Comparison

ESP Frame vs LibreCam

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

Head to head
About

ESP Frame

Features
Read full description

This is the iOS companion app for the esp32-photoframe project. It provides the same feature set as the firmware's webapp, providing users with easy way to access their esp32-photoframe powered epaper photoframe.

About

LibreCam

Capture raw image data directly from your iPhone's sensor without any artificial processing. Offers manual controls for focus, ISO, and exposure, with options for custom color recipes and framed prints.

Highlights
  • Capture true Bayer DNGs
  • Single-frame HEIFs
  • Manual focus, ISO, exposure
  • Customizable color recipes
  • Framed print sharing
  • Apple Watch remote control
Features
Read full description

LibreCam is a manual RAW camera for iPhone that captures what the sensor sees, and nothing more. Shoot true Bayer DNGs, single-frame HEIFs, or both at once, with no fusion, no aggressive processing, no account, no tracking and no subscription. The stock camera applies Smart HDR, Deep Fusion, noise reduction, sharpening and tone mapping to every shot. LibreCam turns off everything that can be turned off, and is honest about what cannot. DNG: the true Bayer sensor readout. No fusion, no noise reduction, no tone mapping, no distortion correction. One frame, exactly as the sensor read it. HEIF: a single frame developed by the hardware ISP. No fusion, no HDR, no semantic tricks. LOOKS: nine fixed color recipes, applied to the HEIF as you shoot. Build your own with dials in the Look Editor, and import or export standard .cube files. The DNG is never touched. PRINT: share a shot as a framed print. Ink or paper matte, and a label with the exposure, camera, date, place and your name, set like a museum caption. A copy made for sharing; the photo itself stays as it is. LIBRECAM PRO: one purchase, no subscription, and only two things are paid: the Look Editor for your own recipes, and the Apple Watch remote. Everything else is free. FEATURES - Every physical lens on your iPhone. No digital zoom, ever. - The front camera too, with mirrored or true-to-sensor selfies. - An Apple Watch remote: shutter, readouts, framing assist. (LibreCam Pro) - Manual focus, shutter, ISO, exposure bias and white balance. Everything is automatic until touched. - Focus peaking: the sharpest edges glow amber while you focus. - Level: a horizon line that reports the tilt your photo will actually have. It never straightens anything. - Histogram: all three channels live on the glass, with marks for which one is clipping, and at which end. - Nine looks free; build your own with LibreCam Pro. - Print: a framed, captioned copy of any shot, ready to share. - Frame lock: 9:16, 2:3, 4:5 or 1:1 on the glass, the developed copy cropped to match. The DNG keeps the full frame. - Flash: off, auto or on. On auto, the bolt turns amber only when the scene will fire it. - Aperture on iPhone 18 Pro: f/1.48 to f/4 on the 24 mm lens in thirds of a stop, one tap each. Automatic until touched. - Shutter priority and ISO priority metering. - Hardware shutter on the volume buttons. No shutter sound. - Add-only Photos access. No account, no tracking. - Optional location tagging, written into the photo on your device. A camera, not a computer.

Screenshots

ESP Frame4 screens
LibreCam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LibreCam at Free against ESP Frame's $2.99. LibreCam also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). ESP Frame's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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

LibreCam is free to download; ESP Frame costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ESP Frame ships an update every 3 weeks, LibreCam daily. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ESP Frame versus LibreCam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterESP FrameLibreCam
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWEI NING HUANGTimo Josten

In-app purchases

None

ESP Frame

No in-app purchases

None

LibreCam

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ESP Frame free?
ESP Frame costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is LibreCam free?
LibreCam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ESP Frame or LibreCam have ads?
Neither ESP Frame nor LibreCam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ESP Frame or LibreCam?
ESP Frame ships an update every 3 weeks, and LibreCam daily. Most recently, ESP Frame was updated on October 11, 2026 and LibreCam on October 5, 2026.

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