Simul Studio

A VSCO alternative without a subscription

VSCO is a powerful editor and a community, paid for with a subscription. If you mostly want film looks for your own photos and would rather pay once, here's how Simul Studio compares.

Fig. 1 — Your photo, kept on your phone

VSCO's full presets and tools come with a Plus or Pro subscription (from US$39.99 a year on the App Store). Simul Studio is free to try and unlocks with one payment, with no account and no social feed.

Simul StudioVSCO
PlatformsiPhone and AndroidiPhone and Android (plus VSCO Capture, a separate iPhone camera app)
PriceFree, with five free exports; one-time unlock (US$9.99 on the App Store)Free tier; Plus US$9.99/month or US$39.99/year; Pro US$14.99/month or US$69.99/year (App Store)
CameraBuilt-in live camera with film looksEditor first; live presets in VSCO Capture (iPhone)
Looks544 film-inspired looks on iPhone, based on film stocks200+ presets, including film-inspired ones
SocialNone: your photos stay on your deviceA community and profile for sharing work
VideoPhotos onlyPhoto and video editing

Checked 12 October 2026 from each app's official store listing or website. Prices are US list prices and vary by country; apps change, so check the store before you buy.

Subscription vs one payment

VSCO keeps adding tools, from AI editing to client galleries, and a subscription pays for that. If you use them, it's good value.

If you mostly want film looks for your own photos, a subscription can mean paying every year for features you don't use. Simul Studio is narrower: a film camera and darkroom, unlocked once.

Privacy and accounts

VSCO is also a community, so sharing there means a VSCO account and profile. Simul Studio has no account and no feed. Photos are edited on your device and we never receive them; on iPhone you can optionally back up to your own iCloud.

Which should you choose?

Choose VSCO if

  • You want a community to share your work
  • You edit video as well as photos
  • You'll use the pro tools a subscription pays for

Choose Simul Studio if

  • You'd rather pay once
  • You want a live film camera on iPhone and Android
  • You don't want an account or a feed

Try it on your own photos

Simul Studio is on iPhone and Android, and the first five exports are free.

Free download

Questions

How much is VSCO?

On the US App Store, checked October 2026: Plus is US$9.99 a month or US$39.99 a year, and Pro is US$14.99 a month or US$69.99 a year, with a free tier and a free trial. Prices bought on VSCO's website can differ.

Is there a VSCO alternative without a subscription?

Simul Studio is free to try and unlocks unlimited exports with a one-time purchase, on iPhone and Android.

Do I need an account for Simul Studio?

No. There's no account and no social feed.

Keep reading

Sources

Written by the maker of Simul Studio, so we're not neutral, but we've tried to be fair and stick to what each app's own listing says. Other app names and trademarks belong to their owners; Simul Studio isn't affiliated with them.