Comparison

Very Good Camera vs theLAB

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

Head to head
About

Very Good Camera

This app offers a range of film and digicam-inspired color grades for your photos. Customize your look with focus and exposure tools, various aspect ratios, and file formats. Achieve unique styles from monochrome to low-light with iconic shutter sounds and natural processing.

Highlights
  • Film and digicam color grades
  • Focus and exposure controls
  • Multiple aspect ratios
  • RAW and HEIC file support
  • Customizable color grades
  • Iconic shutter sounds
  • Grid, level, and histogram overlays
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

About

theLAB

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
Read full description

theLAB is a film-inspired photo editor for building finished images with color, texture, and scan character. Import an image, then shape it with film looks, scanned grain, lab-style color, halation, borders, paper textures, light leaks, artifacts, and crop tools. Designed for photographers who want more than a simple filter, theLAB gives you hands-on control over the feel of the image: density, warmth, tone bias, grain range, scan character, border placement, and finishing details. Features include: - Film-inspired color and monochrome looks - Scanned grain and cinema-style grain options - Lab scan profiles and scan correction controls - Halation, scanner noise, borders, textures, light leaks, and artifacts - Camera capture, photo import, file import, and share tools - Saved looks for building a repeatable editing style theLAB includes a free editing mode. theLAB Pro unlocks the full film stock library, advanced lab controls, additional grain scans, premium finishing assets, and high-quality export options. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://calebsalvadori.com/thelab

Screenshots

Very Good Camera4 screens
theLAB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: theLAB at Free against Very Good Camera's $9.99. Very Good Camera's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#5 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Very Good Camera against 5.0 for theLAB. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 13 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Very Good Camera versus theLAB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVery Good CameratheLAB
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (19 ratings)5.0 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings19 — better13
Update frequency—Every 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
Best chart rank#5 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB301 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGray Ribbon, Inc.Caleb Salvadori

In-app purchases

None

Very Good Camera

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

theLAB

Subscriptions2
  • theLAB Pro Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • theLAB Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • theLAB Pro Lifetime$74.99

Questions

Is Very Good Camera free?
Very Good Camera costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is theLAB free?
theLAB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Very Good Camera or theLAB?
Very Good Camera and theLAB are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 19 and 13 ratings respectively.
Do Very Good Camera or theLAB have ads?
Neither Very Good Camera nor theLAB shows ads.

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