The best camera apps for iPhone that I use myself (2026 Edition)
One of the most frequent questions about iPhone photography is about camera apps: Which is the best? The answer to this question is complex. It depends on many factors, like the type of photography you plan to do. In my case, it’s travel photography.
This yearly updated blog post about the best iOS camera apps in 2026 is intended as a starting point for you. For each camera app, I’ll highlight the top three reasons why the app is on this list and link to a more detailed review.
Use this list as a starting point to help you find your favorite camera apps. I usually update this list once a year in December or January.
My requirements for iPhone camera apps
I have tried many camera apps for iOS since I turned to iPhone photography in 2012. I am looking for features that enable me to use the photography techniques I've been using with my DSLR, which will help me overcome the hardware limitations of the iPhone camera.
The requirements for camera apps I use and recommend have mostly stayed the same since 2012. For my travel photography with iPhone, I need the following:
DSLR-like manual controls and priority modes for shutter speed and ISO.
A way to shoot well-lit and low-noise photos in low light and at night.
Save photos in RAW format for better results when editing them.
Taking long-exposure photos of fireworks, light trails, or waterfalls.
An automatic mode for quickly taking snapshots.
Each recommended camera app in this list works with the latest iPhone model. In my case, that’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max with iOS 26.
My selection of the best iPhone camera apps
My recommendations for the best camera apps in this list come from several years of experience using and testing them thoroughly. The iOS camera apps are on this list for a reason. They support my kind of travel photography with my iPhone.
Best free iOS camera app is the stock iPhone camera app
The stock iPhone app was originally a great camera app for snapshots, and it was easy to use. But over time, Apple added more and more professional features. That makes it the best free iPhone camera app with features like:
Apple ProRAW for shooting RAW photos
A Night Mode that you can use with all lenses since iOS 15
Take 48-megapixel photos using the Apple ProRAW format (iPhone 14 and up)
Portrait Mode (which I use rarely)
Live Photos that capture three seconds of motion. You can turn these into long-exposure photos.
Manual exposure compensation
Here are three sample photos taken with various iPhone models and the stock camera app: