Smartphone cameras have significantly improved over the years and have now reached a level of quality close to that of DSLR or mirrorless cameras. However, not all camera apps on smartphones offer the best software experience. Some of them limit the camera’s capabilities due to poor optimization, lack of image processing, or missing features.
Most regular users find the built-in camera app sufficient, as it often includes all the necessary features. They might not even be aware that they can download a camera app for Android that offers many more capabilities. If you are dissatisfied with the image processing or want to try something new, it is recommended to explore third-party camera apps. Here are a few good options worth trying on Android devices.
Overall Best Choice: Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom tops our list thanks to its extensive set of excellent features that you can use for free. It supports HDR and RAW formats and provides access to various preset filters that you can apply to your photos.
The built-in camera app offers a choice between automatic mode and a “Pro” mode that offers a full set of features typically found in professional cameras, allowing you to adjust parameters before capturing an image. This is a great addition, especially for professionals who like to fine-tune their images before publication. After capturing with the built-in camera app, you can immediately switch to the photo editor and start processing your images.
It’s a perfect package for capturing photos and editing them before publication. The built-in camera app is entirely free, but you can also opt for an Adobe subscription to gain access to additional photo editing features.
Best Free Open-Source App: Open Camera
Open Camera continues to be one of the best and easiest-to-use free camera apps on the Android platform, and if you’re just starting to explore capabilities beyond the standard camera app, you should choose it. It provides the ability to take photos and videos with some additional options. Although they may not be extensive, they are still better than what you’re likely using at the moment. Additionally, it’s completely free and distributed as open-source, which is always nice.
The app offers several useful features, such as an alignment grid that ensures proper alignment of your photos, a noise reduction function for low-light conditions, and the ability to capture photos by activating voice control with specific phrases, such as saying the word “cheese.” You can download a camera app for Android for free from Google Play, so be sure to give it a try if you want to experience something new.
Best App for Adding Filters: Photoshop Camera
Photoshop Camera is another app from Adobe, although it’s not as advanced as the Lightroom’s built-in camera. Unlike the desktop version, Photoshop Camera is a free and easy-to-use app that allows you to enhance your photos for social media posting.
While it may not have as many powerful features as other options, it offers some basic camera functions, including a portrait mode. However, its main advantage lies in the ability to add over 100 filters to your photos. The app also allows quick editing of images with features that may or may not be available in your standard camera app. If you need a simple program that allows you to add unique filters to your images, be sure to give Photoshop Camera a try.
Best app for professionals: Filmic Pro
Filmic Pro is one of the most expensive camera apps for Android phones on this list, but it’s also one of the most powerful and justifies its price if you need full control over your photos. It offers features such as real-time RGB control, white balance matrix correction, gamma curve control, and much more. The app is also safe to use and frequently updated with new features and bug fixes.
Fortunately, you can try the app for free for one week before deciding on its relatively expensive subscription. The annual subscription costs $50 or $2.99 per week, although prices may vary depending on the package you choose.
More affordable professional app: Camera FV-5 Lite
Camera FV-5 offers some powerful tools for capturing photos the way you want them, and there’s a free Lite version that you can use. If you like what you see and envision yourself using this app frequently, you can consider upgrading to the full version.
Similar to Filmic Pro, Camera FV-5 also offers a full set of manual controls that you might be familiar with if you’ve used a professional camera. From exposure to focus distance and shutter speed, you get full control over the images you capture. You can also shoot in RAW format (although this is not available in the Lite version) and have the option to display a histogram in the viewfinder, which can be helpful.
Best for enthusiasts: Google Camera and GCam Ports
Google Pixel smartphones have always been renowned for their photography capabilities, primarily due to computational photography. Even on older hardware, Pixel phones produce incredible images thanks to Google’s image processing algorithms. Google Camera has many advantages, which is why Google Camera ports are still highly sought after in the Android community.
Google Camera is not available for all smartphones, and installing it can be a bit tricky. If you’re wondering if a GCam mod is available for your phone, we strongly recommend checking our GCam port help section. There you’ll find answers to many questions.
Camera Zoom FX Premium: Your Personal Photo Studio on Android
The Camera Zoom FX Premium application boasts a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to quickly familiarize themselves with its features and start utilizing its full potential. This app offers a rich set of functionalities and a wide range of settings, allowing you to have complete control over the shooting process and achieve outstanding results.
One of the key features of Camera Zoom FX Premium is its manual controls. This means you can adjust parameters such as focus, ISO, exposure, and white balance. With this level of control, you can create unique and professional shots that match your vision and creative style.
However, it’s not just the manual controls that make Camera Zoom FX Premium attractive. It is one of the best cameras for Android devices, offering a burst mode that can capture up to 50 frames per second. This is an excellent solution for shooting fast-moving objects or capturing stunning action shots.
The app also features HDR settings, which allow you to capture images with rich dynamic range and vibrant colors. Additionally, Camera Zoom FX Premium offers a selection of composition overlays to add a special charm to your photographs.
For those who enjoy post-processing, the app provides a powerful photo editor. It offers a plethora of effects, including tilt-shift and color transformations, allowing you to enhance and complement your shots, making them even more memorable and stylish.
Another significant advantage of Camera Zoom FX Premium is its support for RAW file formats. This is especially crucial for experienced photographers, as shooting in RAW allows you to retain maximum image information and provides more room for creative editing.
However, it’s important to note that Camera Zoom FX Premium is not limited to just photography. It also offers the ability to record 4K videos, providing you with high-resolution and high-quality video recordings, which is especially valuable for those who actively use video recording on their devices.
Camera Zoom FX Premium is a powerful and versatile photography application that caters to the demands of even the most discerning users. Its rich functionality, professional settings, and support for RAW and 4K make it an excellent choice for those looking to capture high-quality and creative shots with their Android devices. If you’re wondering which camera app to download on Android, discover the new world of photography with Camera Zoom FX Premium!
Pixtica: Creative Photographic Art on Your Android
Pixtica is a unique camera application for your phone that offers a multitude of features and tools for creative photographic art. Its simple and intuitive interface allows users to easily master all the app’s capabilities, even for those who are just beginning their journey into the world of photography.
One of Pixtica’s main attractive features is its variety of shooting modes. It offers several manual focus modes, allowing you to have complete control over depth of field and focus on your subject. This way, you can create stunning portraits with a blurred background or focus on details in macro shots.
Pixtica also provides various settings such as ISO and exposure, allowing you to adjust the brightness and exposure of your shots. With these features, you can capture high-quality images in any lighting conditions, whether it’s a bright day or low-light indoors.
If you want to add a special charm to your photographs, Pixtica offers a wide range of filters and presets. You can choose the most suitable processing style for each image, giving it a unique character.
For those who desire more control over the post-processing process, the app offers a functional photo editor. You can edit contrast, saturation, brightness, and more to make your shots even more expressive and appealing.
The basic version of Pixtica offers a considerable number of features and tools; however, if you want to expand the app’s capabilities, you can purchase additional filters and presets through in-app purchases.
Pixtica is an excellent application for all photography enthusiasts, regardless of their level of experience. It offers a multitude of features and tools for creative photographic art, allowing you to bring your ideas to life. With Pixtica, you can easily create high-quality and unique shots. Discover new facets of photography with the Pixtica app on your Android device!
ProCam X: Your Path to Professional Photography on Android
ProCam X is an outstanding smartphone camera app designed to meet the demands of the most discerning users, both amateurs and professionals alike. Whether you’re a beginner photographer or an experienced pro, ProCam X provides you with a wide range of tools for full control over the shooting process.
One of the significant features of ProCam X is its simple and intuitive interface, allowing you to quickly master all the app’s capabilities. You’ll appreciate the ease of navigation and access to essential features, always right at your fingertips.
The app offers an extensive set of manual controls, allowing you to have complete control over your shots. You can adjust focus, exposure, ISO, and white balance, enabling you to capture perfectly exposed images even in challenging lighting conditions.
For creative photographers, ProCam X features an HDR mode that allows you to capture images with improved dynamic range and greater color depth. And if you prefer burst mode shooting, the app supports capturing up to 10 frames per second, allowing you to capture every moment in motion.
ProCam X also includes the capability to record 4K videos, making it an attractive choice for those engaged in videography. You can create high-quality videos with excellent detail and clarity.
However, ProCam X’s functionality goes beyond just capturing shots. The app comes equipped with a powerful photo editor, enabling professional-level editing right on your device. You can adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, apply effects, and much more to create the perfect image.
ProCam X is an app that provides all the necessary tools for creating high-quality and creative shots. The basic version of the app is available for free and offers an impressive range of features. If desired, you can upgrade to the premium version to unlock even more possibilities.
If you aspire to achieve professional photography on your Android device, you know which camera app to download. ProCam X will become your indispensable companion. Discover the world of creativity and quality photography with ProCam X!
VSCO: The Fusion of Art and Technology for Your Photos
VSCO is not just another good camera app for your phone; it’s an entire creative world where art and technology come together to give your photos a unique style and emotional depth.
What sets VSCO apart from other camera apps is its impressive set of editing tools. Once you’ve taken a shot, you can apply various filters that help accentuate the mood and atmosphere of your photograph. But the real strength of VSCO filters lies in their ability to create a unique style that sets your work apart from millions of other photos on social media.
And if you want to delve deeper into the editing process, VSCO provides you with full control over settings such as contrast, brightness, saturation, and many others. This allows you to create your unique presets and styles that will become your signature.
Furthermore, VSCO offers convenient tools for organizing and publishing your photos. You can create collections, share your work with friends and other VSCO users, and publish them on social networks.
But VSCO is not just a photo-editing app; it’s also a platform for creative communication and inspiration. Within the app, you’ll find a vast community of photographers and artists sharing their works and experiences. You can participate in various photo challenges, discover new ideas, and find inspiration for your creativity.
Whether you’re a professional photographer or just an enthusiast, VSCO provides you with the opportunity to elevate your photography to a new level. It’s an app that combines art and technology, allowing you to create unique and high-quality photos that won’t go unnoticed.
So, if you want to stand out from the crowd, share your creativity, and enjoy the process of creating beautiful photos, download a good camera app for Android, namely VSCO, and dive into the fascinating world of creativity and photography.
Cymera: Your Path to Photography Excellence
Cymera is an innovative camera app for Android phones that offers a rich set of features and capabilities for creating amazing photos. Whether you’re a professional photographer or just an enthusiast, Cymera will help you achieve excellence in the world of photography.
One of the key advantages of Cymera is its simple and intuitive interface. Even beginners can quickly master all the app’s functions. You don’t need to be an experienced photographer to take beautiful shots. Cymera will do it for you.
The app features touch focus, pinch-to-zoom, anti-shake, and timer modes. All of these will help you capture sharp and stable photos, even on the go or in low-light conditions.
But what sets Cymera apart from other camera apps is its plethora of transformation and editing tools. With these tools, you can enhance the quality of your photos, adjust skin tones, and remove imperfections. You can also add creative filters and effects to give your photos a special atmosphere and style.
However, Cymera not only helps you create high-quality photos but also provides you with the ability to share your creativity with others. Within the app, you’ll find a vast community of photographers and artists with whom you can share your work, receive feedback, and find inspiration.
Moreover, Cymera provides convenient access to social media sharing. Now you can share your photos with friends and followers with just a touch.
And of course, Cymera is free. You can download the app on your Android device and start your creativity right away.
So, if you want to take amazing shots, improve the quality of your photos, and share your creativity with the world, Cymera is the app for you. Download a good camera app for your phone. Begin your journey to photography excellence with Cymera and immerse yourself in the fascinating process of creativity.
Best camera apps for Android in 2023: Conclusion
Looking at the best camera apps for Android in 2023, it can be said that many top smartphones do not have specialized camera apps. However, Adobe Lightroom is an exception as it has a built-in camera that can work in both automatic and manual modes. In manual mode, it provides a sufficient number of settings to fine-tune your images. It’s important to note that Adobe Lightroom is a free app with powerful editing tools, making it a very attractive choice.
If you’re looking for professional apps with advanced manual settings, Filmic Pro and Camera FV-5 Lite are good options. Both apps offer a range of manual controls that allow you to adjust shooting parameters. We also included the Photoshop Camera app, which is easy to use and offers a variety of interesting filters for experimenting with your images. Finally, Google Camera and GCam ports are also an excellent choice for enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting and unlocking new Google Camera features on different devices.
Thus, in 2023, there are several excellent camera apps available for Android smartphones that will meet various users’ needs and preferences.