Comparison

Darkroom Lab Timer vs GrayZone

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Darkroom Lab Timer

This advanced timer app is designed for photographic processes like C-41, E-6, and B&W. It offers customizable steps, separate agitation sequences, and helpful tools like a volume mixer and safelight simulation.

Highlights
  • Customizable steps
  • Separate agitation sequences
  • Process templates
  • Volume and dilution mixer
  • Safelight simulation
Features
Read full description

The Darkroom Lab Timer App is an advanced multi-phase timer designed for use with C-41, E-6, ECN-2, RA-4 and B&W photographic processes. Key Features: Up to 25 customizable steps Separate agitation sequences for each step Templates for easy configuration Volume and Dilution Mixer Safelight simulation modes

About

GrayZone

This app acts as a precise light meter for photographers, allowing you to measure light in specific areas of your scene. It helps achieve consistent exposure and accurate tonal representation, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

Highlights
  • Zone System Mode for tonal analysis
  • Real SPOT metering for selected areas
  • Direct exposure control with ISO, shutter speed, and aperture
  • Live preview with native sensor ratio
  • UI color inversion option
  • No ads or data collection
Read full description

GrayZone reads light where you decide — not where your camera guesses. Built by Max of max&douglas — professional photographer with 25 years in editorial and advertising photography. Zone System Mode Measure a reference area first (Zone V), then check where the other tones will fall and their relative EV difference, for precise and consistent exposure. Real SPOT Metering Reads light exclusively in the area you select. Ideal for portraits, complex lighting and critical situations. Calibrated to render the selected area as neutral gray. Direct Exposure Control Set ISO before metering, like a dedicated light meter. Instant precise combinations of shutter speed and aperture. Exposure lock with AE LOCK. Half-stop support for finer control. MANUAL mode with over/underexposure scale. Essential Interface Live preview in your sensor's native ratio. NEW UI color inversion Shows only what you need. Nothing else. Complete Privacy No ads. No photos saved. No data collected or transmitted. For manual shooters — on film or digital. It does not replace your camera. It works alongside it.

Screenshots

Darkroom Lab Timer4 screens
GrayZone4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GrayZone at weekly against Darkroom Lab Timer's every 11 months. GrayZone also leads on price ($2.99 vs $8.99). Darkroom Lab Timer's advantage is rating (3.0 vs 2.8) and chart position (#195 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Darkroom Lab Timer costs $8.99 and GrayZone $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Darkroom Lab Timer holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Darkroom Lab Timer's written reviews are positive against 63% of GrayZone's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Darkroom Lab Timer ships an update every 11 months, GrayZone weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Darkroom Lab Timer versus GrayZone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDarkroom Lab TimerGrayZone
Price$8.99$2.99 — better
Rating3.0 (4 ratings) — better2.8 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews — better62.5% of reviews
Number of ratings45 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#195 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFreestyle Photo & ImagingMassimiliano Schenetti

Customer experience

Darkroom Lab Timer

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative20.0%

GrayZone

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%

In-app purchases

None

Darkroom Lab Timer

No in-app purchases

None

GrayZone

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Darkroom Lab Timer free?
Darkroom Lab Timer costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GrayZone free?
GrayZone costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Darkroom Lab Timer or GrayZone?
Darkroom Lab Timer is rated higher. Darkroom Lab Timer averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while GrayZone averages 2.8 from 5 ratings.
Do Darkroom Lab Timer or GrayZone have ads?
Neither Darkroom Lab Timer nor GrayZone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Darkroom Lab Timer or GrayZone?
Darkroom Lab Timer ships an update every 11 months, and GrayZone weekly. Most recently, Darkroom Lab Timer was updated on October 7, 2026 and GrayZone on October 8, 2026.

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