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Werble – add some moving flourishes to your photos

Add some life to your social media images

Price: Free (IAPs)
Version: 1.3.2
Size: 149.8 MB
Developer: Horsie in the Hedge
Platform: iPhone / iPad

Get Werble

Update! The app has been consistently updated in the last couple of years since our review.

So what’s new? Notably, Werble hasn’t moved to an expensive monthly subscription model which other apps have done. New packs are still available for purchase but there’s plenty you can do for free. Elsewhere they’ve updated the interface so it looks far more suited to iOS, they’ve redesigned functionality so you can apply multiple effects, plus a number of other improvements including an undo button, canvas zoom and more.

Revised rating: Still a great tool with some decent updates ★★★★½

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Our original review, written in July 2018, is presented in its entirety below.

Here’s a question: how good is your social media game? If your answer is “what social media game?” then Werble is for you. The app specializes in moving imagery – essentially meaning that using a whole series of inbuilt animation loop layers, you can easily liven up any photograph you post online.

Of course, it’s not just selfies that will benefit – you can apply filters that range from burning fires, to old-school VHS effects, to simple animated words and colors to any image.

Get started on the home tab and gain some inspiration from expert Werblers!

The app is simple to use – it’s split between a “Home” section, which provides a feed of all images tagged with #werble on Instagram, to provide some inspiration; a store for purchasing new effects (don’t worry, there’s a whole range of free ones too); and a section for taking or choosing an image, and applying one or more animated layers.

The app itself has a pretty fascinating background – and should give you confidence that this is more than a gimmick. Two of the three co-founders of the app worked in games development from the early days of first-person shooters like Quake and Doom. The trio also work in visual effects and these influences clearly shine through in the choice of effects – you can achieve some really dark, atmospheric results with smoke and apocalyptic effects packs. Oh, and as if that’s not enough – they’re also in a synthwave band. Why can’t we all be so multi-talented?

Werble has a large store full of effects

In terms of breadth, the app has numerous effects packs – free ones include weather, blossoms, fairy dust, and apocalypse, while premium ones add some impressive fire effects, sci-fi flourishes and some more cartoonish items. Most social media apps, including ones like Snapchat will contain stickers and emojis – but its Werble’s uniquely animated versions that will make you stand out.

Liven up your selfie’s with some (often) ridiculous effects

Of course, some work better than others. One of the more interesting ones we saw included moving hair, but these are extremely fiddly and difficult to get good results on. Most generally sit and blend extremely well – and there are editing tools to help them match your photos. If you’re willing to put the time in you can get some great results. That last one, and the fire pack are premium packs – most generally cost $1 or $2 but you can also get discounted bundles.

Make the effects blend in with various editing tools

In terms of the technicalities – there’s plenty to tweak and add. The app supports layers, so while you might want a selfie with a rain effect making it look like you’re looking out of a window on a miserable day, you can also add some wacky sci-fi effect to it, and some animated icons. It’ll get a bit messy, but it’s a lot of fun! You can also randomly apply a moving filter by tapping the dice button if you don’t know what you fancy adding.

Fire is one of the premium effects and is easily customizable – here we decided to just set fire to the drummer rather than the whole band

Overall the app is more about fun than professional results – but they too can be achieved. There’s enough free content in there to keep you going, but for those that really want their social media images to pop, it might well be worth investing in some of the more intricate effects packs.