The iPhone camera is already very capable.
But the app you use to take photos can change how much control you have, how your photos look, and how much work you need to do after.
Some camera apps are built for speed.
Some are built for control.
Others are built around a specific look.
There isn’t one “best” option for everyone — it depends on how you like to shoot.
Here are the best camera apps for iPhone, and who each one is actually for.
Linx Camera
Linx Camera is built around a simple idea – shoot photos with the look already applied.
Instead of taking a photo and then trying to recreate a style later, or spending hours editing, you choose a preset first and shoot with it live.
What you see on screen is what your photo will look like once shot.
You can still fine-tune the controls, shoot in ProRAW, and make edits after, but the heavy lifting is already done.
And that’s why it’s such a great app!
This makes it especially useful if you want consistency without spending time editing every photo from scratch.
All of the presets from iPhone Creator Kit are built directly into the app.
The app includes presets for a range of shooting styles, so you can pick a look that fits what you’re photographing.
Collections such as Film Emulation, Automotive, City, and many more.
It also includes the same guides and lessons as iPhone Creator Kit — camera settings, composition tips, and editing basics — but inside the app itself.
Think of it as iPhone Creator Kit in app form.
Linx Camera makes sense if you:
- Care about the overall look of your photos
- Want consistency across your feed
- Don’t enjoy long editing sessions
- Like knowing how the photo will look before you shoot
- Still want all the same functionality of the iPhone Camera App, just with more useful features.
Kino
Kino is for people who want more control when shooting video on iPhone.
Instead of the phone making all the decisions for you, Kino lets you take control of things you’d normally adjust on a proper camera — like exposure, colour, and how movement looks.
It’s not really for quick clips.
You open Kino when you’re filming something on purpose and want the footage to look a certain way.
If you’ve used dedicated cameras before, the controls will feel familiar. And if you’re coming from the default camera app, it does take a bit more attention — but that’s the trade-off for having more control.
Kino makes sense if you shoot a lot of video on your iPhone and want it to feel less automatic and more professional.
Kino makes sense if you:
- Shoot a lot of video on your iPhone
- Like having the same kind of control you’d get on a proper camera
- Want your videos to look the way you intended, not just automatic
- Are filming things like reels, short films, or projects you care about
The Default iPhone Camera App
The built-in camera app is still what most people should use most of the time.
It’s fast, reliable, and always there when you need it.
You open it, take the photo or video, and move on.
Apple does a lot of work behind the scenes — exposure, colour, HDR — and for everyday stuff, it usually gets things right.
You also get useful tools like exposure control, grid, level, ProRAW, and basic video controls, without needing to think too much.
The trade-off is control.
You don’t really decide the look until after the photo or video is taken.
The phone makes most of those decisions for you.
That’s not a bad thing — it’s just how it’s designed.
The default camera app makes sense if you want speed, simplicity, and something that just works.
The default iPhone camera app makes sense if you:
- want something fast and reliable
- mostly take everyday photos or videos
- don’t want to think about settings
- just want to open the camera and shoot
- are happy letting the phone handle the technical side
Which camera app is right for you?
There’s no single “best” camera app.
It really depends on how you like to shoot.
If you mostly take quick photos or videos and don’t want to think about settings, the default iPhone camera app is perfect.
If you shoot a lot of video and want more control — closer to what you’d get on a proper camera — Kino is a better fit.
And if you care about the overall look of your photos and want consistency without spending time editing every shot, Linx Camera makes the most sense.
A lot of people don’t stick to just one.
They’ll use the default camera for everyday moments, Linx when they want a specific look, and Kino when they’re filming something.
The best app is the one that fits how you actually shoot — and doesn’t get in the way.