# Retro Cam vs Surface Camera

The clearest difference is rating: Surface Camera at 5.0 against Retro Cam's 4.0. Surface Camera also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Retro Cam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Surface Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Surface Camera holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Retro Cam ships an update every 2 weeks, Surface Camera every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro Cam | Surface Camera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-cam-instant-camera/id6786466548/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surface-camera/id6794736465/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 108 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SABAHATTIN MAKINE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833489895) | [Carlos Tarrats](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838355154) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro Cam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-cam-instant-camera/id6786466548)

Transform your photos into vintage instant prints with unique film looks and frames. Add handwritten captions and organize your memories on a virtual wall. Share your creations or save them for later.

**Highlights:** Vintage film looks, Instant-photo frames, Handwritten captions, Virtual memory wall, Friend invitations, Save and share prints

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Retro Cam Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Retro Cam | $29.99 | per year |


### Surface Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surface-camera/id6794736465)

Capture photos with a vintage film aesthetic using a variety of distinct film profiles. Fine-tune your shots with editing tools and save directly to your photo library.

**Highlights:** Eight distinct film profiles, Adjustable blur and light leaks, Manual focus and exposure control, Comprehensive editing suite, Direct saving to Apple Photos, HEIC, JPEG, and ProRAW capture

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surface Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Surface Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Surface Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro Cam free?

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

### Is Surface Camera free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retro Cam or Surface Camera?

Surface Camera is rated higher. Retro Cam averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Surface Camera averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Retro Cam or Surface Camera have ads?

Neither Retro Cam nor Surface Camera shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retro Cam or Surface Camera?

Retro Cam ships an update every 2 weeks, and Surface Camera every 2 days. Most recently, Retro Cam was updated on October 14, 2026 and Surface Camera on October 19, 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.*