Darkroom is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 7.8. Darkroom wins on 5 of the 5 scores, VSCO on 0.
Apple users who want quick, high-quality edits straight from the Photos app
Photographers who want a consistent film look and a place to share it
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Darkroom | VSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Photo & Video | Photo & Video |
| Category rank | #3 of 8 | #8 of 8 |
| Developer | Bergen Co. | VSCO |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
Darkroom
- Clean interface that stays out of your way
- No import step thanks to Photos library integration
- Fast previews even with large RAW files
- Apple devices only
- Advanced tools need a Darkroom+ plan
Darkroom is the best-designed photo editor on Apple devices. It works straight from your Photos library, so there's no import step, and it handles RAW files, curves, color grading and batch edits quickly. Video editing uses the same tools. The free version covers the basics, while Darkroom+ unlocks the advanced tools. Get it if you live in Apple Photos and want speed without a cloud account.
Full Darkroom review
VSCO
- Presets give a consistent, film-like look
- Clean, simple editing interface
- Low-pressure community for sharing work
- Most presets and tools need a membership
- Editing depth trails dedicated editors
VSCO is known for its film-inspired presets, and they still look great. The editor covers the essentials, and the app doubles as a low-key community for sharing photos. The catch is value: most of the best presets and tools sit behind a paid membership, and the editing depth trails Lightroom and Darkroom. Get it if you love a consistent film look across your feed.
Full VSCO review
