Samsung’s new 200-megapixel ISOCELL HPC sensor is a step forward for low-light photography on Android phones, but sensor pixels alone do not save a bad photo. The processing pipeline, exposure algorithm, and manual controls in the camera app decide whether a night scene comes out as a clean, sharp image or a muddy mess. These seven Android camera apps are what we reach for when stock camera modes give up. We compared their long-exposure handling, noise reduction, ISO ceilings, and RAW support on both a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and a mid-range Pixel 7a.
What to look for in a low-light camera app
- Manual ISO and shutter speed. Auto mode gives up around a certain lux level. Manual control lets you push exposure past what auto will attempt.
- RAW capture (DNG). Low-light photos benefit hugely from post-processing. RAW files preserve enough highlight and shadow data to actually pull a photo back.
- Long exposure and stacking. Some apps stack a burst of shots to reduce noise, others simply hold the shutter open. Both approaches beat single-shot night mode in the right conditions.
- Focus peaking and manual focus. In near-darkness autofocus hunts. Manual focus with a peaking overlay is the reliable path.
- Third-party lens compatibility. The stock camera locks the ultrawide and telephoto behind the OEM app on some phones. Look for full lens picker support.
- No forced beautification. Skin smoothing on a night shot is a disaster. The app should let you turn every filter off completely.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | RAW support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Camera | Free, no-nonsense manual control | Yes | Free | Yes |
| GCam (Google Camera port) | Night Sight on non-Pixel phones | Yes | Free | Yes |
| Camera FV-5 | Long-exposure and burst stacking | Yes (Lite) | Full about $4 | Yes |
| ProShot | DSLR-style controls and video | Yes trial | About $5 | Yes |
| Manual Camera | Simple manual ISO and shutter | Yes trial | About $2 | Yes |
| Footej Camera 2 | Modern manual UI and quick histogram | Yes | Pro about $2 | Yes |
| NightCap for Android | Live long-exposure preview | Yes | Full about $3 | No |
The 7 best low-light camera apps for Android in 2026
1. Open Camera, best free manual camera app
Open Camera is a free, open-source camera app that exposes every setting the phone’s hardware allows. In low light that means manual ISO up to whatever the sensor caps at, shutter speeds up to 30 seconds on supported devices, DNG capture, and a live histogram to check exposure before you press the button. There is a night mode that stacks a small burst and averages out noise, and it produces cleaner results than most default camera apps on mid-range Androids.
Focus peaking is off by default but easy to enable, and the app respects every lens the phone reports through the Camera2 API. On phones where the stock app blocks the ultrawide from third-party apps, Open Camera cannot fix that, but on everything else it just works.
Where it falls short: The interface is functional rather than pretty. Some newer computational features from the stock app, like scene detection and multi-frame HDR, are not here.
Pricing:
- Free, fully open-source, no ads
Platforms: Android only
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The right first choice for anyone who wants real control over exposure without paying.
2. GCam (Google Camera port), best for Night Sight on non-Pixels
GCam ports let non-Pixel Android phones run Google’s Camera app, including Night Sight, on hardware they were never officially supported on. The result varies by device and by port maintainer, but on many Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus phones a well-tuned GCam APK produces better low-light shots than the stock camera because Night Sight’s multi-frame stacking is very effective.
Config files (XML profiles) are shared in enthusiast communities and are usually device-specific. Once you drop the right config file in place, Night Sight, astrophotography mode, and improved HDR+ all come along.
Where it falls short: GCam is not distributed through the official Play Store because Google does not license Google Camera outside Pixel phones. Installation is a manual APK sideload, and quality varies. Astrophotography mode requires a tripod and a very steady scene, so it will not save a handheld street shot.
Pricing:
- Free download from the porting community
Platforms: Android only, and only devices with compatible ports
Download: Aptoide
Bottom line: If your phone has a well-maintained GCam port, install it. Night Sight is worth the sideload.
3. Camera FV-5, best for long-exposure and burst stacking
Camera FV-5 is a paid manual camera that was one of the first serious DSLR-style Android apps and it has kept up. In low light the standout is burst stacking with manual exposure control: shoot a five- or ten-shot burst at a matched ISO and stack them in post for a much cleaner image than any single shot could deliver.
Long-exposure mode holds the shutter up to 30 seconds where the phone allows it, and DNG capture keeps every frame post-editable. Custom program modes save your ISO, shutter, and white balance combinations for repeat use.
Where it falls short: The interface looks its age and the free Lite version limits resolution and file format. Priced above the free options.
Pricing:
- Free Lite with capped resolution
- Full version about $4 one-time
Platforms: Android only
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The go-to for photographers who plan to stack frames in Lightroom or affinity Photo after shooting.
4. ProShot, best DSLR-style app with video
ProShot aims to feel like a mirrorless camera. It has a mode dial with Auto, Program, Shutter, Manual, and Custom slots, plus a clean live histogram and focus peaking. Manual video shooting is unusually good for a mobile app, with adjustable ISO and shutter for filmed low-light scenes, which is where most Android video apps fall apart.
RAW DNG capture is supported, as is a bracket mode for HDR merging. It stores presets for quick recall, which speeds up switching between a handheld street scene and a tripod-mounted long exposure.
Where it falls short: More expensive than most and the interface can feel busy on smaller phones. Some phone models only expose a subset of lenses to ProShot.
Pricing:
- Trial available
- Full version about $5
Platforms: Android only
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Best pick for photographers who also shoot manual video in low light.
5. Manual Camera, best minimal manual app
Manual Camera is exactly what it sounds like: a stripped-down app that surfaces ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation, white balance, and focus, and nothing else. In low light it is the fastest way to grab a manual exposure without wading through menus. RAW DNG capture is there for anyone who wants it.
The narrow scope means it launches fast and never gets in the way, which matters when a low-light scene changes quickly.
Where it falls short: No burst mode, no long-exposure stacking, no video controls to speak of. It is a stills-only tool.
Pricing:
- Trial available
- Full version about $2 one-time
Platforms: Android only
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Fastest manual camera to shoot a single well-exposed frame in the dark.
6. Footej Camera 2, best modern manual UI
Footej Camera 2 is a rewrite of the older Footej with a cleaner interface, a proper histogram, and full manual controls including ISO, shutter, focus, and white balance. It handles DNG capture and burst mode, and its GIF and slow-motion modes are handy for daytime use, but the reason it is on this list is the exposure preview: you can dial in ISO and shutter and the viewfinder shows what the frame will actually look like, which saves a lot of missed shots at night.
Where it falls short: Not every phone’s full sensor range is exposed. On some devices ISO caps below what the phone supports elsewhere.
Pricing:
- Free with basic controls
- Pro about $2 for full manual and RAW
Platforms: Android only
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: A polished modern manual camera that gets exposure preview right.
7. NightCap for Android, best live long-exposure preview
NightCap for Android builds on a design familiar to iOS users: a live preview that updates as the exposure builds, so a five-second exposure shows you what it looks like at second one, then two, then three. In low light that eliminates the guessing game. Modes include light trails, ISO boost, and long exposure with automatic averaging.
Astrophotography mode aligns to star tracking, which produces sharper long exposures of the night sky without star trails.
Where it falls short: No RAW capture. JPEG only, which limits post-processing headroom. The UI is minimal to the point of hiding useful settings.
Pricing:
- Free with basic modes
- Full about $3 one-time
Platforms: Android only
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The preview-as-it-builds workflow is unbeatable for star trails and light painting.
How to pick the right low-light camera app
- Want something free and reliable: Open Camera.
- Have a non-Pixel Android and want Night Sight: find a maintained GCam port for your device.
- Plan to stack frames in Lightroom: Camera FV-5.
- Shoot manual video too: ProShot.
- Just want fast manual controls: Manual Camera.
- Care about exposure preview: Footej Camera 2 or NightCap.
- Shooting the night sky: GCam (Astro) or NightCap.
If your phone already ships with a strong night mode, like a recent Pixel or Galaxy S with the new ISOCELL HPC sensor, use the stock app for handheld low-light snaps and reach for one of these when you need manual control or RAW.
FAQ
What is the best free low-light camera app for Android?
Open Camera. It is fully open-source, exposes every manual control the phone supports, and includes DNG RAW capture without any paywall.
Does a third-party camera app work as well as Night Sight?
On Pixel phones nothing beats the native Google Camera. On other Androids a well-tuned GCam port can match it, and manual apps like Camera FV-5 can beat it if you know how to stack frames afterward.
Can I get RAW files on my Android camera?
Yes, on any phone that supports the Camera2 API’s DNG output. Open Camera, ProShot, Camera FV-5, Manual Camera, and Footej Camera 2 all capture RAW. Check your phone model against the app’s documentation if the option is greyed out.
Do I need a tripod for night photography on Android?
For handheld shots at ISO 3200 and above the phone’s stabilization usually copes. For exposures longer than half a second, a tripod or a stable surface is the difference between a sharp shot and a blur.
Which camera app works best for astrophotography on Android?
GCam ports with Astro Mode when your phone supports it. Failing that, NightCap for live long-exposure previews aligned to star tracking.
