Filter Simulation vs Max Photo Frames
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Filter Simulation
Simulate the effects of real optical filters for black and white photography. This app accurately mimics the luminance modulation of red, yellow, green, blue, and orange filters. It also includes an automatic shutter speed calculator for ND filters and a pinhole photography simulator.
- Simulate optical filters for B&W
- Mimics red, yellow, green, blue, orange filters
- Custom CIColorKernel shaders
- Automatic shutter speed calculator for ND filters
- Pinhole photograph simulation
Read full descriptionHide full description
Simulate real optical filters in black & white. This app uses custom CIColorKernel shaders to modulate grayscale luminance based on color vector similarity—accurately mimicking red, yellow, green, blue, and orange filters as used in film photography. Then, if needed, save the filtered image with filter information. Then, swipe left and find an automatic shutter speed calculator for applying various ND filters And that's not all; keep on swiping and you can simulate pinhole photographs before shooting!
Max Photo Frames
Read full descriptionHide full description
Frame it. Caption it. Keep it. Max Photo Frames turns your photos into keepsakes with clean borders, retro looks and captions in one tap. Free. No subscription. Nothing to unlock. NEW IN 3.3 • Print sizes with no white borders: 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, A4 and more, saved at the paper's real size • Drag or pinch to fit the photo • Your PNG logo as a watermark: add it once, use it on every photo • Your camera settings as a caption: shutter, aperture, ISO and focal length, read from the photo • Shot Data presets, with three film looks • Film and Retro Wide borders • Choose export quality and see the file size before you save • A rebuilt iPad landscape editor • Hub pages that open in place, with swipe back • Every section explains itself under its heading ALSO IN THE BOX • Retro and instant film looks, now in landscape too • One-tap Studio looks, and presets you can save, group and search • Seasonal presets, like Father Figures for Father's Day • Captions, dates, birthdays and countdowns • More than thirty fonts • Background blur, cutouts and 3D Pop • Face-aware 3D Props and playful decorations • White Balance with an Auto setting • Save as a photo, a Live Photo or a GIF • Share a preset with a friend as a file • iCloud Sync, and one backup file for your presets, captions and settings • Light and dark themes on iPhone and iPad IN-APP PURCHASES The only in-app purchases are optional tips to support the app. A tip unlocks nothing, because every feature is already yours. YOUR PHOTOS STAY YOURS No ads. No tracking. No account. Everything runs on your device, and your photos are never uploaded. We never touch your metadata. iCloud Sync stays off until you switch it on, and it carries your presets, captions and logos, never your photos.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Filter Simulation at none against Max Photo Frames's 4. Filter Simulation also leads on iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Max Photo Frames sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Filter Simulation asks for nothing beyond the download.
Filter Simulation ships an update monthly, Max Photo Frames every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Filter Simulation | Max Photo Frames |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 62 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ari Jaaksi | Oscar Lim |
In-app purchases
Filter Simulation
No in-app purchases
Max Photo Frames
- A small tip$0.99
- A coffee$3.99
- A bubble tea$7.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- A round of drinks$29.99
Questions
Is Filter Simulation free?
Is Max Photo Frames free?
Do Filter Simulation or Max Photo Frames have ads?
Which is updated more often, Filter Simulation or Max Photo Frames?
Other comparisons















