Quick Start
This guide covers every VSCO feature:
- Getting Started — Create your account and set up the app
- How to Use One-Tap Photo Effects — Apply preset filters to any picture in one tap
- How to Use Object Remover — Erase distracting elements without leaving smudges behind
- How to Use Photo Editor — Fine-tune exposure, contrast, and colour with manual sliders
- How to Use VSCO Canvas — Build collages and montages on a blank canvas
- How to Use VSCO Learner — Follow guided lessons that sharpen your photography habits
- How to Use Client Galleries — Deliver finished projects to clients through private galleries
- How to Use Video Editor — Apply the same film looks to your videos
- How to Use Film FX — Add film grain, light leaks, and dust for a vintage finish
- How to Use Desktop Studio — Edit on a bigger screen from your Mac or Windows machine
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives
Why Trust This Guide
I have used the VSCO app on an iPhone for three years and tested every feature covered here.
This VSCO tutorial comes from real editing sessions, not vendor screenshots.
VSCO is one of the most popular photo editing tools on mobile.
But most people stop at the free preset filters.
Editing photos well takes ten minutes once you know where the sliders live.
This guide shows you how to use VSCO properly, feature by feature.
Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.
VSCO Tutorial
This How to Use VSCO tutorial walks through every tool in order, from your first import to desktop exports.
VSCO
Edit like a film photographer straight from your phone. VSCO gives you over 200 presets, manual controls, and a quiet community built for creators. Start free, then upgrade only if you want the full preset library.
Getting Started with VSCO
Before you touch any feature, finish this one-time setup.
It takes about three minutes.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Download the VSCO app from the App Store or Google Play.
Tap Sign Up and enter your email and a password.
✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for the confirmation email.
Step 2: Learn the Six Tabs
When you first open the app, six icons sit along the bottom of the screen.
Studio holds your drafts, Feed shows people you follow, and Discover surfaces new creators.
Here is what the studio looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The studio tab opens with an empty grid.
Step 3: Import Your First Photos
Open the studio tab and tap the import button.
Pick images straight from your phone’s Photos app.
Every import lands in your VSCO studio as a private draft.
✅ Done: You are ready to use any feature below.
How to Use VSCO One-Tap Photo Effects
One-Tap Photo Effects lets you apply a finished look to any image without touching a single slider.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open a Draft
Open the VSCO studio and tap any imported photo.
Then tap the edit icon at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Browse the Presets
Swipe through the preset filters row, then simply tap one to apply it.
Warm presets work by giving photos a gentle amber cast.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The thumbnail row shows a live preview of each filter.
Step 3: Fade the Strength
Tap the same preset twice to open the strength slider.
Pull it back to around 60 for a natural finish.
✅ Result: Your picture now carries a consistent look you can reuse.
💡 Pro Tip: Save your favourite combination as a recipe, then apply it to a whole shoot in seconds.
How to Use VSCO Object Remover
Object Remover lets you wipe out distracting elements that ruin an otherwise clean frame.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Remove Tool
Scroll the editing tools row and tap Remove.
Pinch to zoom in on the object you want gone.
Step 2: Brush Over the Object
Paint over the trash can, wire, or stranger with your finger.
Keep the brush tight against the edges of the object.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The removed area matches the surrounding texture.
Step 3: Check the Blend
Zoom to 100 percent and look for repeated texture.
Undo and brush again if the patch looks soft.
✅ Result: A clean frame with no distracting elements left in it.
💡 Pro Tip: Remove one object at a time. The tool blends edges far better on small, separate passes.
How to Use VSCO Photo Editor
Photo Editor lets you take manual control of exposure, contrast, and colour on any image.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Set Your Exposure First
The VSCO editing tools sit in one scrolling row under the image.
Open the VSCO photo editor and tap Exposure.
Push it until the highlights stop clipping.
Step 2: Shape the Tones
Lift dark areas with the shadows slider, then pull the highlights down.
Add contrast last so the two edits do not fight.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Details return in both the shadows and the bright sky.
Step 3: Tune Individual Colours
Open HSL to push pink tones warmer or cool the green tones down.
This one step fixes most landscape photos.
✅ Result: A balanced edit that still looks like a real photograph.
💡 Pro Tip: Tap and hold the image to compare before and after. The difference shows up most in portraits.
How to Use VSCO Canvas
VSCO Canvas lets you build a collage or montage from your photos, videos, shapes, and colours.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Start a Canvas
Tap Canvas in the studio, then pick a designer template.
Choose a blank canvas if you want full freedom.
Step 2: Drop In Your Media
Tap each empty slot and pick photos or short videos.
Drag the corners to crop and skew each layer.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Every layer sits where you dropped it with no gaps.
Step 3: Add Text and Shapes
Layer bold text, colour blocks, or simple shapes on top.
Keep the palette to two colours so it stays clean.
✅ Result: A finished montage ready for Instagram or your portfolio.
💡 Pro Tip: Build canvases at 4:5. That ratio fills more screen on a phone than a square does.
How to Use VSCO Learner
VSCO Learner lets you learn photography basics through short lessons built into the app.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Learner Tab
Tap the Learner icon and pick a course that matches your level.
Start with the lighting course if you shoot indoors.
Step 2: Work Through a Lesson
Each lesson pairs a short read with an example image.
Try the exercise before you move to the next card.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your progress bar moves after each finished lesson.
Step 3: Post Your Attempt
Publish the shot and tag it with the lesson prompt.
Other members give feedback on what to fix next.
✅ Result: A repeatable habit that improves your photography week by week.
💡 Pro Tip: Redo the same lesson a month later. Your old edits show you exactly how much your eye has changed.
How to Use VSCO Client Galleries
Client Galleries lets you hand finished projects to clients without email attachments.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Create a Gallery
Open the Pro dashboard and tap New Gallery.
Name it after the client and the date.
Step 2: Upload Your Selects
Drag in the edited files at full quality.
Set download permissions before you share the link.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The gallery preview opens in an incognito browser window.
Step 3: Send the Link
Copy the private link and send it straight to your client.
They can favourite picks without an account.
✅ Result: A clean delivery page that makes small studios look established.
💡 Pro Tip: Turn downloads off for the first pass. Clients pick faster when they cannot grab everything at once.
How to Use VSCO Video Editor
Video Editor lets you grade your videos with the same presets you use on stills.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Import a Clip
Tap Video in the studio and pick a clip from your camera roll.
Clips under 60 seconds process fastest.
Step 2: Trim and Grade
Drag the handles to cut dead space at both ends.
Then apply a preset and drop its strength to 50.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Playback shows the graded clip with no stutter.
Step 3: Export at Full Quality
Choose the highest export setting before you save.
Lower settings crush detail in dark scenes.
✅ Result: A short video that matches the look of your photo feed.
💡 Pro Tip: Grade the video first, then match your stills to it. Video has far less latitude than a photo.
How to Use VSCO Film FX
Film FX lets you add film grain, light leaks, and dust to any digital image.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open Film FX
Finish your colour edit first, then tap Film FX.
These tools bring back the texture of real film stock.
Step 2: Pick a Texture
Choose a light leak, a dust pass, or plain film grain.
Leaks look best along the edges of a bright frame.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Grain shows at 100 percent zoom but not on the thumbnail.
Step 3: Dial It Back
Set the strength between 20 and 40 for a vintage feel.
Anything higher hides the details you just recovered.
✅ Result: A digital file that reads like a scanned negative.
💡 Pro Tip: Add grain after sharpening. Doing it the other way round makes the noise look crunchy and fake.
How to Use VSCO Desktop Studio
Desktop Studio lets you edit the same drafts on Mac or Windows with a bigger screen.
Here is how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Sign In on Desktop
Open VSCO Studio in your browser and sign in.
Your mobile drafts sync across in a few seconds.
Step 2: Edit With Your Presets
The same preset filters and sliders sit in the right panel.
A trackpad gives you finer control than a thumb.
Here is what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Edits made on desktop appear on your phone straight away.
Step 3: Export the Finals
Export a full-size JPEG for print and a smaller one for the web.
Both land in your downloads folder.
✅ Result: One library you can work from at your desk or on the go.
💡 Pro Tip: Cull on desktop, edit on mobile. Sorting 300 frames is far faster with a mouse and a big screen.
VSCO Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After three years of VSCO edits, here are the tricks I still use every week.
For more tips on capturing cleaner source shots, read the mistakes section below.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Compare before and after | Tap and hold the image |
| Open preset strength | Tap the preset twice |
| Undo last edit | Two-finger tap |
| Copy an edit to another photo | Long press a draft, then Copy Edits |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Recipes: Save a finished edit as a recipe, then reuse it across a whole shoot
- Skew: Straighten buildings that lean backward without cropping into the corners
- Copy Edits: Long press one draft and paste its settings onto twenty more
- Manual Camera: Tap the camera icon in the studio for manual controls over shutter speed, ISO, and white balance
VSCO Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Applying Filters at Full Strength
❌ Wrong: Tapping a bold preset once and posting it straight away.
✅ Right: Fade every preset to about 60 percent so skin tones stay believable.
Mistake #2: Editing Before You Fix the Frame
❌ Wrong: Adding grain and colour to a crooked, badly cropped picture.
✅ Right: Crop, straighten, and correct problems with the frame first, then edit the light.
Mistake #3: Shooting in Bad Light
❌ Wrong: Hoping VSCO can rescue a dark, blurry shot taken at midnight.
✅ Right: Sharp focus and clean light beat any filter. Tap the screen to control focus before you shoot.
VSCO Troubleshooting
Problem: Exported Photos Look Grainy
Cause: The export quality setting sits below maximum, or grain is stacked too high.
Fix: Set export quality to maximum, then drop film grain under 40.
Problem: Drafts Are Missing From the Studio
Cause: You are signed into a second account, or sync has not finished.
Fix: Check the account email in settings, then pull down on the studio grid to refresh.
Problem: Saved Photos Never Reach the Camera Roll
Cause: VSCO does not have photo library access on your phone.
Fix: Open your device settings, find VSCO, and switch photo access to All Photos.
📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact VSCO support.
What is VSCO?
VSCO is a mobile photography and video app that lets you capture, edit, and share visual content.
Think of it as a darkroom and a quiet feed living inside one app.
Watch this quick overview:
It includes these key features:
- One-Tap Photo Effects: Over 200 preset filters you can apply and fade to taste
- Object Remover: AI-assisted cleanup that removes stray objects from a frame
- Photo Editor: Manual sliders for exposure, contrast, saturation, HSL, and grain
- VSCO Canvas: Collage and montage building on templates or a blank canvas
- VSCO Learner: Guided lessons on shooting, editing, and composition
- Client Galleries: Private galleries built for photographers delivering client work
- Video Editor: Video grading with VSCO presets, trimming, and speed control
- Film FX: Film grain, leaks, and texture effects for a vintage finish
- Desktop Studio: Desktop editing on Mac and Windows with the same preset library
For a full breakdown, see our VSCO review.
The VSCO community sits behind the tools. You can favourite an image to tell the creator privately that you liked it, repost work to your followers, or join Spaces to talk with other photographers.
VSCO Pricing
Here is what VSCO costs in 2026:
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | Casual editing with a small set of presets |
| Plus Membership | $2.50 | Hobbyists who want the full preset library |
| Pro | $5.00 | Working photographers who need client galleries |
Free trial: Yes — seven days on paid memberships.
Money-back guarantee: Handled through App Store and Google Play refund rules.
💰 Best Value: Plus Membership — it unlocks the full filters library for less than a coffee.
VSCO vs Alternatives
How does VSCO compare? Here is the landscape in 2026:
| Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| VSCO | Film-style presets | $2.50/mo | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Picsart | All-round editing | $5/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
| Canva | Social graphics | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.7 |
| Photoshop | Deep retouching | $22.99/mo | ⭐ 4.6 |
| Fotor | Quick fixes | $8.99/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| Photoroom | Product photos | $12.99/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Remini | Restoring old shots | $9.99/mo | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Pixlr | Browser editing | $1.99/mo | ⭐ 4.1 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: VSCO — the film looks still beat every copycat
- Best budget: Photopea — a free browser editor with no sign-up
- Best for beginners: Canva — templates do most of the thinking
- Best for retouching: Photoshop — nothing else touches its control
🎯 VSCO Alternatives
Looking for VSCO alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🚀 Picsart: Huge toolkit with cutouts, stickers, and AI effects for creators who want everything in one app
- 🎨 Canva: Template-first design with strong text tools, ideal if your photos end up in blogs or social posts
- 💼 Design Pickle: Unlimited design work handled by real humans on a flat monthly subscription
- ⚡ Blaze: AI marketing content builder that turns one picture into a full campaign in minutes
- 🔧 Fotor: Fast browser fixes for exposure, background swaps, and batch resizing
- 🧠 Remini: AI upscaling that rescues blurry old portraits from a scanned family album
- 🌟 Photoleap: Layer-based mobile editor with generative fills and strong blending controls
- 📊 Pixelcut: Built for sellers who need clean product shots and background removal at scale
- 🏢 Photoroom: Studio-quality product backgrounds for shops running large catalogues
- 👶 YouCam Perfect: Beginner-friendly retouching with instant skin and makeup adjustments
- 🔥 Photoshop: The full desktop standard for masking, compositing, and precise colour work
- 💰 Pixlr: Cheap browser editor with layers, curves, and no install needed
- 🔒 Photopea: Free Photoshop-style editor that opens PSD files right in your browser
For the full list, see our VSCO alternatives guide.
⚔️ VSCO Compared
Here is how VSCO stacks up against each competitor:
- VSCO vs Picsart: Picsart packs more tools. VSCO wins on colour taste and a cleaner editing screen.
- VSCO vs Canva: Canva builds layouts better. VSCO handles real photo editing far more carefully.
- VSCO vs Design Pickle: Design Pickle outsources design. VSCO keeps the craft and the cost in your hands.
- VSCO vs Blaze: Blaze writes marketing copy. VSCO stays focused on the image itself.
- VSCO vs Fotor: Fotor is faster for one-off fixes. VSCO gives you a consistent look across a set.
- VSCO vs Remini: Remini restores damaged files better. VSCO is the stronger day-to-day editor.
- VSCO vs Photoleap: Photoleap wins on layers. VSCO wins on presets and film texture.
- VSCO vs Pixelcut: Pixelcut suits sellers. VSCO suits photographers building a personal style.
- VSCO vs Photoroom: Photoroom owns product cutouts. VSCO owns mood and grain.
- VSCO vs YouCam Perfect: YouCam leans into beauty edits. VSCO keeps portraits looking natural.
- VSCO vs Photoshop: Photoshop has no ceiling. VSCO gets you 80 percent of the way in two minutes.
- VSCO vs Pixlr: Pixlr offers layers on desktop. VSCO offers a better mobile workflow.
- VSCO vs Photopea: Photopea is free and powerful. VSCO is faster and made for phone photography.
Start Using VSCO Now
You learned how to use every major VSCO feature:
- ✅ One-Tap Photo Effects
- ✅ Object Remover
- ✅ Photo Editor
- ✅ VSCO Canvas
- ✅ VSCO Learner
- ✅ Client Galleries
- ✅ Video Editor
- ✅ Film FX
- ✅ Desktop Studio
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with One-Tap Photo Effects.
Here is what you can expect from the app:
It takes less than five minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VSCO free to use?
Yes. The Starter plan is free and includes the core photo editor and a small set of presets. Plus Membership costs $2.50 and unlocks the full filters library.
Can you use VSCO on a desktop?
Yes. VSCO Studio runs on Mac and Windows through your browser. Your mobile drafts sync across, so you can edit the same photos on a bigger screen.
How much does VSCO Pro cost?
Pro costs $5.00 and adds client galleries, deeper analytics, and every editing tool. It is aimed at photographers who deliver paid work.
Can people see who views your VSCO photos?
No. VSCO does not show view counts or visitor lists on your images. Only favourites, reposts, and discussions are visible to you.
Does VSCO work without an account?
No. You need a free account to import photos, save edits, and post to your VSCO feed. Browsing the app still requires signing in.
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