


### Photon Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-camera/id1439310090)

Transform your iPhone into a professional camera with full manual controls. Achieve DSLR-quality photos with advanced tools like focus peaking, live exposure, and RAW capture. Take creative control with AI processing options and a minimalist interface.

**Highlights:** Full manual control (ISO, shutter speed, white balance), Focus peaking and focus loupe, Live exposure and histogram, RAW, ProRAW, HEIF, and JPEG capture, Adjustable AI processing (Process Control), Minimalist and intuitive interface, Image browser with photo details

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| One-time purchase | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great camera controls
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🔋 Efficient battery usage
- 💡 Direct USB storage option
- 🚀 Fast and responsive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Lack of transparency around app ownership
- 🔒 Concerns about developer trustworthiness
- 🔍 Limited zoom and lens options

**Reported bugs**

- Manual mode crashes
- Inability to access external storage
- Incompatibility with certain devices
- Unreliable photo saving and syncing

**Requested features**

- Bracketed HDR mode
- Customizable white balance controls
- Landscape orientation support
- Macro mode
- Integration with other photo apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SphereLens free?

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

### Is Photon Camera free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SphereLens or Photon Camera?

Photon Camera is rated higher. SphereLens averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Photon Camera averages 4.0 from 64 ratings.

### Do SphereLens or Photon Camera have ads?

Neither SphereLens nor Photon Camera shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SphereLens or Photon Camera?

SphereLens ships an update every 3 weeks, and Photon Camera every 3 weeks. Most recently, SphereLens was updated on September 10, 2026 and Photon Camera on October 2, 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.*