Creative mobile app alternatives to Instagram

By Dan Kricke

The latest photo editing and sharing app on the market is the expertly named MasterFX. MasterFX offers up more than 1,000 effects in 32 categories and the app’s built-in brushes let you touch up specific parts of photos as you see fit. MasterFX also contains a gallery where you can browse thousands of photos and then add them to your own creation for a real art school vibe.

With more than 50 brushes, there’s an awful lot to explore within this app. Additional filter and brush packs are available for around $1 each, so you’ll need to keep those iTunes gift cards handy. Pro tip: Walgreens sells iTunes gift cards and you can grab 6 percent Cash Back with your purchase.

Another photo-friendly option is Snapseed. With Snapseed, you can adjust your photos with a single tap with the app’s Auto Correct feature, or stick with the app’s filters to create Instagram-style effects to your pictures. Snapspeed also has cropping tools and selective enhancement options to edit only parts of your pics. On the plus side, you can stay out of the Apple Store because you won’t need gift cards to buy additional in-app purchases with Snapseed.

But if you’re addicted to Instagram, by all means, stick with it. It has plenty of great features, after all. Or, you could head to Best Buy and purchase an actual, fancy camera: Imagine that! You’d even get 2 percent Cash Back on the purchase. But you’d have to lug another device around, so maybe it’s best just to stick to the apps for now.