Comparison

Camera Metadata Border vs theLAB

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

Head to head
About

Camera Metadata Border

This app allows photographers to embed camera settings like aperture, ISO, and capture date directly into their photos as clean, customizable borders. It preserves privacy by default and offers batch export and manual metadata editing for a consistent look across images.

Highlights
  • Embed EXIF data into photo frames
  • Customizable frame styles
  • Batch export up to 50 photos
  • Manual metadata editing
  • Privacy-focused with GPS control
  • On-device processing
Read full description

Camera Metadata Border turns hidden EXIF data into clean photo frames for photographers who want camera settings to stay visible in the final image. Pick a photo from your library, choose a frame style, and export a polished image with metadata such as camera model, lens, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal length, capture date, and optional location handling. Everything is rendered on your device, so your photos do not need to be uploaded to a server or tied to an account. WHY PHOTOGRAPHERS USE IT - Share the settings behind a favorite shot - Create clean camera-setting borders for social posts, portfolios, prints, and photo challenges - Keep lens, exposure, and date information attached to exported images - Build a consistent look across a set of photos - Preserve privacy by removing exact GPS data by default EXIF AND CAMERA METADATA The app reads common photo metadata and formats it into a readable border instead of leaving it buried in a file inspector. Use it as an EXIF viewer when you want to check the details, then turn those details into a finished frame. FRAME STYLES Start with Museum White for a classic gallery-style mat. Pro unlocks additional looks including Pitch Black, Minimal Center, Gradient Veil, Noir Strip, and Blueprint. Each style is designed to make camera information legible without overwhelming the photo. BATCH EXPORT Export up to 50 framed photos at once with a consistent metadata layout. Useful for shoots, travel sets, client selects, and social posts where every image should carry the same clean camera-notes style. MANUAL METADATA EDITING Some photos, scans, shared files, or edited exports have incomplete EXIF data. Fill in or correct missing fields before you export so the final frame still includes the right camera story. CAMERA PROFILES Save reusable camera metadata presets for manual lenses, vintage cameras, film scans, screenshots, or edited files. Profiles make it faster to apply consistent information across multiple exports. PRIVACY FIRST Your photo library stays on your device. The app does not require an account and does not upload your images to a cloud service. Exact GPS location is stripped from exports by default, with controls to remove, approximate, or keep location metadata when needed. PRO FEATURES Upgrade to Pro to remove ads, unlock five extra frame styles, and enable batch export. Terms of Use: https://camerametadata.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://camerametadata.com/privacy.html

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

Camera Metadata Border4 screens
theLAB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: theLAB at none against Camera Metadata Border's shown. theLAB also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (12 vs 3). Camera Metadata Border's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Camera Metadata Border sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and theLAB sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Camera Metadata Border against 5.0 for theLAB. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 12 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Camera Metadata Border ships an update monthly, theLAB every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Camera Metadata Border versus theLAB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCamera Metadata BordertheLAB
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings312 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB296 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVictor Alfonso Martinez AlvarezCaleb Salvadori

Customer experience

Camera Metadata Border

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

theLAB

All ratings12 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Camera Metadata Border

Subscriptions4
  • Camera Metadata Border Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Camera Border Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Camera Metadata Border Pro Yearly$9.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Camera Border Pro Yearly$9.991 Year
2 purchases

theLAB

Subscriptions1
  • theLAB Pro Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
One-time1
  • theLAB Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Camera Metadata Border free?
Camera Metadata Border is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is theLAB free?
theLAB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Camera Metadata Border or theLAB?
Camera Metadata Border and theLAB are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 12 ratings respectively.
Do Camera Metadata Border or theLAB have ads?
Camera Metadata Border shows ads; theLAB does not.
Which is updated more often, Camera Metadata Border or theLAB?
Camera Metadata Border ships an update monthly, and theLAB every 2 days. Most recently, Camera Metadata Border was updated on October 1, 2026 and theLAB on October 6, 2026.

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