# Prelens Camera vs theLAB

The clearest difference is price: theLAB at Free against Prelens Camera's $4.99. theLAB also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). Prelens Camera's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

theLAB is free to download; Prelens Camera costs $4.99 up front. theLAB sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Prelens Camera asks for nothing beyond the download.

theLAB holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 14 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Prelens Camera ships an update every 6 weeks, theLAB every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Prelens Camera | theLAB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prelens-camera/id6751498460/reviews) | **[5.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thelab-mobile/id6781197507/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **14** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 42 MB | 301 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marcel Jereb s.p.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835409546) | [Caleb Salvadori](https://appshunter.io/developer/6781197509) |

## What reviewers say

### Prelens Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prelens-camera/id6751498460)

Apply photo presets as live filters to capture images exactly as you envision them, eliminating the need for post-shoot editing. Import .xmp presets from popular editing tools for instant, ready-to-post photos.

**Highlights:** Realtime preset filters, Import .xmp presets, Instant photo capture, No post-editing required, Direct social media posting

**In-app purchases:** none


### theLAB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thelab-mobile/id6781197507)

Create film-inspired photos with advanced controls for color, texture, and scan effects. Apply realistic grain, borders, and light leaks to achieve a unique aesthetic. Save custom editing styles for consistent results.

**Highlights:** Film-inspired color and monochrome looks, Scanned grain and cinema-style grain, Lab scan profiles and correction, Halation, borders, textures, light leaks, Customizable editing styles, Camera capture and import tools

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| theLAB Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| theLAB Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| theLAB Pro Lifetime | $74.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Prelens Camera free?

Prelens Camera costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is theLAB free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Prelens Camera or theLAB?

theLAB is rated higher. Prelens Camera averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while theLAB averages 5.0 from 14 ratings.

### Do Prelens Camera or theLAB have ads?

Neither Prelens Camera nor theLAB shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Prelens Camera or theLAB?

Prelens Camera ships an update every 6 weeks, and theLAB every 3 days. Most recently, Prelens Camera was updated on October 30, 2026 and theLAB on November 5, 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.*