# PhotonCam vs Spectro

The clearest difference is update cadence: PhotonCam at every 6 days against Spectro's monthly. PhotonCam also leads on ratings volume (60 vs 4). Spectro's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PhotonCam sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Spectro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Spectro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhotonCam has 60 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PhotonCam ships an update every 6 days, Spectro monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhotonCam | Spectro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photoncam-pro-camera-and-editor/id6470341051/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectro-video-compressor/id6740755408/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **60** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 93.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 101 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [伟超 邓](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456767681) | [Mengke WANG](https://appshunter.io/developer/361681925) |

## What reviewers say

### PhotonCam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photoncam-pro-camera-and-editor/id6470341051)

Capture stunning photos with advanced controls and edit them with professional tools. Enhance images with custom frames, filters, and LUTs. Offers a trial mode with watermarks and subscription options for full access.

**Highlights:** ProRaw and 48MP capture, Manual camera controls, HDR and Live Photo support, Customizable frames and filters, LUT import for unique styles, ACR-level editing tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly payment | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly payment | $12.99 | per year |
| Thank You Coffee | $3.99 | one-time |
| One-time purchase | $14.99 | one-time |


### Spectro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectro-video-compressor/id6740755408)

This app helps you reduce video file sizes while maintaining high quality. It offers smart optimization, hardware acceleration, and advanced encoding for efficient compression. Easily manage, compare, and organize your videos with advanced playback and privacy features.

**Highlights:** Smart Bitrate Optimization, Hardware Acceleration, Advanced Encoding Algorithms, Intuitive Video Management, Advanced Playback Features, Task Queue for Batch Compression, Privacy Protection with Face ID/Touch ID

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhotonCam free?

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

### Is Spectro free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PhotonCam or Spectro?

Spectro is rated higher. PhotonCam averages 4.7 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Spectro averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do PhotonCam or Spectro have ads?

Neither PhotonCam nor Spectro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PhotonCam or Spectro?

PhotonCam ships an update every 6 days, and Spectro monthly. Most recently, PhotonCam was updated on November 7, 2026 and Spectro on October 30, 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.*