Comparison

Lumera Camera vs Camera18

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

Head to head
About

Lumera Camera

Read full description

Lumera is a focused, lightweight iPhone camera app built for photographers who want direct control over the capture process. It keeps the essential camera tools close at hand and removes unnecessary clutter, so you can start shooting quickly while still making precise adjustments when the scene calls for it. Key features: - Manual control for ISO, shutter speed, focus, white balance, and exposure compensation - HEIF, RAW, and Apple ProRAW capture, depending on device hardware support - Ultra-wide, main, and telephoto lens switching - Tap-to-focus and tap-to-expose - Face detection with face-assisted autofocus and selectable face tracking - Press-and-hold burst capture - Creative sketch and colored pencil filters with real-time preview - Flash off, auto, and force-on modes - Grid, haptic feedback, safety shutter, and default capture settings - Optional location metadata embedded into photo EXIF - Photos saved to the system Photos library in a Lumera album - Built-in tutorial to help new users learn each control - Localized in English and Simplified Chinese Privacy: - Lumera requires no account, includes no ads, uses no analytics SDKs, performs no cloud sync, and does not upload your photos or personal data. Camera, Photos, and Location permissions are used only for local capture, saving photos, and optionally embedding location metadata when you enable it.

About

Camera18

Features
Read full description

Camera18 turns your iPhone into a collection of cameras. Seamlessly zoom through your scene, switch cameras in an instant, and discover a different photographic character with each one. Every camera is more than a filter. Each has its own color, texture, lens feel, and aperture character β€” from wide-open softness to crisp depth and dramatic starbursts. ONE CAMERA. MANY CHARACTERS. β€’ Seamless Zoom Move naturally from wide to close without interrupting the shot. β€’ Camera Simulations Shoot with distinct camera-inspired looks, each built around its own color, texture, and optical character. β€’ Aperture Character Aperture is part of each camera’s identity β€” changing how light, depth, softness, and starbursts feel. β€’ Aperture Control On supported hardware, control the physical aperture directly. Other supported devices recreate the experience computationally. β€’ Shoot, Don’t Filter Choose your camera and aperture before the shutter. The look is part of how you shoot, not something added afterward. One iPhone. Many cameras. A different character in every shot. Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy https://cornpiess.github.io/camera18/privacy.html

Screenshots

Lumera Camera3 screens
Camera183 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Camera18 at 15.1 against Lumera Camera's 18.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Lumera Camera sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Camera18 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lumera Camera ships an update every 9 days, Camera18 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
Lumera Camera versus Camera18: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLumera CameraCamera18
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 days β€” betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS18.015.1 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size10 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer博 εΌ ζ΄ͺ 朱

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Lumera Camera

One-time2
  • Advanced Controls$1.99
  • Filter Styles$4.99
2 purchases

Camera18

Subscriptions2
  • Camera 18 Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Camera 18 Pro Yearly$14.991 Year

Questions

Is Lumera Camera free?
Lumera Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Camera18 free?
Camera18 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lumera Camera or Camera18 have ads?
Neither Lumera Camera nor Camera18 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lumera Camera or Camera18?
Lumera Camera ships an update every 9 days, and Camera18 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lumera Camera was updated on October 25, 2026 and Camera18 on October 20, 2026.

Other comparisons