Best Camera Apps For Samsung Galaxy In 2026

The stock Samsung camera is excellent, but its Pro mode does not cover every way you might want to shoot.

The best camera apps for a Samsung Galaxy in 2026 add raw files, finer manual control, or faster capture.

Here are five worth installing, plus two popular names that are not worth your time.

Quick picks: the best camera apps for Samsung Galaxy

Why use a camera app instead of the stock one?

Samsung’s camera processes every shot heavily, so you get a polished JPEG but little say in how it looks.

Third-party apps give you raw files, direct control of shutter speed and ISO, or different capture behavior.

Try Pro mode in the stock camera first, since it may already be enough.

1. Expert RAW: best overall

Expert RAW is Samsung’s own pro camera, so it works with your phone’s lenses better than most outside apps.

Specs: Galaxy Store download | Samsung lists Galaxy S20 and newer | saves JPEG plus 16-bit DNG

Pros:

• Manual control of ISO, shutter speed, white balance, exposure and focus.
• Astrophotography and multiple exposure modes on supported phones.

Cons:

• Not offered on every Galaxy, so check the Galaxy Store for your model.
• Special modes run at 12MP only, and long bursts of more than 10 photos can slow down.

See Samsung details

2. Open Camera: best free

Open Camera is a free, open-source app, and its site says the app carries no third-party ads.

Specs: free | Android 6.0 or later | some features depend on your phone’s hardware

Pros:

• Manual exposure, ISO, white balance and focus assist, plus a histogram and focus peaking.
• DNG raw capture and burst mode through the Camera2 API.

Cons:

• The interface is crowded and takes time to learn.
• Some options will not appear on every phone.

Get it on Google Play

3. ProShot: best polished manual app

ProShot suits people who want manual control without a cluttered screen.

Specs: about $7.99 on the US Google Play listing | Android | no free version listed

Pros:

• Switch between auto and manual modes depending on the shot.
• Includes burst, time-lapse, panorama and video modes.

Cons:

• Paid upfront with no trial that I could confirm.
• Some lenses on newer Galaxy phones may not be exposed to third-party apps.

Get it on Google Play

4. Camera FV-5: best DSLR-style controls

Camera FV-5 is built around the vocabulary of a DSLR, which suits photographers who already think in stops and metering.

Specs: free Lite version, one-time paid full version | Android | Lite has limited resolution and no raw

Pros:

• Lite lets you try the app with no time limit before buying.
• One purchase installs on every device signed in to your Google account.

Cons:

• Raw capture only works where your phone supports it.
• Check the Play Store price before buying, since I could not confirm a current figure.

Get it on Google Play

5. Camera Assistant: best no-new-app tweak

Camera Assistant is a Good Lock module that adds extra settings to Samsung’s own camera app.

Specs: Galaxy Store module | Galaxy S20 series and newer, plus recent Z Flip and Fold models | may be missing in some regions

Pros:

• Auto HDR and auto lens switching based on light, zoom and distance.
• On One UI 6.1, picture softening, quick tap shutter and capture speed options.

Cons:

• It does not add manual raw shooting.
• Install it from Good Lock, under the Life Up tab, or search the Galaxy Store.

Read the setup guide

Which camera app should you choose?

What happened to Moment Pro Camera?

Moment stopped developing its Pro Camera app for Android on February 28, 2020, citing the effort of supporting so many different phones.

The app stayed on the Play Store, but it no longer gets updates, so I would not build your setup around it.

Should you install a Google Camera (GCam) port?

A GCam port is an unofficial modified build of Google’s camera app, made by independent modders.

It often fails on phones with Exynos processors, and a port built for the wrong phone or Android version can crash.

Ports need the Camera2 API, and Play Protect may flag older builds as unsafe.

Because ports come from third parties, skip them unless you are comfortable troubleshooting.

Our verdict

If your phone supports it, start with Expert RAW. If not, Open Camera is the best free alternative.

Expert RAW details Open Camera on Google Play

Related Samsung camera guides

• Samsung Galaxy astrophotography mode tips
• Fix the Samsung Galaxy “Camera failed” error
• Fix a blurry camera on Samsung Galaxy phones

Official sources: Open Camera, Camera FV-5 docs.