Facebook Acquires Popular Live Filter iOS App 'MSQRD' - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Facebook Acquires Popular Live Filter iOS App 'MSQRD'

by

Apps that add real-time filters to selfies and videos are growing in popularity, and today Facebook announced the acquisition of the team behind MSQRD, a much-downloaded live filter app available on iOS and Android devices.

First introduced in January of 2016, MSQRD applies live filters to photos and videos captured with the iPhone's front-facing camera. It includes face swapping capabilities, along with a range of filters and masks that include celebrities, animals, and effects like larger eyes or rabbit ears. Filters like these have been gaining popularity in recent months following their implementation in Snapchat last fall.

msqrd
Apple has made an investment in similar technology, having purchased real-time motion capture firm Faceshift in 2015. Faceshift worked with game and animation studios on technology designed to quickly and accurately capture facial expressions using 3D sensors, which could be used to create real-time video avatars for video chat. It isn't clear what Apple will do with the technology, but it could potentially be incorporated into Photo Booth or FaceTime.

Though the technology has been acquired by Facebook, MSQRD will continue to be available on iOS devices as a standalone product. The app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

jonnysods Avatar
132 months ago
My kids will love this app. They use snapchat and don't even take pics or have friends on their account. They just go through all the filters and laugh themselves silly.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
132 months ago
Hurry and download app before it requires a fb account!
I have none and can't use apps that require fb access.
Also check out BitEmji. Can use regular email for that for now.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
132 months ago
What is FB's endgame in this??
To incorporate something from that app or from the technologies the developers of the app have created into one or more of Facebook's apps or services?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goobot Avatar
132 months ago
What is FB's endgame in this??
Instagram
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tycho24 Avatar
132 months ago
What is FB's endgame in this??
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
132 months ago
My kids will love this app. They use snapchat and don't even take pics or have friends on their account. They just go through all the filters and laugh themselves silly.
It's pretty fun. The MacRumors team was messing around with it this morning! It's also nice that it's free with no in-app purchases.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

app store monthly sub commitment

Apple Introduces App Store Monthly Subscriptions With 12-Month Commitment

Monday April 27, 2026 12:52 pm PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of a new subscription option for App Store developers: monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment. The new option allows developers to offer subscribers discounted pricing typically associated with an annual subscription but paid on a monthly basis to keep payments more affordable. This new payment option allows you to offer subscribers more affordable...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

This Is What the iPhone 18 Pro Looks Like

Saturday April 25, 2026 10:00 am PDT by
A recent leak provides our best look yet at the design of Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Leaker Sonny Dickson recently shared images of the first iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone dummy models. The images largely conform with rumors about the designs of the three devices and provide the first real visual confirmation of how they will look. ...
MacBook Pro Low Angle Wide Lens

Apple to Launch 'MacBook Ultra' With These Six New Features

Friday April 24, 2026 10:32 am PDT by
While the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro were just updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last month, bigger changes are reportedly around the corner. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the higher-end MacBook Pro models will be receiving a major redesign by early 2027, and he said that Apple might use "MacBook Ultra" branding for them. If so, the MacBook Ultra would likely be a...