Comparison

Cobalt Image vs Very Good Camera

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cobalt Image

Enhance your iPhone photos with advanced AI, HDR, and smart portrait modes. This app offers unparalleled control over non-raw images, featuring cutting-edge white balance and Luma curve adjustments. Access renowned digital and film emulations for professional-level editing.

Highlights
  • AI-enhanced picture processing
  • HDR and smart portrait modes
  • Advanced color models for HEIC files
  • Unprecedented control over non-raw photos
  • White balance and Luma curve adjustments
  • Renowned digital and film emulations
  • Direct editing from Apple Photos
Features
Read full description

Please note that Cobalt Image PHOTO is available through subscription plans. The Full Access Yearly subscription provides a 7-day trial period during which you can try the full app and decide to cancel at any time. Our Digital and Film packs are renowned for their accuracy and are now available for all images taken by your favorite device. Your AI-enhanced pictures with HDR and smart portrait mode will be the starting point for our emulations. Cobalt Image PHOTO introduces a new advanced tool powered by the latest color models, specifically designed for treating AI-enhanced iPhone HEIC files. Leveraging the best color science available, it enhances and edits your cherished memories captured by the iPhone. Experience unparalleled freedom with our image editor, where you’ll be astonished by the unprecedented level of control over your non-raw photos. Our advanced color pipeline, featuring cutting-edge white balance and Luma curve adjustments, elevates the app to extraordinary heights, setting a new standard in photo editing. Features: - A complete set of renowned emulations made by Cobalt, both Digital and Film (Film available on Full Access subscription) - Advanced BW scientific conversion - Advanced White Balance - Luma curve on CIECAM16 - RGB curves on ProPhoto - Brightness, Contrast, Saturation all on CIECAM16 - Clarity - Structure - Advanced grain - Vignette The app can also be accessed directly from Apple Photos through the sharing function, allowing for direct editing of the selected photo. Standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Very Good Camera

Capture stunning photos with film and digicam-inspired color grades. Offers advanced camera controls, multiple aspect ratios, and various file formats for a professional editing experience.

Highlights
  • Film and digicam inspired color grades
  • Focus & exposure modes
  • Multiple aspect ratios
  • JPG, HEIC, and RAW file formats
  • Customizable color grades
  • Iconic shutter sounds
Read full description

Very Good Camera is based on the most popular film grades by Very Good Co. Three color grades suit every style of photography: VG400 for anytime, VG800 for low-light, and VGTX for monochrome. This camera is feature-rich, with tools you'd expect to find in any camera: focus & exposure modes, tools to overlay, and various file formats. This camera also includes three iconic shutter sounds, natural processing for a digicam look, and the ability to dial in and customize each of our color grades. Whether you want a filmic, digicam, or modern look, Very Good Camera has what you need to get the best colors right out of your iPhone. Features include: - Camera modes for a full or minimal experience - Various aspect ratios, including native 4:3 as well as 2:3, 5:4, 1:1, 16:9, and XPAN - File formats with JPG, HEIC, and RAW - Resolution of 12MP or 48MP - Standard or Natural Processing - Build out a custom lens kit of common focal lengths - Auto or Manual Exposure Modes to control ISO & Shutter - Exposure lock to prevent exposure changes - Exposure push and pull, based on film scans - Tap or Tracking Focus Modes - Mirrored or True modes for the Selfie cam - Three iconic shutter tones - Grid, level, and histogram overlay tools - Self timer - White, black, and film-inspired frames

Screenshots

Cobalt Image4 screens
Very Good Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cobalt Image at Free against Very Good Camera's $9.99. Cobalt Image also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). Very Good Camera's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 56%) and rating (5.0 vs 2.3). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Cobalt Image is free to download; Very Good Camera costs $9.99 up front. Cobalt Image sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. Very Good Camera asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Very Good Camera holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 22 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Cobalt Image's written reviews are positive against 100% of Very Good Camera's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cobalt Image ships an update every 5 days, Very Good Camera fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Cobalt Image versus Very Good Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCobalt ImageVery Good Camera
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating2.3 (6 ratings)5.0 (22 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings622 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionPaid — better
Best chart rank—#19 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size203 MB13 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperCobalt Image LTDGray Ribbon, Inc.

Customer experience

Cobalt Image

All ratings6 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%

Very Good Camera

All ratings21 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Cobalt Image

Subscriptions3
  • Cobalt Image Pro Digital$3.491 Month
  • Cobalt Image Pro Monthly$5.491 Month
  • Cobalt Image Pro Yearly7 Days trial$44.991 Year
None

Very Good Camera

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cobalt Image free?
Cobalt Image is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Very Good Camera free?
Very Good Camera costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cobalt Image or Very Good Camera?
Very Good Camera is rated higher. Cobalt Image averages 2.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Very Good Camera averages 5.0 from 22 ratings.
Do Cobalt Image or Very Good Camera have ads?
Neither Cobalt Image nor Very Good Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cobalt Image or Very Good Camera?
Cobalt Image ships an update every 5 days, and Very Good Camera fortnightly. Most recently, Cobalt Image was updated on November 3, 2026 and Very Good Camera on November 9, 2026.

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