Hipstamatic is a retro camera app for iPhone that simulates shooting with vintage and modern film cameras, complete with swappable lenses, film stocks, and a photo-sharing community. It earned my top iPhone spot in the roundup of the best camera apps for iPhone and Android, and it's the most fun I've had with my phone's camera in years.
When I was a kid, the best part of every family vacation was the disposable camera my mom handed me with a full roll of film to use however I wanted. Hipstamatic can't put that little film dial back under your thumb, but it brings back the same excitement of waiting to see how a shot turned out.
Shooting away from Wi-Fi takes a steady data connection
Hipstamatic's lenses and film stocks take time to load, and they need a reliable connection to pull it off when you're out exploring. A plan with plenty of high-speed data keeps your camera ready the second a great shot shows up.
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- Free, subscription for full features
- Available for iPhone only
What is Hipstamatic?
Hipstamatic turns your iPhone into a virtual film camera, where every lens, camera body, and film stock changes how the final photo looks. You sign up with your email, and then the app asks you to tap a lens onto the screen to mimic twisting one onto a real camera body.
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Every photo comes with a ritual
After you attach a lens, you pick a camera body and a film stock before you start shooting. The camera body you choose makes the whole screen feel like you're shooting through hardware from another era. Once you snap a photo, you shake your phone like a Polaroid picture to develop it (any Outkast fans out there?).
Some people will find the extra steps tedious, but I loved developing my own film on my phone. The process slows you down in the best way, and it makes each photo feel more special than the dozens of nearly identical shots sitting in your camera roll.
Images: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
The filters have real personality
Hipstamatic's filters stood out more than anything else I tested across every app in the roundup. Each one has its own identity, and you can soften or strengthen the effect after you take the shot.
My test subject was a very photogenic dog, and the finished image looked like a print I'd pull out of an envelope from the photo lab.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
The app also has a community section where users share their shots and trade photo prompts, which gives you a reason to keep shooting after the novelty of the lens twist wears off.
Is Hipstamatic worth downloading?
If you own an iPhone and miss the anticipation of film photography, Hipstamatic is absolutely worth the download. It isn't a true disposable camera app, but it's the closest thing to one I've found on the App Store.
The free tier works like a sampler
The free version only includes a limited selection of lenses and films. A subscription unlocks hundreds of additional cameras and film stocks, so treat the free tier as a test drive to see whether the shooting ritual clicks for you before you pay for anything. I stuck with the free lenses for my entire test, and they still delivered the most distinctive results of any app on my list.
Android users are out of luck, since Hipstamatic is only available for iPhone. If you're on a Galaxy or a Pixel and want an editor with plenty of free filters, VSCO is the better pick.
Hipstamatic won't upgrade the actual camera hardware inside your iPhone. It will make you want to take more pictures, and that's a better reason to download a camera app than any spec sheet can give you.
How I tested Hipstamatic
- Shot exclusively on the free tier using an iPhone 11 to see how much a past-generation camera could improve with the right app.
- Ran the same test photo through every app in the roundup so the filter comparisons stayed fair.
- Judged photo quality, ease of use, and editing enjoyment, including whether the lens and shake-to-develop steps felt fun or tedious.
- Measured free tier value by tracking which lenses and films were available without a subscription.
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Hipstamatic: FAQ
Is Hipstamatic free?
Hipstamatic is free to download with a limited selection of lenses and films. A subscription unlocks hundreds of additional cameras and film stocks.
Is Hipstamatic available on Android?
No, Hipstamatic is only available for iPhone on the App Store. Android users who want a free editor with strong filters should try VSCO.
What is the best vintage camera app?
Hipstamatic is my top pick because it's built entirely around simulating vintage and retro film cameras, down to the lenses and film stocks you choose.
Is there a good disposable camera app?
Hipstamatic isn't a true disposable camera app, but its lens twisting and shake-to-develop steps capture the same nostalgic feeling of shooting on film.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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