1. Home
  2. 🔧 Utilities
  3. Photone
Photone - Grow Light Meter

Photone - Grow Light Meter

Perfectly light your plants!

4.9K ratings
240 reviews
🔧 Utilities
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

  • Released
  • Updated

Features

Developer

Lightray Innovation GmbH
✨Promote your app ✨
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #1 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #2 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #3 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #4 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #5 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #6 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #7 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #8 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #9 for iPhone
Photone - Grow Light Meter screenshot #10 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
watch
🧾$5.49 - $97.00
In-App Purchase↘︎
📌Ready
Reviews summary↘︎
⭐240
Reviews↘︎
📝40+ tags
Tags↘︎
🔄6+ apps
Alternatives↘︎
❓5 answered
FAQ↘︎
📦~ in 0 month
Updates frequency↘︎
🖼️Get Icon
Icons↘︎

About

This app acts as a professional-grade light meter for plants, measuring PAR, PPFD, DLI, and more using your device's camera. It helps optimize plant lighting by providing accurate readings and in-app guides, with optional advanced features available through purchase.

✓Measure PAR, PPFD, DLI, lux, foot-candles, and kelvin
✓Research-grade accuracy using device camera
✓Pre-calibrated for specific devices
✓In-app guides and tools
✓Light source selection for various grow lights
✓Hands-free 'read aloud' function
Show original description

What users say

Summarized from real user reviews of Photone. Based on 4.9K reviews and a 4.6/5 average, it highlights the 5 positives and 5 negatives reviewers mention most about this Utilities app.

Positive things

  • 🚀Accurate readings
  • 💡Helpful for growing plants
  • 👍Easy to use
  • 🚀Saves money compared to expensive meters
  • 👍Useful for adjusting lighting

Negative things

  • 🐛Inconsistent readings
  • 💰Expensive in-app purchases
  • 🔒Requires additional equipment (diffuser) to work properly
  • 🐛Readings not accurate without calibration
  • 🔒Limited functionality in free version
See all reviews

What's New in Photone

4.5.3

September 30, 2026

Added support for the latest iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and added a measurement setup check to the Logging feature to ensure values are comparable.

3

Subscriptions & In-App Purchases

Photone Pro (Monthly)

Photone Pro (Monthly)

$5.491 Month
How to cancel Photone subscription ⁉️

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Photone fiable ?

Trop de différences entre les mesures. Je ne pense pas que cette appli soit vraiment fiable.
Luis David FelizLuis David Feliz

Response from developer

Bonjour Luis David, Merci pour votre retour — des écarts importants entre les mesures ont presque toujours une cause précise, et nous aimerions la trouver avec vous. Les trois plus fréquentes : une source lumineuse mal sélectionnée dans l'app (elle corrige l'écart spectral de votre lampe), un diffuseur mal posé ou un type de diffuseur mal réglé, l'erreur peut alors atteindre +100 % / −50 %, et les lampes qui scintillent (gradation PWM), qui font osciller l'affichage. Test rapide pour ce dernier cas : mesurez en plein soleil. Si la valeur y est stable, c'est la lampe et non le téléphone. Si vous comparez avec un autre appareil : le PPFD (µmol/m²/s) et l'éclairement (lux) sont deux grandeurs différentes, qui ne se comparent pas directement. Le détail des erreurs les plus courantes se trouve ici : photone.io/guides/common-mistakes/ Et si vous nous écrivez à support@growlightmeter.com avec votre configuration, nous regardons cela volontiers avec vous 🌱 Dennis et l'équipe Photone

Updated review: I stand corrected.

After misreading the in-app purchase screen I made the mistake of writing this app off. After some very helpful clarification and corrective feedback from the developers I gave the app another try complete with newly acquired one time purchase (full spectrum) and found it to be easy to use and accurate. With some testing I was able to get some good readings and make some adjustments to my indoor garden, turns out much to my surprise my lights were actually to powerful.. not what I expected. For 6$ it saves me some cash when compared to a light meter found at the local hardware store. Much thanks to the professional, timely and informative response i received from my original review, along with my apologies for being so preemptively critical.
Show more
RentemplarRentemplar

Does not work properly on iPhone 17 Pro! Take your money elsewhere.

Paid for the extras, lux is completely different vs external meter, used exactly the paper diffuser as instructed, tried different paper types even! Tried resetting phone, redownloading etc to no success. Wont even let me recalibrate as ‘too far outside parameter’. To make matters worse the refund request was denied! For a product that doesn’t work!
Do yourself a favour and just buy a real meter or try a different app. VERY DISCOURAGING!!!
Show more
LRichards95LRichards95

Angela Rocks!

I haven’t tried the diffuser yet, I’m still in process of “growing my orchid set up”. However the customer service to include the links needed for learning and buying what I need were all given by Angela through email correspondence.
It’s been so long since I had actual customer service -I forgot how nice it feels!
I wish the same team would be involved in all aspects of my life!!!
You all are awesome!
Show more
Justme6970Justme6970

No support

I paid for the diffuser. I paid for the led with red light reader. It worked for a while. Now I get no reading at all. Removed and reloaded with no improvement. Go to support page. No support at all. Zero. Dead end on app. Wants you to buy “pro” for support. I just want readings. All my settings are good. Still won’t give any readings at all
Show more
MbchicagoMbchicago
See 235 more reviews

Developer apps

Light Meter LM-3000
Light Meter LM-3000

Simple & accurate measurement!

🔧 Utilities

(2.6K)

Free
In-App Purchases
See developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Readings don't change with proximity

Bug

Diffuser requirement not made clear upfront

Bug

Purchased features not working as expected

Bug
✨

Requested Features

4 requests

Add calibration feature

Feature

Expand supported light types in free version

Feature

Improve accuracy across different devices

Feature

Provide a one-time purchase option instead of subscription

Feature

FAQ

What does Photone do?

Photone is a mobile application that functions as a highly accurate light meter for plants. It uses your device's camera to measure various light metrics such as PAR, PPFD, DLI, lux, foot-candles, and color temperature (kelvin). This data helps users understand and optimize the lighting conditions for their plants.

What are the key features of Photone?

Key features include industry-leading accuracy comparable to professional PAR sensors, pre-calibration for your specific device, and excellent low light sensitivity. It also offers in-app guides, light source selection for different grow lights, and a hands-free 'read aloud' function. Some advanced features like Extended PAR and underwater measurement modes require an in-app purchase.

How much does Photone cost?

Photone is free to download and use with all basic features, and it contains no ads. To unlock its full potential and access advanced features, users can opt for a one-time lifetime unlock purchase or a Pro subscription. These upgrades support the app's development and environmental initiatives.

What devices is Photone compatible with?

The app description implies compatibility with smartphones and tablets that have a camera. While specific operating system versions are not mentioned, it is generally designed to work on modern mobile devices. The accuracy of measurements can be influenced by the quality of the device's camera sensor.

What are common use cases for Photone?

Common use cases include optimizing grow light setups for indoor plants, ensuring plants receive the correct amount of light for photosynthesis, diagnosing lighting issues, and fine-tuning lighting for specific plant species. It's also useful for hobbyists and professional growers alike to achieve better plant growth and health.