VSCO vs. Apple Photos: Which Photo Editing App Is Better for Beginners?
Editing your photos is an excellent way to make your images look more unique. Many professional photographers use tools like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to get the results they’re looking for, but you don’t need to invest in complex software if you’re a beginner.
VSCO is one of the most popular mobile photo editing solutions—and if you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you’ll probably have heard of Apple Photos.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the differences between Apple Photos and VSCO. After reading everything, you should be better poised to choose the most ideal app for you.
What Is VSCO?
VSCOwas launched in 2011, and for most of its history, it has been a mobile-only photo editing tool. But in 2023, a computer version became available to VSCO Pro subscribers.
With VSCO, you can edit your images in numerous ways. However, the app is largely synonymous with more of a vintage photo editing style. You can add presets, use sliders, and crop your images however you like.
The free version of VSCO has a good suite of features available, but you can get more if you purchase a VSCO Plus or Pro subscription. These cost $29.99 and $59.99 per year, respectively.
What Is Apple Photos?
Apple Photos is Apple’s standalone photo-editing app. If you use an iPhone or iPad, you can edit your photos directly from your camera roll. The app is also available on macOS.
With Apple Photos, you can make a surprising number of photo edits. You’ll find many of the sliders that feature in apps likeLightroom and Capture One, such as exposure and saturation.
VSCO vs. Apple Photos: How Do They Compare?
Now that you know more about VSCO and Apple Photos, let’s look at how the two apps compare.
1. Adding and Saving Presets
Presets are a great way to speed up the post-production process, and many apps have a broad selection that you may choose from.
Apple Photos and VSCO differ quite significantly with presets. You canchoose from numerous iPhone camera filters, such asVividandDramatic, in the Apple Photos app. These are also available on iPad and Mac. However, you cannot save your own presets in Apple Photos.
VSCO also has a broad range of presets, but you may only access a limited number if you don’t have a premium subscription. You can save one of your own with a free membership, but paid pricing plans let you customize and use more.
In Apple Photos, you could choose how much of the slider’s effects you want to see from 0 to 100. When using VSCO, the number ranges from 0 to 12.
If you use your iPad to edit images, see our guide onhow your iPad can help enhance your photography workflow.
2. Basic Sliders
There are manyways to quickly improve your photos, and when it comes to photo editing, you’re often better off starting with basic sliders. Both VSCO and Apple Photos offer features like this, and what you get is pretty similar.
The main difference between VSCO and Apple Photos' basic sliders is that VSCO’s vary from -6 to +6. Meanwhile, the sliders in Apple Photos range between -100 and +100. For both, the slider starts at 0.
In Apple Photos, you can access basic sliders likeExposure,Shadows, andBrilliance. In VSCO, you have access toExposure,Contrast, andSaturation—plus more. For basic adjustments, you may not need a VSCO Plus or Pro subscription.
3. Retouching Sliders
In addition to the basic sliders, it’s worth looking at whether you have access to more advanced retouching sliders in your editing software. Apple Photos lets you add vignetting to your photos, and you can also reduce the noise in your picture.
VSCO offers more advanced features for retouching, but many of these are pay-gated. If you get a paid subscription, you can access HSL sliders—which Apple Photos doesn’t have at the time of writing. You also have access to the likes ofClarityandGrainif you pay for VSCO.
One free retouching slider that you may find useful isFade, which adds more of a matte effect to your picture.
it’s possible to maximize your use of the Photos app with several hidden features. If you want to learn more, we’ve got a guide outlining some of the bestiPhone Photos app features that you didn’t know about.
4. User Interface
When choosing a photo editing app as a beginner, user-friendliness must be at the top of your mind. Both Apple Photos and VSCO are easy to navigate, but they differ slightly in their designs.
To access Apple Photos, you first need to click onEditnext to a picture in your camera roll. Once you’re there, your image will be on a black background. The tools you need to edit your pictures are either at the bottom or on the side of your screen, depending on your device and layout.
If you want to edit a picture in VSCO, you’ll first need to upload it and then go to theStudiosection—which is the square icon. After clicking on a photo and selectingEdit Image, you’ll find the tools required to start editing.
5. Saving Pictures
Another important aspect to consider with your photo editing app is how easy it is to save pictures. Apple Photos is the winner in this respect; after selectingDone, your edits will appear instantly in your camera roll.
Saving a picture in VSCO has a few more steps, but it’s not too taxing. After editing your photo, click on theShareicon in the top right and selectSave to Camera Roll.
Where Can You Use VSCO and Apple Photos?
Apple Photos is only available on Apple devices, so you’re going to have issues using it if you don’t own an iPhone, Mac, or iPad. You also don’t need to download the app as it will already be on your device.
VSCO is also available on iPhone and iPad. However, if you have an Android device, you’ll also be able to download and use the app.
Download:VSCO foriOS|Android(Free, in-app purchases available)
VSCO vs. Apple Photos: Which Will You Choose?
VSCO and Apple Photos are two great apps to look at if you’re a beginner photo editor, and both offer a good selection of tools. Apple Photos makes it easy to edit and save your images straight on your camera roll, and it’s possible to pick from numerous filters to make quick adjustments.
If you don’t have an Apple device, VSCO will provide plenty of features—even if you don’t upgrade to a paid subscription. And even if you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you may still want to give VSCO’s suite of presets a go.
Apple Photos and Lightroom are two very different photo editors, but both are great options for basic editing. Let’s help you pick the right one.
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