# HDR vs Instant HDR

The clearest difference is price: Instant HDR at Free against HDR's $1.99. Instant HDR also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). HDR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads there is nothing between them.

Instant HDR is free to download; HDR costs $1.99 up front. Instant HDR sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. HDR asks for nothing beyond the download.

HDR ships an update every 4 months, Instant HDR every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HDR | Instant HDR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[2.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hdr/id600529720/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **10** | — |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lucky Clan](https://appshunter.io/developer/294866851) | [Alexander Chaldryan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886878152) |

## What reviewers say

### HDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hdr/id600529720)

Capture stunning High-Dynamic-Range photos by merging multiple exposures. This app offers automatic and manual controls, the ability to import existing images, and various mixing options for professional-looking results. Achieve sharper images with automatic alignment and save directly to your device.

**Highlights:** Automatic and manual exposure modes, Import photos from library, Four HDR mix options, Automatic photo alignment, Native camera resolution support, Fast capture and merge

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast processing
- 💡 Useful HDR features
- 🌟 Excellent image quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🚫 Lack of updates and compatibility
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💸 Overpriced for features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when loading images
- Alignment issues and ghosting
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- More exposure control and manual adjustments
- Support for multiple exposures (3+) for better HDR
- Automatic saving to photo library
- Expanded filter and editing options


### Instant HDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instant-hdr/id6760928857)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instant HDR Premium | $2.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HDR free?

HDR costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Instant HDR free?

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

### Do HDR or Instant HDR have ads?

Neither HDR nor Instant HDR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HDR or Instant HDR?

HDR ships an update every 4 months, and Instant HDR every 2 weeks. Most recently, HDR was updated on October 24, 2026 and Instant HDR on October 24, 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.*