ViewBug
Explore our in-depth ViewBug app review—features, pros, cons, and why it’s a hit among creative photographers.
ViewBug Review: Photography Contests, Community & Features Explored
There are so many photography apps out there that it becomes a challenge to select ‘the one’. The interesting thing is that smartphone cameras have immensely upped the game, especially OnePlus and the iPhone. Not to forget Steven Soderbergh’s psychological horror film Unsane was shot entirely with the iPhone 7 and parts of the Academy Award-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man. This only proves that you can shoot and edit with your phones, of course, you need the right kind of app to do so. And in this case, I mean the ViewBug app. With stiff competition from acclaimed photo editing apps like Lightroom, Hypocam, Snapseed, VSCO, the photo app has carved a niche for itself in quite a short span of time.
ViewBug- Photography connects you with gazillions of photographers where you can view and share exemplary pieces of imagery. The app hosts some of the best photography contests worldwide where winners are rewarded with excellent awards. (SCREENSHOT 1) You also get to be a part of creative communities where you can browse through seminal pieces of photo editing. The app ebbs like Instagram where you are initially asked to sign up and follow some popular users. Once complete, you can upload and modify images and put them up for public viewing. Join a photography community to know what genre-based photography is like.
Let us have a better understanding of the app.
The ViewBug App
Logo- A starry night with a white V placed complacently in the middle. The night sky has become a staple thing in photography these days, therefore, using it can forge a certain connection with the users.
Pros and Cons of ViewBug
Pros
- Hosts 20+ photography contests every month across diverse categories
- Judged by professional photographers and sponsored by top brands
- Offers valuable prizes like high-end cameras, drones, and tech gadgets
- Strong community features—get instant feedback, social interaction, and recognition
- Built-in photo editor with advanced filters and adjustment tools
- Great for beginners and pros alike—offers photo tips, peer learning, and tutorials
- Allows users to license and sell photos through its marketplace
- Offers personalized recommendations and curated inspiration from 30M+ submitted photos
- Mobile-first platform with social and contest-driven photo sharing approach
- Encourages skill growth through peer challenges, feedback, and educational content
Cons
- Some contests may have limited free access or require premium membership
- Competition can be intense for new users
- Prize eligibility may vary by contest or membership tier
- User interface may feel overwhelming to beginners due to the volume of content
- Editing tools are powerful but may not replace dedicated photo editing apps
- Quality of feedback may vary depending on the community’s activity level
- Requires internet access for most features and interactions
Features of the ViewBug App
ViewBug’s Home page is divided into ‘Following’ and ‘Discover’. (Screenshot 2) The app lets you explore conceptual photography as you can get inspired by various artists who are constantly uploading their works with the app. You can scroll through their recommended posts in your newsfeed. It has the double-tap feature like Instagram but with more specifications. If you long-press the Heart icon below you get the following options-
- Like
- Award
- Superb Composition
- Absolute Masterpiece
- Outstanding
- Top Choice
But once you’ve given your choice, you can’t undo it. You can add comments and add it to your collection. Another advantage is that clicking on the image will take it to the full-screen mode where you can expand it to observe minute detailing. The elliptical button on the right-hand side under each photograph gives you some cool choices as well which are-
Share photo- Here you can share the image on your Facebook and Twitter handles. You also get the options of sharing it via Whatsapp, IG, Messenger, Truecaller, Google Drive, Gmail, Bluetooth, NFC, messaging, etc.
Likers- You can go through the list of people who have liked the photograph. An easy way to know more people.
Peer Awards- Similar to the previous option, Peer Awards help you to go through the list of users who have awarded the photographs with the aforementioned options. Premium and PRO members have more options to choose from.
Comments- Lets you read through all the comments. Some of which are expert opinions critically analysing the photograph.
About photo- The most interesting option where you learn all the important things related to the photograph like its name, equipment used, Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, tags, location and awards won.
Under the Discover option, you can traverse through a plethora of galleries, tutorials and photos which are highly experimental and A-level. You can find conceptualised artworks like leading lines photography or negative space photography and notice what unique aspects each picture consists of.
This was about the Homepage. The other options present in the wizard are Contests, Notifications, Me (your profile) and Upload. All of them are pretty much self-explanatory. The few things you must check out in ViewBug photo contests are that there are many categories which you can go through, and there’s a Voting window where you can cast your votes for photos under different categories. The number of days left is mentioned in each category.
You can edit your photos before uploading with some interesting filters that ViewBug provides. You can further edit them with the app tools.
Paid Subscriptions
Premium- $4.99 per month
PRO- $8.99 per month
The ViewBug is an abode to some of the best photo works in the world. With high-contrast photos and minimalist touches, the platform is great for budding camerapersons to experiment and scale new heights. The mindframe which goes behind every final photograph is impeccable. I was once blown away by the levitation photography of a user which was reminiscent of Salvador Dali and Philippe Halsman’s critically acclaimed Dali Atomicus. Thus take your lens, create magic, amaze the world with your coup de grâce.
For us, Product Reviews mean diving headfirst into the functionality of each digital product, whether it’s an app, software, or website. Our process centers around hands-on testing of each tool we pick. From scrutinizing features to testing vulnerabilities of security standards, the goal remains to help you find products that don’t just work but truly elevate your experience. In a nutshell, if we’re recommending a product, it’s because we believe it’ll genuinely make your digital life easier.
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Customer Reviews
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MobileAppDaily’s POV on the ViewBug App
As a writer at MobileAppDaily and a photography enthusiast, I recently explored the ViewBug app along with a couple of teammates who are into mobile photography. Right off the bat, what stood out to all of us was the community-driven nature of the platform.
The app offers a refreshing space for photographers—beginners and pros alike—to showcase their work, participate in themed contests, and get instant feedback. The variety of monthly contests, judged by professionals and backed by top-tier sponsors, adds a sense of purpose to everyday photo sharing.
The built-in editor with exclusive filters and presets also came in handy for quick touch-ups on the go. However, while the overall experience was creatively rewarding, we did notice a few limitations. Some of the best contests and features are locked behind a paywall, which might discourage casual users from engaging long-term.
The competition is intense, and unless you're consistently active or have standout shots, visibility can feel limited. Also, the UI, although packed with features, can be overwhelming at first. That said, my teammates and I still found it to be a great place to stay inspired and learn from other passionate creators—and for anyone serious about photography, ViewBug is definitely worth a try.
FEATURE
Offers engaging photo contests, editing tools, social interaction, and learning resources for photographers of all skill levels.
PRICING
Many key features and top contests are gated behind a paid subscription, which may not appeal to casual users.
PERFORMANCE
Runs smoothly across devices with responsive uploads and editing, though contest visibility favors active or premium users.
UI/UX
Visually rich and functional, but the interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming for first-time users.
Final Verdict!
ViewBug transforms photo sharing into a purpose-driven experience—offering creative challenges, real rewards, and a thriving global community. The contests are competitive, the feedback is real, and the inspiration is endless.
For photographers who want more than just likes, ViewBug delivers a platform that pushes your craft forward and celebrates it in meaningful ways. It's not just another photo app—it’s a creative playground for those who take their photography seriously.
ViewBug
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I add tags in ViewBug?
While uploading any picture, you’re asked to fill in certain information before putting it up for public viewing. Here you can include the caption, location and Tags. Separate the tags by commas. You can also increase your discoverability by selecting from the badges provided below.
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Is ViewBug free?
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What is a Peer Award on ViewBug?
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