# SkyLab Photo Editor vs Lightleap by Lightricks

The clearest difference is price: Lightleap by Lightricks at Free against SkyLab Photo Editor's $4.99. Lightleap by Lightricks also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (99K vs 32). SkyLab Photo Editor's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 18). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Lightleap by Lightricks is free to download; SkyLab Photo Editor costs $4.99 up front. Lightleap by Lightricks sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. SkyLab Photo Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lightleap by Lightricks holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightleap by Lightricks has 99K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 48% of SkyLab Photo Editor's written reviews are positive against 40% of Lightleap by Lightricks's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SkyLab Photo Editor ships an update every 2 months, Lightleap by Lightricks monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SkyLab Photo Editor | Lightleap by Lightricks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.5 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skylab-photo-editor/id1084234960/reviews) | **[4.7 (99K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightleap-by-lightricks/id1254875992/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **99K** |
| Positive reviews | **47.6% of reviews** | 40.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 209 MB | 287 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Grote](https://appshunter.io/developer/338517204) | [Lightricks Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/606310584) |

## What reviewers say

### SkyLab Photo Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skylab-photo-editor/id1084234960)

Easily replace the sky in your photos with stunning options. Add clouds, trees, and birds to enhance your images. Save projects across devices with iCloud support.

**Highlights:** Sky replacement, Huge sky collection, Add clouds, trees, birds, iCloud support, Simple editing tools

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Beautiful and realistic sky options
- 👍 User-friendly interface and easy to use
- ⚡ Quick and efficient sky replacement
- 🎭 Great variety of effects and filters
- 💰 No subscription required, one-time purchase

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app instability
- 🔧 Masking tool not functioning properly
- 📐 Sky layers cover entire image instead of just background
- ❌ Poor performance with complex horizons and objects
- ⚠️ Crashes when saving or completing edits

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening photos
- App crashes when clicking mask tool
- App crashes when saving or pressing Done
- Masking tool does not apply changes
- Auto-mask feature fails to detect objects properly

**Requested features**

- Fix and improve masking tool functionality
- Add ability to use custom/personal sky images
- Implement sky rotation capability
- Add more blending modes (multiply, overlay, luminosity)
- Include feathering option for better edge blending


### Lightleap by Lightricks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightleap-by-lightricks/id1254875992)

Transform your photos with powerful editing tools. Easily enhance lighting, replace backgrounds, and remove unwanted elements to create professional-looking images without complex software. Achieve stunning results with pre-set filters and effects.

**Highlights:** AI-powered photo editing, Sky replacement, Object removal (Heal tool), Diverse filters and looks, Special effects, Adjustable intensity

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited access | $3.99 | per month |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $3.99 | per month |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $3.99 | per month |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $4.99 | per month |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $5.99 | per month |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $9.99 | per month |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $19.99 | per year |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $19.99 | per year |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $19.99 | per year |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $23.99 | per year |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $23.99 | per year |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $26.99 | per year |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $49.99 | per year |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $77.99 | per year |
| Quickshot unlimited access | $199.99 | one-time |
| Lightleap unlimited access | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Consistently good app
- 🎨 Great photo editing
- 👍 Worth to buy
- 🌟 Amazing app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔒 Locked behind paywall
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🤖 Misleading advertising
- 🔍 Limited free features

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to access photos after update
- Freezing and crashing during editing
- Distortion and artifacts when removing objects

**Requested features**

- Ability to save edited photos without subscription
- More free editing tools and features
- Improved object removal/healing tool
- Ability to add text to photos
- Preset saving and applying


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SkyLab Photo Editor free?

SkyLab Photo Editor costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lightleap by Lightricks free?

Lightleap by Lightricks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SkyLab Photo Editor or Lightleap by Lightricks?

Lightleap by Lightricks is rated higher. SkyLab Photo Editor averages 3.5 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Lightleap by Lightricks averages 4.7 from 99K ratings.

### Do SkyLab Photo Editor or Lightleap by Lightricks have ads?

Neither SkyLab Photo Editor nor Lightleap by Lightricks shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SkyLab Photo Editor or Lightleap by Lightricks?

SkyLab Photo Editor ships an update every 2 months, and Lightleap by Lightricks monthly. Most recently, SkyLab Photo Editor was updated on October 17, 2026 and Lightleap by Lightricks on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*