BeReal

Photo app that asks everyone to post one unfiltered front-and-back camera shot at a random time each day.

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 3
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About BeReal

BeReal sends everyone a notification at a random moment each day, and you have two minutes to take a photo. The app captures your front and back cameras at once, so friends see both what you are doing and your face, with no filters and no uploads from your camera roll. You only see friends' posts after sharing your own, and posting late is marked as such. Friends react with RealMojis, selfie-based reactions, and comment. The idea is a low-pressure, authentic alternative to curated feeds, and it was briefly one of the most downloaded apps in 2022 before usage settled down. BeReal is free and supported by ads, and since 2024 it has been owned by the French app publisher Voodoo. It runs on Android and iPhone. It works best with a group of close friends who all post; with few active friends, there is little to see.

Best for: Close friend groups who want a daily, unpolished glimpse of each other's lives.

What works

No filters or staged uploads
Low-pressure daily ritual with close friends
See friends' posts only after sharing your own

Why people leave

Little to see unless your friends are active
The novelty fades for many users
Now carries ads

Top BeReal alternatives

See all 3

1
Instagram
Close Friends Stories for sharing everyday moments with a smaller circle.
66.5
2
Pixelfed
Photo sharing without ads or algorithms, on the fediverse.
59.6
3
Snapchat
Quick, casual photos with friends that disappear after viewing.
52.2

Why people left BeReal

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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BeReal: common questions

Is BeReal free?

Yes, BeReal is free to use.

Is BeReal open source?

No, BeReal is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Pixelfed.

What platforms does BeReal run on?

BeReal is available for iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to BeReal?

The highest-ranked BeReal alternatives right now are Instagram, Pixelfed and Snapchat. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 3 BeReal alternatives

BeReal facts

3 of 3 verified

Daily prompt: Random two-minute window; Checked Oct 25, 2026bereal.com(opens source in a new tab); “random two-minute window.”
Camera format: Front and back at once; Checked Oct 25, 2026bereal.com(opens source in a new tab); “our signature front-back format captures the scene and the individual behind it at the same time.”
Filters: None; Checked Oct 25, 2026bereal.com(opens source in a new tab); “The Front-Back phenomenon The Front-Back phenomenon We reject filters, staging, and uploads”