# Smolcam vs xelka

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smolcam at none against xelka's 1. Smolcam also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). xelka's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. xelka sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Smolcam asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smolcam ships an update every 8 months, xelka every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smolcam | xelka |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smolcam/id6757683044/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 1 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jasper Morgal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1752938051) | [Jaemin Kim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663757361) |

## What reviewers say

### Smolcam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smolcam/id6757683044)

This app offers a customizable retro camera experience with a variety of color palettes and dithering options. It provides a simple, distraction-free interface for capturing and saving photos instantly to your library.

**Highlights:** Customizable retro aesthetic, Multiple color palettes (3-bit to 24-bit), Bayer ordered dithering option, Zoom support for all device cameras, Instant save to photo library, Distraction-free interface

**In-app purchases:** none


### xelka

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xelka-pixel-art-camera/id6790428478)

**In-app purchases (1)**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smolcam free?

Smolcam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is xelka free?

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

### Do Smolcam or xelka have ads?

Neither Smolcam nor xelka shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smolcam or xelka?

Smolcam ships an update every 8 months, and xelka every 2 months. Most recently, Smolcam was updated on November 9, 2026 and xelka 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.*