Bugzz: Insect Prank Filters is a photography app in the entertainment category that focuses on adding realistic insect effects to selfies and group photos. I found this app on google play last summer when I was looking for fun ways to prank my family during a backyard barbecue. The app was launched in early 2023 and works on both google play and the App Store. It has over one million installs on android alone, which surprised me because I thought it was a pretty niche app. The download is completely free, and you don't need to register or create an account to use it. There are some in app purchases for extra bug packs, and I noticed ads pop up after every few edits, which is a bit annoying but not uncommon for free apps.

Using Bugzz is very straightforward. After you install the app, you pick a photo from your gallery or take a new one with your camera. Then you choose from a bunch of different bugs like spiders, cockroaches, ants, or even a fake mosquito bite. You can place the bug anywhere on the image by tapping and dragging it. The app lets you resize and rotate each bug, so they look more natural in the scene. A tip I learned from using it a lot is to put bugs near edges or corners because that makes the prank more believable. Also, if you save photos with the bug logo in the corner, people might not fall for it, so I always crop that out before sending the picture to friends. The app also has a live camera mode where you can add bugs in real time, which works okay but sometimes lags on my older phone.

Compared to other prank camera apps like Snapchat or FaceApp, Bugzz feels more focused on the insect theme. Snapchat has some bug lenses, but they are usually cartoonish and not very scary. FaceApp is good for aging or swapping faces, but it doesn't have creepy crawlies. Bugzz wins for me because the bugs look really realistic, and the app is made only for this one purpose, so it does it well. The only downside is that some similar apps on google play have better editing tools like blur or shadow effects, which Bugzz lacks. But for a quick laugh with friends, this app is perfect. I have pranked my mom twice with a spider photo, and she screamed both times, so that is a win in my book.

• 🐛 You can add over 20 different insect types to your photos, and each one has realistic shading and movement. Snapchat has some animal stickers, but they don't look as real as these bugs.
• 🐛 The live camera mode lets you see bugs moving on your screen before taking the shot. Similar apps lack this feature and only let you edit after the photo is taken.
• 🐛 The app saves your last used bug and position, so if you want to prank multiple people with the same spider, you can keep using it without resetting. No other prank app on google play offers this convenience.

• 🕷️ The bugs look very realistic with detailed textures and shadows. Other apps on google play use cartoonish insects that don't fool anyone.
• 🕷️ The app is very lightweight and installs quickly even on older phones. No lag or crashes during editing, which is rare for free apps.
• 🕷️ The free version gives access to most bugs without payment. Unlike many photo apps, you don't need to buy premium for the best features.

• ❌ There are too many ads between edits, which makes using the app feel slow. Similar apps have fewer interruptions.
• ❌ The app lacks a batch edit feature. I want to add bugs to several photos at once, but currently I have to edit each one separately.