VSCO Like Apps
Any photographer or editor who loves film photography knows VSCO. As film cameras are expensive, apps like VSCO offer a budget-friendly way to experience a film-like appearance with digital images. So, there are two main reasons why people love VSCO. One is because of its presets that mimic various films like Agfa, Fuji, Ilford, and Kodak.
The second is because of the “feed” it offers to showcase your edits and get ideas from “recipes”. However, with recent changes in pricing and features, many users are now searching for alternatives. There are various apps similar to VSCO that offer some of the features you’re seeking. These apps like VSCO can offer a solution if you’re only after one specific tool from VSCO and don’t want to pay for the full package.
The top 3 are the most comparable to VSCO, while the other seven share some features but not all. Take a look at each option to find one that suits your needs and budget!
Apps Like VSCO For Editing and Sharing Photos and Videos
When choosing an app similar to VSCO, think about your editing style, your budget, and what features you prefer. Take a quick look at this table to find the right app for you. Then, get into the details to find out if your preferred VSCO-like app fits your needs!
| Alternative Apps | Snapseed |
| VSCO like features | Pro-level editing tools |
| Device Compatibility | All |
| Cost | Free |
| Best For | Best VSCO alternative |
| Alternative Apps | Adobe Lightroom |
| VSCO like features | Presets and recipes |
| Device Compatibility | iOS and Android |
| Cost | $9.99 to $119.88 |
| Best For | Professional photographers |
| Alternative Apps | Picsart |
| VSCO like features | Community of creators |
| Device Compatibility | All |
| Cost | $15/month |
| Best For | Trendy filters and effects |
| Alternative Apps | Pixelfed |
| VSCO like features | Photo sharing platform |
| Device Compatibility | All |
| Cost | Free |
| Best For | Photo Sharing Focus |
| Alternative Apps | Color.io |
| VSCO like features | Recipe-like Features |
| Device Compatibility | PC only |
| Cost | $12.15/month |
| Best For | Professional Color grading |
| Alternative Apps | Afterlight |
| VSCO like features | Vintage-like aesthetics |
| Device Compatibility | iOS and Android |
| Cost | $12.15/month |
| Best For | Customization |
| Alternative Apps | Adobe Photoshop Express |
| VSCO like features | Enhances images |
| Device Compatibility | All |
| Cost | $9.99/month |
| Best For | Scrapbook-style collages edits |
| Alternative Apps | Retrica |
| VSCO like features | Filters |
| Device Compatibility | All |
| Cost | Free |
| Best For | Vintage aesthetics |
| Alternative Apps | Tezza |
| VSCO like features | Editing effects |
| Device Compatibility | Android and iOS |
| Cost | $9.99/month |
| Best For | Batch Editing |
| Alternative Apps | RNI Films |
| VSCO like features | High-resolution edits |
| Device Compatibility | iOS only |
| Cost | $20 (One time payment) |
| Best For | Film-Inspired Filters |
Top 3 Apps Like VSCO
Here are three photo and video editing that are the best alternatives to VSCO. Just like VSCO, these are popular photo/video editing and sharing apps designed for mobile devices. These offer “feeds” and community just VSCO. Try their presets, filters, and editing tools and share them with others online. Use these 3 Apps Like VSCO to get access to editing tools focused on promoting artistic expression!
1. Snapseed
Snapseed is a free and versatile editing app for iPhone, Android, and PC. Just like VSCO, Snapseed comes with filters and tools designed to turn ordinary photos into professional-quality edits. It features over 29 filters and popular tools like lens blur, tonal contrast, double exposure, vintage effects, and more. Snapseed also supports both RAW and JPEG files.
2. Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is a professional photo and video editing app that provides features, much like VSCO. While VSCO is beginner-friendly, Lightroom is the same app but for professionals. Many photographers, especially those who love film emulation presets, find Lightroom to be the best alternative to VSCO. Just know that the process of creating presets in Lightroom might take a bit more effort. To get a vintage feel of the VSCO app, you can use the Lightroom Portra 400 preset. Lightroom is perfect for those looking for professional-grade editing with precise control.
3. Picsart
Picsart is a beginner-friendly app like VSCO that helps users create trendy and artistic images. Picsart provides various tools to edit your portraits and selfies. It includes a variety of filters, templates, and effects, along with editing tools. The only difference is that in VSCO you need to apply the presets, but Picsart uses AI tools to do everything automatically. It’s a win as you can quickly improve several images at once without trouble.
Additional 7 VSCO Alternatives
Many alternatives to VSCO are based on its features. So, you’ll get options like photo-sharing apps and photo editors. While the apps listed below may not offer all the editing and sharing features found in VSCO, they include parts of the app. Interested in only a few features of VSCO? These VSCO-like apps might be what you’re looking for:
4. Pixelfed
For those searching for a photo-friendly social networking platform like VSCO, Pixelfed is the best option. Click pictures within the app then share, and explore photos right from your phone. Much like VSCO, it allows you to upload several photos at once to create album posts.
For editing, Pixelfed features a “Post Edits” option that resembles the editing tools available in VSCO. By clicking the “Edit” button next to your post, you can change captions, add or delete tags, crop images, apply filters, and update location information. It’s better than VSCO as it has no ads or annoying algorithms. But it’s more like a photo-sharing app rather than an in-depth photo editor.
5. Color.io
Color.io is a fairly new app that is an alternative to VSCO. While VSCO offers basic editing tools, Color.io goes further by allowing users to excel in color grading. So, users can use professional tools to enhance colors and copy any type of film effect. If VSCO is great at vintage-like aesthetics, Color.io is best for bright and natural colors. It’s compatible with more than 600 camera models so it’s perfect for photographers who want to make the most of their RAW images.
Similar to VSCO’s “recipes” for filters, Color.io includes a Free AI Color Grading App. This feature allows users to take color grades from reference images, so you don’t have to start your editing from the beginning. The only downside is that it is currently only available for PC, and it may take some time to learn all its features.
6. Afterlight
Afterlight is a standout choice among photo editing apps. While VSCO is popular for enhancing different kinds of photos, it sometimes misses fun elements like light leaks and overlays that many editors want. That’s where Afterlight steps in. It specializes in bright, pastel filters that create a unique vintage look. Afterlight is similar to VSCO’s style but with more options for customization.
This app is perfect for those who love a hipster vibe. Its vintage-inspired filters, light leaks, and dust effects give photos a special touch. Afterlight makes it easy to adjust colors in shadows, midtones, and highlights. You can even save and name your own presets for quick use later. Additionally, it allows you to upload full-frame images straight to Instagram. One downside is that Afterlight doesn’t offer many frame options.
7. Adobe Photoshop Express
Adobe Photoshop Express is quite similar to VSCO when it comes to editing beautiful photos. It has everything you need to quickly improve your images. Users love how easily it can improve colors and images. The app has smart tools that make difficult tasks like cutting out parts of a picture, removing haze, and retouching much simpler. You can edit different parts of an image at the same time to create amazing effects like VSCO ones.
In Photoshop Express, you can watch videos in the “Discover feed” to get ideas for new edits (which is similar to the VSCO feed feature). The app also makes it easy to share your favorite creations on social media and messaging apps.
Just know that many advanced features require a subscription. Also, the retouching tools might not meet everyone’s expectations.
8. Retrica
Retrica is a great app for taking beautiful photos, similar to VSCO. It has over 190 filters and different effects for your pictures to get a certain vibe. You can add vignettes, grain, or blur effects to give your photos and videos a retro look.
One of its best features is that you can see filters and effects in real time while taking photos. The reason we mentioned this as a VSCO alternative is because of its filter called Univisium. It gives your pictures and videos a classic movie style from the 1960s with a 2:1 aspect ratio. The app is easy to use and it offers more features like VSCO for example, creating GIFs and collages. Plus, it has a social network part where you can share your creations with other users, just like VSCO.
The only con is that both free and paid versions of Retrica have in-app purchases which makes users feel restricted.
9. Tezza
Tezza comes up as an alternative for Tumblr, Instagram, and VSCO. It’s perfect for creators who want professional-looking content without the high costs of influencer presets. Users can upload their pictures and videos and pick from over 40 different presets and 150+ customizable templates. Tezza also includes various editing tools, such as vintage effects like Stop Motion and retro film frames.
The reason why creators love it as an alternative to VSCO is due to the feed planner feature. This feature helps you organize your posts for Instagram or TikTok easily. The feed planner plus batch editing lets creators apply the same edits to multiple photos and videos quickly. But just like Retrica, Tezza can get expensive because of its in-app purchases.
10. RNI Films
RNI Films gives users a taste of classic film photography instead of acting just like a regular camera app. Like VSCO, which also helps improve mobile photography with its filters, RNI Films has many presets that copy the look of different film types. It’s easy to use and has strong filters that are inspired by real film.
The reason iOS users go for RNI Films is because it focuses on being authentic. Unlike VSCO, which uses names like A1 and B3 for its filters, RNI Films lets you pick filters that match well-known films, like Kodak Ektar 100. This makes it easier for users to achieve the vintage style they are after.
RNI Films has all the other editing tools that VSCO has so it’s a perfect alternative. It’s even better as it can open and edit RAW files. The high-quality results from RNI Films edits can stand up to professional software. But it’s only available for iOS users right now. Also, while the app has great filters, some people might think many presets look too much like old or faded films.
Frequently Asked Questions
Overall, finding the right app like VSCO is up to you. There’s something for each type of editor in all the above apps. Explore the above-given VSCO alternatives and you don’t have to stick to just one of the above-given VSCO-like apps. Try a few and pick the one that fits best with your editing style.