Google Camera
Hacker ApprovedRanked 4 of 8 camera apps by recommenders
Free camera app whose image processing and panorama mode people prefer, especially via third-party ports. Caveat: ported versions may differ from the stock app and lack photo preview.
Free camera app whose image processing and panorama mode people prefer, especially via third-party ports. Caveat: ported versions may differ from the stock app and lack photo preview.
12 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 10
- criticize it
- 2
- approval share
- 83%
Recommended in 7 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 10 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 7 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Better image processing than alternatives
“The postprocessing is notably better with GCam”
Comment from 6 Mar 2026 in “Open Camera is a FOSS Camera App for Android” “Hard to beat the processing gcam can do.”
Comment from 2 Mar 2026 in “Motorola announces a partnership with GrapheneOS Foundation” Works well as a sideloaded port
“best chance is to get BSG's version from https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/ and install manually”
Comment from 11 Oct 2026 in “LineageOS 24” “it works perfectly except you don't get photo preview within that app”
Comment from 17 Feb 2026 in “GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Ported version differs from stock
“Actual GCam feels worse to me.”
Comment from 17 Jun 2026 in “GrapheneOS has been ported to Android 17 and official releases are coming soon” “it ain't exactly the same tho”
Comment from 17 Jul 2026 in “GrapheneOS recommended for domestic abuse victims”
Other camera apps people recommend
The four most recommended other camera apps, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halide camera app | 18 | 6 | 75% | 7 | — | Approved |
| Open Camera | 16 | 14 | 53% | 3 | 1 yr3 owners | — |
| Pixel Camera | 12 | 4 | 75% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Google CameraThis page | 10 | 2 | 83% | 7 | — | Approved |
| iPhone camera | 8 | 25 | 24% | 5 | — | — |
What people said
All 13 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“best chance is to get BSG's version from https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/ and install manually”
“The "solution" is to run a patched version of GCam that allows you to select a different gallery app”
“The Google Camera app already does this (much)”
“it ain't exactly the same tho”
“much better panorama mode”
“Problem with stock Google camera app is that it made horrible HDRlike images even with HDR turned off.”
“if you install the Google camera there is no difference in quality”
“Actual GCam feels worse to me.”
“Install a 3rd party GCam and then the answer is no”
“The postprocessing is notably better with GCam”
“Hard to beat the processing gcam can do.”
“it works perfectly except you don't get photo preview within that app”
“The google camera app should be enough.”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.