# Bokeh Lens vs AlphaBlur Image Effects

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bokeh Lens at 71% against AlphaBlur Image Effects's 14%. Bokeh Lens also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and price ($0.99 vs $2.99). AlphaBlur Image Effects's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.2). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Bokeh Lens costs $0.99 and AlphaBlur Image Effects $2.99 up front. AlphaBlur Image Effects sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Bokeh Lens asks for nothing beyond the download.

AlphaBlur Image Effects holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 32 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Bokeh Lens's written reviews are positive against 14% of AlphaBlur Image Effects's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Bokeh Lens ships an update every 6 weeks, AlphaBlur Image Effects every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bokeh Lens | AlphaBlur Image Effects |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [3.2 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bokeh-lens/id587849880/reviews) | **[4.3 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphablur-image-effects/id1332031137/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **64** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | **70.9% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 5 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [StudioTIMO](https://appshunter.io/developer/506594965) | [Maxim Chernousov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1129911489) |

## What reviewers say

### Bokeh Lens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bokeh-lens/id587849880)

Create DSLR-quality photos with creamy bokeh effects on your iPhone. This app allows you to easily select foreground subjects and blur the background for a natural, pleasing bokeh. Adjust the bokeh level to control the blur intensity.

**Highlights:** DSLR-quality bokeh effects, Selective foreground selection, Adjustable bokeh level, Magnifying loupe for precise editing, Easy-to-use interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Effective bokeh/blur effect quality
- 💰 Affordable price point ($0.99-$1)
- 🔍 Helpful zoom magnifier for precise editing
- ⚡ Fast processing and rendering

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes on various iOS versions
- ⚠️ Black screen errors when importing photos
- 📉 Low output resolution (saves at reduced quality)
- 🔧 Outdated user interface design
- ⏱️ Manual masking is tedious and time-consuming

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening certain photos
- Black screen appears during photo import
- Incompatibility with iOS 13, 16, and newer versions
- App freezes when saving images
- Photos don't display in album (only blanks)

**Requested features**

- Automatic subject/edge detection
- iPad version support
- Soft feathering brush for smoother transitions
- Full resolution image saving
- Different bokeh shapes (star, octagon, etc.)


### AlphaBlur Image Effects

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphablur-image-effects/id1332031137)

This app uses AI to automatically separate foreground and background elements in your photos. It then applies a variety of stunning special effects to the background, with options for blur, focus, bokeh, and distortions.

**Highlights:** AI-powered background/foreground separation, Special effects for backgrounds, Dual Camera and TrueDepth hardware support, Various blur and focus effects, Customizable bokeh shapes, Highlight and star effects, Turbulence distortion effects

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bokeh & Stars | $0.99 | one-time |
| Turbulenses | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bokeh Lens free?

Bokeh Lens costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AlphaBlur Image Effects free?

AlphaBlur Image Effects costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bokeh Lens or AlphaBlur Image Effects?

AlphaBlur Image Effects is rated higher. Bokeh Lens averages 3.2 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while AlphaBlur Image Effects averages 4.3 from 32 ratings.

### Do Bokeh Lens or AlphaBlur Image Effects have ads?

Neither Bokeh Lens nor AlphaBlur Image Effects shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bokeh Lens or AlphaBlur Image Effects?

Bokeh Lens ships an update every 6 weeks, and AlphaBlur Image Effects every 2 months. Most recently, Bokeh Lens was updated on October 26, 2026 and AlphaBlur Image Effects on October 24, 2026.

---

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