# Face Effect HD vs Swap

The clearest difference is ads: Swap at none against Face Effect HD's shown. Swap also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). Face Effect HD's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 50%) and ratings volume (297 vs 22). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Face Effect HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Swap sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Swap holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Face Effect HD has 297 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Face Effect HD's written reviews are positive against 50% of Swap's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Face Effect HD ships an update every 6 months, Swap every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Face Effect HD | Swap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (297 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/face-effect-hd-cartoon-editor/id603911498/reviews) | **[4.7 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swap-ai-face-replace/id6468519537/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **297** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | **71.2% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 93 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [柳 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1019029989) | [Lumen Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/1326609573) |

## What reviewers say

### Face Effect HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/face-effect-hd-cartoon-editor/id603911498)

Easily place your face into a variety of humorous pre-designed photo templates. Choose from five categories to create funny pictures for yourself and your friends. Save and share your creations directly from the app.

**Highlights:** Place face in photo hole, Variety of funny photos, 5 different categories, Use built-in camera or upload photos, Adjust photo size for realism, Save and share creations

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 😄 Funny and entertaining
- 🤩 Great for laughs
- 🎨 Fun photo effects
- 🎉 Enjoyable for the whole family

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Limited photo options
- 🤯 Frequent ads
- 🙄 Glitchy performance
- 😒 Needs more customization
- 🙃 Confusing interface

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Difficulty uploading photos
- Compatibility issues with older devices
- Inability to access certain features

**Requested features**

- More photo templates and characters
- Ability to use own photos
- Improved stability and fewer crashes
- Option to remove ads
- Better customization tools


### Swap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swap-ai-face-replace/id6468519537)

Transform your selfies into hilarious 80s and 90s style photoshoots with advanced AI. Simply take one selfie and let the app create iconic vintage portraits with retro filters and effects in seconds. Easily share your nostalgic creations on social media.

**Highlights:** AI-powered face transformation, 80s and 90s photoshoot styles, Vintage filters and effects, Single selfie input, Easy social media sharing, Variety of personalized styles

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Access | $4.99 | per month |
| Get Pro for 1 Year | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Face Effect HD free?

Face Effect HD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Swap free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Face Effect HD or Swap?

Swap is rated higher. Face Effect HD averages 4.3 out of 5 from 297 ratings, while Swap averages 4.7 from 22 ratings.

### Do Face Effect HD or Swap have ads?

Face Effect HD shows ads; Swap does not.

### Which is updated more often, Face Effect HD or Swap?

Face Effect HD ships an update every 6 months, and Swap every 2 months. Most recently, Face Effect HD was updated on October 21, 2026 and Swap on October 25, 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.*