# Always9Pics vs Photocean

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Always9Pics at 16.0 against Photocean's 26.1. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Always9Pics sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Photocean sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Always9Pics | Photocean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photocean/id6813851864/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 30 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Li Wei](https://appshunter.io/developer/1155052023) | [利 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/6809271712) |

## What reviewers say

### Always9Pics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/always9pics/id6773620377)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Pro Membership | $5.99 | one-time |


### Photocean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photocean/id6813851864)

Consolidate your iPhone photos with your self-hosted server library. View all your memories in a single timeline, discover curated "Memories" and "Trips," and organize your collection with advanced search and backup features.

**Highlights:** Unified photo timeline, AI-powered Memories & Trips, Interactive photo gallery, Instant photo sharing, Advanced search and mapping, Backup and free up space, Private Hidden album

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $17.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Always9Pics free?

Always9Pics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Photocean free?

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

### Do Always9Pics or Photocean have ads?

Neither Always9Pics nor Photocean shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Always9Pics or Photocean?

Always9Pics ships an update every 6 days, and Photocean every 6 days. Most recently, Always9Pics was updated on October 29, 2026 and Photocean on October 31, 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.*