Best Camera App for Android: Tested and Reviewed
Do you think your built-in camera is perfect? The answer is no. Many camera apps are better for specific purposes than the built-in camera app present on your phone. Smartphone photography has come a long way. Android users today have access to an incredible variety of camera applications that push the boundaries of what’s possible with a mobile device. Whether you’re casually capturing everyday moments or aiming for gallery-worthy shots, the right app can make all the difference.
With the Google Play Store offering everything from quick, social-friendly tools to powerful manual controls, finding the perfect camera app for Android depends entirely on what you want from your photography experience. So, how do you choose the best one for you?
It all comes down to what kind of photographer you are. Here are the three main types of camera apps you’ll find on Android.
Types of Camera Applications for Android Users
Camera apps on Android generally fall into three distinct categories:
Selfie Enhancement Apps
These apps focus on beautifying selfies with real-time filters, skin-smoothing effects, and makeup tools. They’re ideal for users who want to look their best with minimal effort.
Social Sharing Camera Apps
Designed for speed and convenience, these apps allow users to take photos or videos and instantly share them across platforms.
Professional Photography Apps
Built for advanced users, these apps offer manual controls, RAW capture, adjustable ISO, shutter speed, focus, and more, giving users a DSLR-like experience right from their phone.
Now that you know the different types, here are the top apps worth checking out in each category.
Best Camera Apps for Android Users
Selfie Enhancement Apps
If you’re all about that perfect selfie, these apps bring out your best features with stunning filters, beauty effects, and easy-to-use tools:
YouCam Makeup
YouCam Makeup is a leading virtual beauty app featuring real-time AR makeup try-ons. You can test out lipsticks, eyeshadows, and more from top brands with accurate facial recognition. It also includes AI skincare analysis for personalized skin insights. The app’s smooth interface and realistic effects make it a top pick for beauty lovers.
Key Features: Its smart blend of AR and AI creates a lifelike, interactive makeover experience that connects digital looks with real-world beauty choices.
Pros:
- Real-time beauty effects
- Skin smoothing and face reshaping
- Easy-to-use interface
- Makeup AR filters
Cons:
- Ads in the free version
- Heavily processed output
- Limited manual control
Download Here: YouCam
SODA
SODA is a simple yet powerful beauty camera app made for effortless selfies. With real-time beauty filters, facial adjustments, and makeup effects, users can enhance their photos quickly and easily. The clean interface and diverse filter options cater to anyone wanting polished results without over-editing.
Key Features: Real-time effects and ease of use make SODA ideal for stylish, on-the-go photo edits.
Pros:
- High-quality selfies
- One-touch beauty mode
- Real-time filters
- Simple UI
Cons:
- Few manual options
- Over-beautification risk
- Some features are locked behind a premium option
Download Here: SODA
Persona
Persona is a high-end beauty camera app designed for flawless, editorial-quality selfies. It uses AI to subtly enhance skin tone, refine facial features, and perfect lighting. With features like cinematic filters and natural-looking retouching, Persona delivers a polished finish without appearing artificial.
Key Features: Persona offers pro-level photo refinement while preserving a natural, elegant look.
Pros:
- AI-powered facial enhancements
- Clear and high-res portrait mode
- Intuitive design
- Smooth skin tone output
Cons:
- No advanced camera settings
- Not suited for scenic photography
- Filters may look unnatural
Download Here: Persona
Social Sharing Camera Apps
These apps are built for speed and ease, making it simple to snap a photo and share it instantly on your social media profiles:
Snapchat
Snapchat is a camera-first messaging app that allows users to capture and share moments instantly. It offers a wide range of interactive filters and augmented reality (AR) lenses that can be applied in real-time while recording videos or taking photos.
Whether you’re snapping a photo or creating a video, Snapchat’s playful filters and special effects let you customize your content, making sharing more fun and creative. That is why it is considered the best camera app for Android.
Key Features: Snapchat’s real-time filters and AR lenses provide endless creative possibilities, making it the perfect app for spontaneous, fun content creation and immediate social sharing.
Pros:
- Quick capture
- Fun filters
- AR effects
- Easy sharing
Cons:
- Compressed quality
- Limited controls
- Distorted accuracy
- Low resolution
Download Here: Snapchat
Instagram combines a powerful camera with built-in editing tools and filters to enhance your photos and videos. Users can capture images or record videos, then apply a variety of filters and AR effects while editing or in real-time. Instagram’s collection of filters, such as classic, artistic, and fun ones, lets users transform their content before sharing it to stories, reels, or their main feed.
Key Features: Instagram’s diverse selection of real-time filters and editing tools allows users to express themselves visually with ease, offering a seamless blend of creativity and social engagement.
Pros:
- Built-in filters
- Story capture
- Reels recording
- Quick sharing
Cons:
- Compressed quality
- Basic controls
- Filter overuse
- Limited zoom
Download Here: Instagram
Marco Polo
Marco Polo is a video messaging app that allows you to send video messages with ease. While recording a video, users can apply fun filters and effects to enhance their visuals. These filters help personalize and improve the look of your messages, allowing for more dynamic and engaging communication with friends and family.
Key Features: Marco Polo’s ability to use filters while recording video messages makes it a unique platform for fun, casual, and personalized video sharing with loved ones.
Pros:
- Video messaging
- Easy recording
- Instant sharing
Cons:
- No photo
- Low customization
- Basic filters
Download Here: Marco Polo
Professional Photography Apps
For those who want complete control over their photos, these apps offer manual settings, RAW support, and DSLR-like features:
Open Camera
Open Camera is a free, full-featured camera app designed for Android devices. It offers a wide range of customizable settings, including manual focus, white balance, ISO, and exposure control.
The app provides advanced options for both photography and videography, with features like automatic scene recognition and remote capture. Open Camera is known for its user-friendly interface and high-quality results, making it ideal for both casual users and photography enthusiasts.
Key Features: Open Camera stands out for its robust set of professional features, all available for free, providing users with complete control over their camera settings and shooting experience.
Pros:
- Open source
- Full manual
- Widget support
- Stabilization mode
- Auto-leveling
Cons:
- Dated UI
- Minor bugs
- No beauty mode
Download Here: Open Camera
Pro Cam X
Pro Cam X is one of the best camera apps for Android that gives users full manual control over their device’s camera. It features advanced options like exposure, ISO, shutter speed, focus, and white balance adjustments, making it suitable for users who want DSLR-like control on their smartphones.
It also supports high-quality video recording with features like 4K support and manual control during recording, perfect for those looking to take their mobile photography to the next level.
Key Features: Pro Cam X offers DSLR-like control, making it a go-to app for mobile photographers who seek professional-grade photo and video capabilities.
Pros:
- Manual controls
- Fast focus
- High resolution
- Burst mode
Cons:
- Paid features
- Battery drain
- Occasional crashes
Download Here: Pro Cam X
Manual Camera DSLR Lite
Manual Camera DSLR Lite is an Android app that brings manual camera control to your smartphone, mimicking the controls of a DSLR camera. It provides users with features such as manual focus, ISO, shutter speed, and white balance adjustments.
The app is designed to deliver greater flexibility and precision in mobile photography, allowing users to take professional-quality photos with a simple interface.
Key Features: Manual Camera DSLR Lite offers an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that brings powerful manual settings to your mobile device, giving users more creative control over their photos.
Pros:
- ISO control
- Shutter speed
- White balance
- Grid overlay
Cons:
- Limited free
- No video
Download Here: Manual Camera DSLR Lite
Picture Perfect Starts Here
Whether you’re after studio-worthy portraits, spontaneous social snaps, or complete creative control, there’s the best camera app for Android out there that fits how you shoot. These picks weren’t just tested; they were chosen to match real photography styles and real people.
So, don’t just point and click. Play, tweak, explore. Your next favorite photo isn’t waiting in your gallery, it’s waiting in the way you shoot it.
FAQs about the Best Camera App for Android
1. Do camera apps make a difference?
Yes, camera apps do make a difference, especially when it comes to image quality, manual controls, editing options, and overall shooting experience. While your phone’s default camera may be limited by manufacturer settings, third-party apps can unlock advanced features like ISO adjustments, manual focus, exposure tweaks, RAW shooting, and more.
2. What happened to the Google Camera app?
The app was originally launched as Google Camera and was compatible with all devices running Android 4.4 KitKat or later. But, in October 2023, with the debut of the Pixel 8 series, it was rebranded as Pixel Camera and officially limited to Google Pixel devices only.
3. What is the camera app that makes you look better?
The camera app that makes you look better depends on how natural or enhanced you want your appearance to be, but YouCam Makeup, SODA, and Persona are standout choices.
4. What app makes your face look flawless?
Apps like YouCam Makeup, SODA, and Persona are known for making your face look flawless in photos. These beauty camera apps use real-time skin smoothing, blemish removal, and face-enhancing filters to create polished, natural-looking results.
5. What photo filter is everyone using?
As of 2025, some of the most popular photo filters are found on apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Filters like “Clarendon,” “Gingham,” and “Lark” on Instagram, along with Snapchat’s “Classic Filters” and TikTok’s “Beauty Mode,” are widely used for enhancing photos, smoothing skin, and adding creative effects.
