Best Long Exposure Camera Apps for iPhone in 2025 (Honest Comparison)
Comparing the top iPhone long exposure apps — Slow Shutter Cam, Spectre, ReeHeld, and Iris Flow — to find the best one for handheld photography.
If you've searched for a long exposure app for your iPhone, you've found a crowded market. Here's an honest comparison of the top apps in 2025 so you can choose the right one for how you actually shoot.
The Top Long Exposure Apps for iPhone
1. Slow Shutter Cam
The original. Slow Shutter Cam has been around since 2009 and remains a fan favorite. It offers manual shutter speed control (including Bulb mode), multiple capture modes, and solid output quality.
Best for: Tripod shooters who want maximum manual control.
Limitations: Designed primarily for tripod use. Handheld results at 3+ seconds are noticeably blurry compared to AI-stabilized alternatives. No real-time preview of the effect building up.
2. Spectre Camera
By the team behind Halide, Spectre is the "beautiful and simple" option. It automatically detects scenes, recommends exposure durations, and produces gorgeous results.
Best for: Beginners who want great results without understanding technical settings.
Limitations: Very limited manual control. If you want to dial in exact durations or modes, it can feel restrictive.
3. ReeHeld
ReeHeld specifically targets handheld long exposure and uses AI stabilization similar to Iris Flow.
Best for: Handheld photographers who want a dedicated stabilization-focused app.
Limitations: Less frequent updates and less polished UI compared to alternatives.
4. Iris Flow — Long Exposure Camera
Iris Flow is our app, so take this with appropriate skepticism — but here's the honest case for it:
Where Iris Flow wins:
- Handheld AI stabilization tuned for exposures up to 10 seconds without a tripod
- Three dedicated modes — Motion Blur (silky water), Light Trail (car lights, stars), Ghost Mode (remove crowds) — each using different blending algorithms
- Real-time preview of the effect building live on screen
- One-time purchase vs subscriptions for some competitors
- 16MP output on newer iPhones
Where it falls short:
- No Bulb mode for very long exposures (star trails over 10 minutes)
- Maximum AI-stabilized handheld exposure is 10 seconds
The Honest Verdict
| App | Best Use | Tripod Required? | Price | |-----|----------|-----------------|-------| | Slow Shutter Cam | Full manual control | Recommended | One-time | | Spectre | Beautiful results, minimal fuss | No | One-time | | ReeHeld | Handheld AI stabilization | No | Freemium | | Iris Flow | Handheld + multiple modes | No (up to 10s) | One-time |
Our recommendation:
- Shooting handheld (waterfalls on hikes, travel, spontaneous shots) → Iris Flow
- Carrying a tripod and want maximum manual control → Slow Shutter Cam
- Just want great results with zero learning curve → Spectre