The best progress photo apps in 2026, compared honestly
Seven ways to track progress photos, from dedicated apps to your camera roll, compared by what actually makes photos comparable: framing help, poses, measurements, privacy and price.
Short answer
For most people, the best progress photo app is one that helps you take matching photos (a ghost overlay), keeps front, side and back separate, records measurements beside the photos and stores everything privately. ProgressLens does that on iPhone and Android with a one-time Pro instead of a subscription. GainFrame is the main pick if you want AI body-fat estimates on iPhone.
Disclosure: we make ProgressLens, so it’s listed first. Details about other apps come from their own store listings, websites and help pages as of October 2026; prices and features change, so check the listing before you pay. We name each app’s weaknesses and our own.
Quick comparison
| App | Platforms | Overlay / alignment | Measurements | Photo storage | Price model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProgressLens | iPhone, iPad, Android | Yes | 6 built-in | On device | Free 10 days, then one-time Pro |
| GainFrame | iPhone | Auto alignment | Yes | Account / cloud | Free tier, subscription |
| Progress Body Tracker (Lasmit) | iPhone (Android: check Play) | — | Many, custom | Device + iCloud | Free tier; photos need Pro subscription |
| PhotoJourney (My Body Tracker) | iPhone | Ghost mode | Yes | Device | Free with in-app purchases |
| Photo Progress: Before-After | Android | — | Limited | Device, private album | Free with ads, in-app purchases |
| Hevy (workout app) | iPhone, Android | — | Weight, waist free; more in Pro | Hevy account | Free; Pro subscription |
| Camera roll / hidden album | Any | No | No | Gallery + photo cloud | Free |
What to look for in a progress photo app
- Help taking matching photos. A ghost overlay or pose guide matters more than any other feature, because mismatched photos can’t be compared.
- Separate poses. Front, side and back should each have their own history.
- Measurements next to photos. At least bodyweight and waist; photos alone are hard to judge week to week.
- An easy before-and-after. Pick two dates and compare, without exporting to another app.
- Where photos are stored. On your device, a vendor cloud, or your camera roll. This matters more for body photos than for almost anything else.
- How you pay. Subscription, one-time purchase or ads. A journal you’ll use for years adds up on a monthly plan.
- Your platform. Several popular apps are iPhone-only.
The apps
1. ProgressLens
- iPhone, iPad, Android
- Free · 10 check-in days
- Pro one-time ($14.99 US)
- No account
- On-device
Best for: anyone who wants consistent photos and measurements, privately, on iPhone or Android, without a subscription.
A focused, private progress photo journal. Every check-in shows your last photo with the same label as a ghost overlay, front, side, back and custom poses keep separate timelines, and bodyweight, waist, chest, shoulders, arms and thighs sit on the same days with charts. Pro is a one-time purchase.
Good
- Ghost overlay of your last photo, per pose
- Six body measurements with trend charts beside the photos
- No subscription: one-time Pro
- No account; photos never in your camera roll or a cloud
- Same app on iPhone and Android, 11 languages
Watch out
- No AI analysis or body-fat estimate
- No video timelapse export (use our free web tool)
- No app-specific passcode (use your phone’s lock)
- No Apple Health or Health Connect sync
2. GainFrame
- iPhone
- AI analysis
- Free tier + subscription
Best for: iPhone users who want AI estimates and don’t mind a subscription.
An AI-first physique app. It analyses photos to estimate body fat and gives coaching-style feedback, and it can auto-align photos and import old ones. Its own blog says it is iPhone-only with no Android version planned and lists a paid plan of about $5.99/month.
Good
- AI body-fat and physique estimates
- Imports and aligns old photos
- Lots of educational content
Watch out
- iPhone only
- Subscription for the full app
- AI estimates from photos are approximate
3. Progress Body Tracker (Lasmit)
- iPhone
- Measurement-first
- Subscription
Best for: people who mostly track numbers and want Apple Health sync.
A long-running body tracker built around weight and many custom tape measurements, with Apple Health integration. Its listing says photos are part of Pro, which was reported at about $0.99/month or $5.99/year. Its help centre has said it isn’t on Android, so check Google Play before you plan on it.
Good
- Many custom measurements
- Apple Health sync
- Mature, long track record
Watch out
- Progress photos are a paid feature
- No ghost overlay mentioned
- Subscription
4. PhotoJourney (My Body Tracker)
- iPhone
- Ghost mode
- In-app purchases
Best for: iPhone users who want time-lapse export built in.
Its App Store listing describes a Ghost Mode, grid and body-template guides, side-by-side and swipe comparison, and GIF or time-lapse export.
Good
- Ghost mode and templates
- Time-lapse export
Watch out
- iPhone only
- Check what the in-app purchases unlock
5. Photo Progress: Before - After
- Android
- 100K+ downloads
- Ads + in-app purchases
Best for: Android users who mainly want a locked album for comparisons.
One of the most-downloaded comparison apps on Google Play. Its listing describes photo comparison with zoom, a private album with password or biometric lock, and import/export.
Good
- Popular and established on Android
- App lock built in
- Simple comparison
Watch out
- Shows ads
- Measurements are limited
- No ghost overlay mentioned
6. Hevy
- iPhone, Android
- Workout tracker
- Free + Pro subscription
Best for: lifters who want everything in their workout app and don’t need matched poses.
A workout log first. Its help centre says free users can add progress photos (one per day) and track bodyweight and waist; Pro (listed around $2.99/month) adds body fat and more circumferences. Photos are a side feature of your workout history.
Good
- Great if you already log workouts there
- Progress photos included free
Watch out
- One photo per day; no separate front/side/back
- No overlay for matching photos
- Most measurements need Pro
7. Your camera roll (or a hidden album)
- Any phone
- Free
Best for: a short experiment before you commit to an app.
The default. It works if you’re disciplined about where and how you shoot, but nothing helps you match the angle, poses get mixed, and photos sync to your photo cloud and can show up in memories or shared albums.
Good
- Free and already there
- Easy to share
Watch out
- No framing help
- Mixed in with everything
- Synced and surfaced in places you may not want
Which should you pick?
- You want consistent photos and measurements, privately, on any phone: ProgressLens.
- You want AI body-fat estimates and use an iPhone: GainFrame.
- You mostly track numbers and want Apple Health sync: Progress Body Tracker.
- You already log every workout in Hevy: its photos may be enough, as long as you don’t need matched poses.
- You’re trying it out for two weeks: a hidden album, then move to an app once you know you’ll keep going.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for progress photos?
For most people, a dedicated app with a ghost overlay, separate poses, measurements and private storage. ProgressLens fits that on iPhone and Android without a subscription. If you specifically want AI body-fat estimates on iPhone, GainFrame is the better-known option.
Is there a free progress photo app?
Several apps are free to start. ProgressLens is free for 10 check-in days, then one-time Pro. A hidden album is free but gives no help with consistency. See the best free progress photo apps.
Which progress photo apps work on Android?
ProgressLens, Photo Progress: Before - After, Fitness Camera and Hevy all run on Android. Several well-known apps such as GainFrame are iPhone-only. See the Android list.
Do I need AI to track progress photos?
No. AI estimates of body fat from photos are approximate and can swing with lighting. Consistent photos and a tape measure tell you most of what you need. Read progress photos vs the scale.
Which progress photo app is the most private?
Look for on-device storage, no account and no camera-roll saving. ProgressLens meets all three. Apps with an account or cloud backup store copies on servers, so read their privacy policy.
Sources
- GainFrame, “Best Progress Photo Apps for Android (2026)” (gainframe.app/blog), accessed October 2026
- Hevy Help Center, “Body Composition Tracking: Measurements and Progress Photos”, accessed October 2026
- App Store and Google Play listings for each app, accessed October 2026