Disposable camera apps for weddings and events, compared.
The short answer: all five apps below let guests join with a QR code and say no install is needed, and each lets the host set a shot limit and a reveal time. They differ in platform support, filters, privacy controls, export and price. Pick by your guests' phones and the controls you need, not by the shared feature list.
We make Ever Shots, so weigh this page accordingly. Every competitor cell comes from that product's own site or App Store listing on the date above. Where the source doesn't say, we write “Not verified” instead of guessing. Apps change, so follow the source links.
| Criterion | Ever Shots | POV | Lense | Once | Scene |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QR-code joining | Yes. Each film has a QR card and link. | Yes. “Each POV event has its own unique QR code that guests can scan to join.” Also a link or a purchasable POV Block. | Yes. “Join instantly with a QR code or event link.” | Yes. Guests scan the event's QR card or use a shared link. | Yes. Hosts share a QR code. |
| No-download guest access | Yes. iPhone guests use an App Clip; Android guests use the browser. | Yes. “No app download required.” | Yes. “Guests don't need to download an app or create an account.” | Yes. The FAQ says friends can join “without installation or sign up”. | Yes. Guests scan and start taking photos “without installing anything or signing up”. |
| Shot limits per guest | Yes. Per guest, 48 by default; the host sets the cap. | Yes. Host chooses how many photos each person takes; the number is not stated. | Yes. “Set photo limits per guest”; the number is not stated. | Yes. Host sets how many shots each guest can take. | Yes. Host sets a limit when creating an event; limits can be expanded by in-app purchase. |
| Disposable-camera aesthetic | Three filters; frames are not previewed while shooting on a scheduled reveal. | Described as a disposable camera; filters not verified. | Not verified. | Not verified. | Film styles: Original, Vintage and Black & White. |
| Delayed photo reveal | Yes. Scheduled reveal or instant. | Yes. Host chooses when photos reveal; the options are not stated. | Yes. Instant, delayed or private album. | Yes. The film creator sets the duration, such as a few hours, a day or a week. | Yes. Photos stay hidden until the host's reveal time. |
| Shared gallery | Yes. One shared roll; each frame shows who took it, with optional captions. | Not verified beyond guests not having access until the host shares the code or link. | Yes. “Every guest's photos and videos in one place.” | Yes. Photos can be viewed, downloaded and shared after the event. | Yes. One shared album, private or open to everyone, at the host's choice. |
| Privacy and host controls | Host chooses reveal timing and shot cap. Photo-level moderation: not verified. | Host can review and delete guests' photos at any time. | Host can share or keep private, review and delete captures before reveal; a built-in filter for inappropriate content. | Creator chooses whether photos are visible to the uploader only or to everyone. A moderation dashboard is listed on the Business plan. | Host chooses private or open gallery and can turn off adding photos after the event. |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase by guest count; free up to 10 guests. See pricing. | Pricing page shows up to 10 guests free; other tier prices were not shown. | Free trial for events of up to 7 guests; paid pricing not stated. | One-time per event by guest count; free up to 5 guests; Unlimited Shots add-on $9.99. | Free app; up to 5 guests free for the first 10 events; one-time add-ons from $9.99 to $79.99. |
| iPhone | Guests: App Clip. Host app: iOS. | App Clips, plus an iPhone app. | Yes. Lense works on iPhone and Android. | App Clip, plus an iPhone app. | Yes. iPhone, iOS 16.4 or later. |
| Android | Guests: browser. Host app on Android: not verified. | Web-based experience, plus an Android app on Google Play. | Yes. | Guests join by QR or link. An Android app is “in development”; hosts on Android can use the web. | Not listed. |
| Browser support | Guests on Android use a browser camera. | Yes. Web-based on Android; a web app for hosts. | Not fully described. | Yes. Guests can take and upload photos in the mobile web. | Guests join by QR; the listing does not describe browser support for photos. |
| Download and export | Full-quality 4K export. | Not stated. A printed photobook is offered. | Host can bulk download all photos and videos; stored for 12 months from the event start. | Download photos from your profile. Formats and resolution not stated. | Hosts can save all items at once to the camera roll at full size; described as 12MP, no watermark. |
Which one suits which event
Ever Shots
Weddings and events where guests install nothing and you want one shared roll that reveals together.
Sources: How it works, Pricing
POV
Hosts who want a printed photobook option or to run events from a web app.
Sources: pov.camera, POV pricing
Lense
Hosts who want to review captures before the reveal and also collect video.
Sources: lense.app
Once
Small gatherings that fit the free tier, or hosts who need a moderation dashboard on a business plan.
Sources: once.film, Once pricing
Scene
iPhone-only events that want video clips or an audio guestbook alongside photos.
Sources: Scene on the App Store
How to choose
Check your guests' phones first. If any guests use Android, confirm the app has a working Android guest path. Scene's listing is iPhone-only, and Once describes its Android app as in development.
Decide whether you need moderation. Lense and POV say hosts can review and delete photos, and Once lists a moderation dashboard on its Business plan.
Decide what you want afterwards. A printed photobook (POV), video or an audio guestbook (Scene), or a full-quality export of everything (Ever Shots 4K, Scene 12MP, Lense bulk download).
Price by guest count. Free tiers run from 5 to 10 guests, so a small dinner may cost nothing anywhere. For a 100-person wedding, compare current paid tiers directly.
Questions
Which disposable camera app doesn't need guests to download anything?
On their own pages, Ever Shots, POV, Lense, Once and Scene each say guests can join without installing an app. How that works differs: Ever Shots, POV and Once use an App Clip on iPhone, and Ever Shots and POV use a browser on Android. Scene lists iPhone only. Test your chosen app on both an iPhone and an Android phone before you print the QR code.
Do all of these apps delay the photo reveal?
Each lets the host choose when photos are revealed. Ever Shots offers a scheduled or instant reveal, Lense offers instant, delayed or private, and POV, Once and Scene let the host set the timing. The exact options differ, so check the app before you commit.
Which one is cheapest?
It depends on your guest count. Several have a small free tier (up to 5 to 10 guests) and one-time paid tiers above that, but prices change and some are not published on the official pages. Check each product's current pricing before deciding.
Can I export my photos?
Ever Shots offers full-quality 4K export, Lense lets hosts bulk download, Scene lets hosts save everything to the camera roll at full size, and Once lets you download from your profile. POV's export options were not stated on the pages we checked.
Related reading: the best wedding photo apps and what each is for, alternatives to real disposable cameras, and how Ever Shots works.