Simple Camera vs LibreCam
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simple Camera
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Open the app and you're straight in the viewfinder. No walkthroughs, no ads. — Free — • 8MP capture, 4:3/16:9 ratio • Timer (off/3s/10s), flash, grid • Front/back camera, recent photo preview — Pro (one-time purchase) — • 48MP/12MP resolution • Ultra-wide and telephoto lens switching • Video recording • HEIC export, FULL/1:1 ratio Location is only attached to photos if you turn it on in Settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
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.
- Capture true Bayer DNGs
- Single-frame HEIFs
- Manual focus, ISO, exposure
- Customizable color recipes
- Framed print sharing
- Apple Watch remote control
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LibreCam at none against Simple Camera's 1. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Simple Camera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. LibreCam asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Simple Camera | LibreCam |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Daily |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HIROTO TSUTSUSHIMA | Timo Josten |
In-app purchases
Simple Camera
- Pro$6.99
LibreCam
No in-app purchases









