Comparison

Simple HDR vs HDRI Prep

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

Head to head
About

Simple HDR

Capture bracketed 360° images with this app, designed for Ricoh Theta cameras. Choose between Auto and Pro settings for quick HDR landscape creation or light and reflection map generation.

Highlights
  • Capture bracketed 360° images
  • Create 360° landscapes
  • Generate light maps
  • Generate reflection maps
  • Auto capture setting (3 shots, 5 stops)
  • Pro capture setting (7 shots, 12 stops)
Features
Read full description

NOTE: A Ricoh Theta camera is required to use Simple HDR. We support the Ricoh Theta m15 and Ricoh Theta S models. Simple HDR is the easy way to quickly capture a full set of bracketed 360° images. You can use these images to create beautiful 360° landscapes, or to capture light maps or reflection maps for use in visual effects or video games. Unlike other HDR apps, we remove the complexity from this process and give you just two great options to choose from. We did our research, took hundreds of test images, and found the options that let you get the most out of the Ricoh Theta’s capabilities. Choose our Auto setting to quickly capture three 360° images, covering a range of 5 stops in just 15 seconds. This should be enough light data to capture most indoor or mixed lighting scenes. Or you can choose our Pro setting to take up to 7 shots, covering a range of 12 stops. This setting is ideal for outdoor scenes in bright daylight. When you’re done shooting, you can use Photoshop or your favorite HDR tool to create beautiful landscapes, lighting maps, or reflection maps. Make 360° HDR images quickly and easily with Simple HDR.

About

HDRI Prep

This utility helps visual effects professionals create HDRI bracketing sets for RICOH THETA 360 cameras. It allows for quick definition, organization, and reuse of bracket settings, streamlining on-set workflows for HDR photography.

Highlights
  • Define custom bracket sets (3-19 photos, 1-3 stops apart)
  • Set Aperture, ISO, and Color Temperature for all photos at once
  • Define Center Shutter Speed to extend exposures
  • Name, organize, and reorder brackets by show
  • Duplicate and move bracket sets between shows
  • View photos read directly from the camera
  • Quickly adjust camera speaker volume and auto-sleep time
Features
Read full description

Build a library of HDRI exposure brackets for your RICOH THETA V, Z1 or X, and fire them off on set in seconds. The THETA can shoot multi-exposure brackets, but setting them up in the official app is slow, and you can't save them to reuse later. HDRI Prep fixes that. Set up a bracket once, name it, file it under your show, and call it up whenever the lighting calls for it. BUILD BRACKETS THE WAY YOU THINK • Choose 3 to 19 photos, 1 to 3 stops apart. No need to set each exposure by hand. • Pick a center shutter speed, and the bracket spreads evenly above and below it. • Set aperture, ISO and color temperature for the whole bracket at once. Choices are limited to what your camera can actually do. ORGANIZED FOR PRODUCTION • Name brackets, group them by show, drag to reorder, and copy or move them between shows. • Each bracket is tinted by its color temperature, so tungsten and daylight setups stand out at a glance. ON SET • Live View, flat or as a 360° view you can drag around, to check the frame before you shoot. • A shot counter and timer while the bracket runs, and Cancel if you need to stop. • View the photos from that bracket the moment it finishes. • Browse the camera's photos, inspect them full screen or in 360°, share them to Photos, Files or AirDrop, or delete them from the camera. • Find nearby THETAs and join their Wi-Fi from the app. Cameras you've used are remembered. • Adjust the camera's shutter volume and sleep delay. TRY IT WITHOUT A CAMERA Demo Mode loads sample 360° brackets so you can explore every feature before you plug in a THETA. Works on iPhone, iPad and iPhone Duo, and includes a built-in Manual. GOOD TO KNOW • HDRI Prep connects over the camera's own Wi-Fi (the camera's access-point mode). • Shutter volume and sleep delay are saved to the camera itself, so they stay set even when HDRI Prep isn't running. • HDRI Prep focuses on bracketing. It isn't a replacement for the official THETA app, which works well alongside it. Built by a VFX artist for VFX artists. If "HDRI" and "THETA" mean something to you, this was made for you. HDRI Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by RICOH. RICOH THETA is a trademark of Ricoh Company, Ltd. Site and Privacy Policy: https://squirrelfx.llc/hdri-prep.html

Screenshots

Simple HDR4 screens
HDRI Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HDRI Prep at 100% against Simple HDR's 56%. Simple HDR's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Simple HDR costs $9.99 and HDRI Prep $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple HDR ships an update every 2 months, HDRI Prep every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Simple HDR versus HDRI Prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple HDRHDRI Prep
Price$9.99$9.99
Rating2.7 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBuilt LightSquirrel FX LLC

Customer experience

Simple HDR

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%

HDRI Prep

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Simple HDR

No in-app purchases

None

HDRI Prep

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simple HDR free?
Simple HDR costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is HDRI Prep free?
HDRI Prep costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Simple HDR or HDRI Prep have ads?
Neither Simple HDR nor HDRI Prep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple HDR or HDRI Prep?
Simple HDR ships an update every 2 months, and HDRI Prep every 9 months. Most recently, Simple HDR was updated on October 24, 2026 and HDRI Prep on October 24, 2026.

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