Afterlight
An app that makes phone photos look shot on film.
What Afterlight does
Afterlight is a film-style photo editor and camera for iPhone, iPad and Android from a small independent team. It has 300+ film presets, light leaks, dust and VHS textures, halation and double exposure, plus 30+ adjustment tools. It's free to download, with more filters and tools behind an upgrade.
Afterlight is for people who miss film. Its presets are modeled on the feel of classic film stocks, and the texture library adds real-looking light leaks, dust and paper grain so a phone shot looks like it came out of a lab.
Beyond presets you get more than 30 tools for brightness, contrast, curves, sharpening and vignette, plus effects like halation, color shift and double exposure. A newer camera mode puts the looks right in the viewfinder, so you see the result before you shoot, with RAW presets too.
It's on iPhone, iPad and Android, though the Android app is rated much lower on Google Play. The free version covers the basics, and Afterlight PRO opens the rest of the filters and tools. The developer also says it doesn't collect your data, which is a nice touch. If you want a film look with lots of texture, it's a lovely pick.
Alternatives to Afterlight
Who it's for
Skip it if: Anyone who wants AI cleanup or background tools.
Pricing
Free planAfterlight is free to download with core tools and some filters. Afterlight PRO opens the rest. In the US App Store it starts at $2.99 a month, with weekly, yearly and one-time lifetime options.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Beautiful, realistic film textures
- Live looks in the camera
- Made by a small independent team
- Developer says it collects no data
Watch out for
- Android app is rated much lower than the iPhone one
- Many filters and tools need the paid upgrade
- No AI cleanup or background tools
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Questions people ask
Is Afterlight free?
It's free to download with core tools. Afterlight PRO, from $2.99 a month in the US App Store, opens the rest of the filters and tools.
Is Afterlight on Android?
Yes. It's on Google Play as well as the App Store.
Does Afterlight have a camera?
Yes. Its camera mode shows film looks live in the viewfinder.