# Lightphase — Golden hour, dusk & last light

> Predicts and displays timing for golden hour and twilight phases. (iPhone/iPad app by Onyx Mueller.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightphase/id6809988159 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Onyx Mueller](https://appshunter.io/developer/6809988161)
- Category: Photo & Video, Utilities
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 5 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-09-16
- Data updated: 2026-10-12
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightphase/id6809988159/reviews.md

## What is Lightphase?

Lightphase is a clock for natural light. It tells you which light you are standing in, the minute it changes, and how long you have left.

Shooting the overlook at golden hour? Lightphase gives you the minute it starts and the minute it ends.
Hiking back after sunset? It tells you when Civil Twilight runs out, the last light you can walk by without a headlamp.
Waiting for a dark sky? It shows when night begins, which is often more than an hour after sunset.

Every phase of light, named

Lightphase divides the day by the sun's angle into the phases photographers and hikers plan around, and names each one in plain words.

Daylight. The sun is high, the light is flat and the shadows are short and hard.
35° Window. Low enough for directional light, with fuller color and more contrast than golden hour. The long, workable stretch of morning and afternoon.
Golden Hour. Warm, low sun from the horizon to 6 degrees up. Long shadows and raking side light.
Civil Twilight. The sun has set and the sky is still bright. Enough light to walk by, or to shoot handheld.
Nautical Twilight. Deep blue sky over a faint horizon. Most of what people call blue hour happens here.
Astronomical Twilight. The last glow before full dark. The stars are out, and a long exposure still picks up the horizon.
Night. Full dark, with no usable light from the sun.

The answer comes first

The top of the screen holds the answer: the light you are in, when it began and ends, and how much of it is left. Below it sit the next golden hour and the next sunrise or sunset, with the time it gets dark or the first light before it.

See the whole day at once

Behind the answer, the screen takes the color of the sky at the sun's height where you are, with today's light drawn as a curve across it. Drag the sun along the curve and every reading follows your finger. Find out what the light will be doing at six before you decide where to be at six.

Glance without opening anything

The Home Screen widget shows the sky, the light you are in and how long it lasts. The medium size adds the next golden hour. On the Lock Screen, a widget shows the phase and when it changes.

On your wrist, too

The watch app comes with three complications. One names the light you are in and when it changes. One counts down to a light you choose, with a ring that empties as it runs. One draws today's arc with the sun where it stands right now.

Readable in direct sun

A light palette for bright sun and a dark one for dusk. Every phase is spelled out in words, so you never have to tell one color from another.

Times that match the almanac

Sunrise and sunset are timed to the sun's upper edge meeting the horizon, and the twilights use their standard angles. Almanacs use the same definitions, so the times agree with the ones you already trust, and the app shows where every number comes from.

Works where the signal does not

Lightphase works out the light on your iPhone from where you are and the time of day. It keeps working in airplane mode, in a canyon, and anywhere the bars run out. Your location stays on your iPhone, where only the latest position is kept for your widgets and complications.

One price, everything in it

One purchase covers the iPhone app, the watch app, every widget and every complication. There is no subscription and nothing to buy inside. The sun does not charge a monthly fee, so neither do we.

Every light Lightphase tracks

Sunrise, sunset, golden hour, blue hour, first light, last light, civil twilight, nautical twilight, astronomical twilight and night.

## Key features

- Predicts golden hour and twilight times
- Counts down to next light phase
- Displays six distinct light phases
- Visualizes the day's light curve
- Interactive scrubbing through the day
- Watch complications and widgets
- Offline functionality

## Is Lightphase safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess Lightphase.

## Is Lightphase legit?

Lightphase has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Lightphase is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.

## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightphase/id6809988159/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great looking

*2026-09-24*

Simple and straightforward. Does exactly what it needs to

### 5/5 — Know when the good light is coming

*2026-09-21*

Such a simple and useful app. I can quickly see what phase of light I’m in, what’s coming next, and exactly when it changes.

## Frequently asked questions about Lightphase

### What is Lightphase?

Lightphase is a paid app designed to predict and display the timing of various light phases, such as golden hour, civil twilight, and astronomical twilight. It helps users plan their activities around optimal lighting conditions.

### How accurate is Lightphase?

Lightphase calculates the sun's position based on your device's location and time, ensuring accurate predictions for sunrise, sunset, and twilight phases. The app's calculations are based on precise solar elevation angles.

### Does Lightphase work offline?

Yes, Lightphase works offline as it computes the sun's position directly on your device without needing a server connection. This makes it reliable in areas with no signal, such as canyons or remote trails.

### What devices does Lightphase support?

Lightphase is available for iPhone and Apple Watch. It also offers widgets for both the Lock Screen and Home Screen, providing quick access to light information.

### How much does Lightphase cost?

Lightphase is a paid app priced at $4.99. This one-time purchase includes the iPhone app, the watch app, all widgets, and complications, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases.

### Does Lightphase have ads?

No, Lightphase does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an ad-free experience to its users.

### What are the different light phases Lightphase shows?

Lightphase displays six key light phases: Astronomical Twilight, Nautical Twilight, Civil Twilight, Golden Hour, the 35-degree Window, and the flat light above it. It also indicates Blue Hour's position.

### How does Lightphase handle user privacy?

Lightphase prioritizes user privacy by not requiring an account or sending any data to servers. Your location is only used on your device for calculations and is never transmitted elsewhere.

## Version history (last 3 releases)

### 1.0.2 — 2026-10-10

The answer now comes first. The top of the screen shows which light you are in, when it ends and how much is left, with the next golden hour and the next sunrise or sunset below it. The light you are in stays at the top while you scroll through today, and scrubbing the sky shows clock times. The Home Screen widget shows the same answer, and the medium size adds the next golden hour.

### 1.0.1 — 2026-09-17

A clearer App Store listing and new screenshots. The app itself is unchanged.

### 1.0 — 2026-09-16

No release notes.

## Apps similar to Lightphase

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Dreamlens - AI Photo Studio](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dreamlens-ai-photo-studio/id6744563854) | 4.6 (87) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Sunrise & Sunset Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrise-and-sunset-tracker/id6767214291) | 2.2 (5) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sun-surveyor-sun-and-moon/id525176875) | 4.8 (280) | $9.99 | Photo & Video |
| [Profoto Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/profoto-control/id1387823564) | 4.7 (896) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Profoto Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/profoto-camera/id1518555877) | 3.3 (38) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Lumy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lumy/id908905093) | 4.8 (2,315) | $7.99 | Photo & Video |

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-12.*