Update

This list has been updated to reflect notable apps in 2014.

Here are my picks for the best apps in 2014: 7 Essential Photo Apps, Apps for Photo Effects, Filters and Post Processing and Apps for Sketching, Painting and Applying Painterly Effects, in our library of free guides and app tips for iPhoneography.

You'll also find interesting new and noteworthy apps in the Tidbits series – a mix bag of inspiration.

MOBILE PHOTO EDITORS

Filterstorm

Filterstorm's unique touch interface makes it intuitive, easy and fun to use. The versatile and varied set of tools for editing photos includes powerful masking tools, that give you the ability to apply any of the filters by brush, color range, and gradient, as well as to the entire image. Selectively adjust your photo by painting on your adjustments. Filterstorm includes in-app video tutorials. Available for iPad and iPhone.

Photogene

Intuitive and easy to use to edit, enhance and share your photos on the go. Professional editing tools. Photogene is an excellent everyday photo editor.Available for iPad and iPhone.

PhotoForge

PhotoForge is a digital darkroom with an impressive range of tools; image manipulation, painting, retouching, effects, and color correction. PhotoForge is available for iPad and iPhone.

Adobe Photoshop Express

Adobe Photoshop Express is a free, basic mobile photo editor that lets you upload, view and share your photos. Available for iPhone, iPad and Android.

MOBILE PHOTO EFFECTS

Pano

Take beautiful, seamless 360° panoramic photos directly from your mobile device. Pano's handy semi-transparent guide helps you line up all your shots perfectly. For Android, iOS & Windows Phone 7.

QuadCamera

4-8 serial shoots are taken in sequence by the iPhone’s camera, then composed into a single shareable image with 6 selectable effects. QuadCamera is one of many toy apps by Takayuki Fukatsu that allows you to do fun and artistic things with the iPhone’s built-in camera.

TiltShift Generator

Create more dramatic-looking images, focused only on one spot. Processes your photos with blur, color, and brightness to apply radical depth-of-field effects. With TiltShift Generator you can make even flat cell phone images look like DSLR-quality shots with depth of field. Available for iPhone & iPad

ARTISTIC VINTAGE FILTER EFFECTS

CameraBag

Recreate the magic of film by emulating photography’s most beloved and iconic vintage cameras, film, and processing techniques. Effects can be stacked. CameraBag is easy to use with an intuitive, simple interface. For iPhone, iPad, Windows & Mac.

lo-mob

Retro lo-fi and photographic experiments on your iPhone. Select or snap a photo and lo-mob immediately generates a list of previews of all the different effects. Pick the one you want, tweak it if you like, and save or share your photo via e-mail as well as through a range of social media services. Available for iPhone and Windows Phone 7.

PictureShow

Choose between 37 analog presets or mix your own style with frames, light leaks, noise and vignetting. Features lens kit, random shuffle effects and social photo sharing. Find your own style and save it as a PictureShow recipe. For the iPhone.

Plastic Bullet

Randomly generates the look of many combinations of cameras, lenses and films turning your photos into gloriously unpredictable works of art. A true electronic lomography app that encourages you to explore the “happy accidents” of your photography. Share directly to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr. Plastic Bullet gives you instant, high quality results. Available for iOS devices and Mac OSX.

Film Lab

Recreate the look of analog film stocks with Film Lab's impressive set of film and film styles from brands like Ilford, Kodak, AGFA, Calotype, FORTE, GAF, Polachrome, Rollei and Fuji. Transform your iPhone into a film camera with Film Lab.

FX Photo Studio

Tons of effects that can be stacked on each other, combined, randomised and saved as new presets. FX Photos Studio includes basic photo editing like cropping, rotating, flipping, as well as social photo sharing. For iOS devices and Mac OS X.

Hipstamatic

Hipstamatic brings back the look, feel, unpredictable beauty, and fun of plastic toy cameras from the past. Swap between a variety of camera components, film, lenses, and flashes, for a variety of different looks and styles. Beautiful. For iPhone

Instagram

Instagram offers a selection of vintage inspired filters and borders but what really sets this app apart is its focus on social media and photo sharing. Easily share photos through Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare and Twitter. Get started in no time with this Guide to Instagram. Available for iPhone & Android

Journal

15 Best Photo Apps for iPad and iPhone