# PhotoPills vs ShutterCount Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: PhotoPills at 4.7 against ShutterCount Mobile's 3.3. PhotoPills also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (85% vs 56%). ShutterCount Mobile's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $10.99). On update cadence, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

PhotoPills costs $10.99 and ShutterCount Mobile $9.99 up front. ShutterCount Mobile sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. PhotoPills asks for nothing beyond the download.

PhotoPills holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhotoPills has 1.5K ratings behind it against 66, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of PhotoPills's written reviews are positive against 56% of ShutterCount Mobile's.

PhotoPills ships an update every 2 months, ShutterCount Mobile every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhotoPills | ShutterCount Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $10.99 | **$9.99** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805/reviews)** | [3.3 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shuttercount-mobile/id1084325249/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 66 |
| Positive reviews | **84.9% of reviews** | 55.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | #73 |
| Size | 41 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PhotoPills S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596026808) | [DIRE Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/362492883) |

## What reviewers say

### PhotoPills

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Paid · Photo & Video, #85 Top Paid (US App Store)

Plan and capture stunning photos of the sun, moon, and Milky Way. This app helps you visualize celestial events and landscape compositions with advanced planning tools and augmented reality.

**Highlights:** 2D Map-Centric Planner (Sun, Moon, Milky Way), 3D Augmented Reality Views, Celestial Event Finder, Photo Plans Manager, Location Scouting Tool, Calculators (Long Exposure, Timelapse, etc.)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Comprehensive planning tools
- 🚀 Powerful features for astrophotography
- 💡 Excellent tutorials and support
- 🌟 Indispensable for photographers
- ⭐ Incredible value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Steep learning curve
- 🤯 Overwhelming complexity
- 🤖 Confusing user interface
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when using depth of field calculator
- Location settings not persisting between sessions
- Milky Way position not aligning correctly

**Requested features**

- User guide in multiple languages
- Improved integration with other apps
- More customization options
- Weather forecast integration
- Apple Watch companion app


### ShutterCount Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shuttercount-mobile/id1084325249)

**Currently charting:** #73 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This app reads the shutter actuation count for Canon, Nikon, and Pentax digital cameras. It helps determine a camera's usage, check if a pre-owned item is truly new, and avoid service center trips. Features include unlimited readings, wear indicators, and history logging.

**Highlights:** Unlimited shutter count readings, Shutter wear indicator, History logging in CSV format, Live View and electronic shutter counters (optional), Graphing and shutter life forecasting (optional), Canon EOS camera management (optional)

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feature Level 6 to 7 Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |
| Live View Pack | $5.00 | one-time |
| Plus Pack | $7.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Works reliably when properly configured
- ⚡ Quick shutter count retrieval (5 minutes or less)
- 💰 One-time purchase, no recurring fees
- 📱 Compatible with multiple Canon camera models
- 🎯 Accurate shutter count readings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 Complex connection setup process
- ❌ High failure rate for certain camera models
- 📚 Vague and unclear instructions for beginners
- 💸 Expensive for a single-purpose utility app
- 🚫 Limited camera model compatibility

**Reported bugs**

- WiFi pairing fails on certain camera models
- App doesn't connect despite correct configuration
- Shutter count displays as zero on mobile version
- Inconsistent readings between mobile and desktop versions
- Connection timeout issues lasting 30+ minutes

**Requested features**

- Clearer, more detailed step-by-step instructions per camera model
- German language version
- Improved error messages with troubleshooting guidance
- Support for non-mechanical actuation differentiation
- Lower price point ($2.99-$3.99 range)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhotoPills free?

PhotoPills costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ShutterCount Mobile free?

ShutterCount Mobile costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PhotoPills or ShutterCount Mobile?

PhotoPills is rated higher. PhotoPills averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while ShutterCount Mobile averages 3.3 from 66 ratings.

### Do PhotoPills or ShutterCount Mobile have ads?

Neither PhotoPills nor ShutterCount Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PhotoPills or ShutterCount Mobile?

PhotoPills ships an update every 2 months, and ShutterCount Mobile every 3 months. Most recently, PhotoPills was updated on November 1, 2026 and ShutterCount Mobile on November 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, PhotoPills or ShutterCount Mobile?

PhotoPills currently peaks at #13 in the App Store charts, and ShutterCount Mobile at #73. 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.*