Photography is a broad subject. Tons of people do it as a hobby. However, it is a perfectly good career when you can find your niche. Most photographers use DSLR cameras and high-tech equipment to get the best shots possible. However, there are also some truly excellent smartphone cameras out there. Phone cameras are good enough for many things. Additionally, there are non-camera related apps that also help photographers. In this list, we will look at both variants. These are the best photo apps for Android!
Best photo apps for Android
Adobe has a suite of desktop applications for creative types. They have a similar group of mobile apps for mobile photographers. Their wares include a pretty decent mobile version of Adobe Lightroom. In addition, you can find a scanning app (for real photos), two Photoshop apps, and more. Lightroom is the most professional among them. Photoshop apps are more for simple things like filters and stickers. However, even they have some basics. The apps are free. You can extend the functionality by subscribing to Adobe Creative Cloud.
Google Photos
Price: Free
Google Photos is a great app for photographers. It offers cloud storage for your photos. There is a caveat though. It loads them in Google’s high-quality resolution or, optionally, in maximum resolution, depending on what you want. So those who are very particular about such things may not enjoy the photos. Otherwise, it’s a perfectly fine cloud storage space. You can access it from your phone or computer. It also has some other characteristics. We don’t recommend it for photo editing or anything like that. Otherwise, we can’t find much wrong with it except that Google removed the free part of the service in 2021, but the storage plans are cheap.
Amazon Photos is another great option. Includes free full-resolution storage for anyone with an Amazon Prime account. It doesn’t have sorting, editing, or other Google Photos features, but it works amazingly as a backup storage platform for your photos. We definitely recommend it over Google Photos if you already have Amazon Prime since it doesn’t cost anything extra unless you also upload video content.
HyperFocal Pro
Price: Free
HyperFocal Pro is a unique kind of photography application. It does not record or edit images. It helps with calculations, mostly. You can monitor things like camera settings and shooting conditions. These include depth of field, viewing angle, field of view, and hyperfocal distance. The UI is a bit bland, but fully functional. Not much to complain about, really. This is a great app for DSLR photographers. Plus, it’s completely free, with no ads or in-app purchases.
PhotoPills is a photo app for people who need to track things like the sun, moon, and stars. It uses augmented reality to help you frame your shots while showing the general direction in which elements like the sun will move. Some other features include a long exposure calculator, a timelapse calculator, and a management tool to help you better plan your photography. This is more for people who intend to use full-size cameras rather than camera phones, but if your phone supports things like long exposure, you can use this app for that as well.
ProCam X is an above average camera app with lots of manual camera functions. You have control over white balance, ISO, focus and shutter speed. You can even set custom video bitrates if needed. Of course, your phone must support these features for them to work. There is also a burst mode, real-time filters, color effects and an intervalometer (timer). The pro version is reasonably priced at $4.99 and people seem to like it.
SunSurveyor is another app that helps you plan your shots around the movements of the various celestial bodies that inhabit our sky. The app features things like moon phases, sunrise and sunset times, an interactive map with Street View support, and augmented reality features to help you frame your photo perfectly. It can even help with things like magic hour, when the sun is right in the sky for perfect photos. It’s a little expensive, but it works great. It’s a small but powerful tool for photographers.
Tap Retouch
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($14.99 per item)
TouchRetouch is an interesting photo editing application. This doesn’t focus on basic things like contrast or red-eye. Instead, it allows you to remove small imperfections from the photo. We’re talking telephone wires, people, stains on the wall and more. Works best on minor imperfections. The app doesn’t do well with big changes. However, this is a good way to eliminate the occasional problem and make the photos look a little better. It is definitely a unique photo editor.
VSCO
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($0.99 – $29.99 per item)
VSCO is a comprehensive photography tool. It works as a camera app, but also as a photo editor. It also has some tips, tricks and a variety of fun filters to use. Filters mimic different types of films. They’re pretty cool, but at the end of the day they’re still filters. There is a $29.99/year subscription. It unlocks some premium features like certain presets, color grading and more, but it’s a bit hard to justify with so many other tools. It might be right up your alley, though. It has also received a ton of bad reviews for its recent increase in subscription fees.
Umme Aimon Shabbir / Android Authority
ProShot is a camera app for your Android phone that helps you take high-resolution photos and videos. It’s like having a professional camera in your pocket. It has manual, semi-automatic and automatic controls, just like a DSLR. ProShot supports a variety of photo formats, offers advanced features such as zero-lag bracket exposure, and has powerful video capabilities, including up to 8K recording and real-time audio monitoring. It is easy to use and customizable. It also has a light painting mode for creative photography and a bulb mode for shooting stars at night. There may be issues depending on the device, but the developers are quick to respond and keep the app up to date.