Comparison

Candle vs Reading Light

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

Head to head
About

Candle

Simulate a realistic flickering candle flame on your device. This app uses a unique algorithm to create dynamic lighting effects and shadows, offering a relaxing ambiance. Customize the flame color to suit your mood.

Highlights
  • Realistic flickering flame simulation
  • Dynamic lighting and shadow effects
  • Customizable flame color
  • Creates relaxing ambiance
  • Simulates real candle behavior
Features
Read full description

Create a safe and relaxing ambiance from your phone with a click – no matches needed. You might have noticed that other candle apps just show an image or animation of a candle, but the effect they give doesn't come at all close to a real candle. This app is different because it uses a carefully calibrated algorithm to simulate the lighting effects of a real candle. If you point your phone at a wall or some other surface you'll be able to see shadows move and the light flicker gently and naturally. You can also change the color for a variety of moods. Note that smaller iOS devices in particular don't give off as much light as a real candle, so this app won't light your room but the effect does come close. We hope you like it!

About

Reading Light

Transform your device into a calming reading light or a mood lamp. Offers adjustable screen light for late-night reading and soothing visual effects to help you unwind.

Highlights
  • Adjustable warm/neutral white light
  • Solid color selection
  • Gradient color blends
  • Realistic candle flicker effect
  • Ambient visual effects
  • Full-screen glow
  • Adjustable brightness
Features
Read full description

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a calm reading light and beautiful mood lamp. Reading Light – Nightlight gives you clean, adjustable screen light for bedtime reading, plus soothing visuals to unwind - no sounds, just light. Your go-to reading light Set warm or neutral whites for eye-friendly, late-night reading without disturbing others. Beyond basic lighting Solid Colors: Pick any hue to match your mood. Gradient Glow: Smooth, relaxing color blends. Candle Mode: A gentle, realistic flicker—screen only. Lava-style & more: Mesmerizing ambient effects for chill vibes. Why you’ll love it Simple controls, full-screen glow, adjustable brightness, and a clean interface focused on pure light. Whether you’re reading in bed, creating a cozy corner, or winding down, light up your night with Reading Light – Nightlight. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy Policy: https://img2pdf.org/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Candle2 screens
Reading Light4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Candle at 59% against Reading Light's 0%. Candle also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 18.0). Reading Light's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 2.8). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Both are free to download. Candle sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Reading Light sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reading Light holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of Candle's written reviews are positive against 0% of Reading Light's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Candle ships an update monthly, Reading Light every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Candle versus Reading Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCandleReading Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (14 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.8% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better7
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB14 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperCloud Garden LtdArtiom Yakoventsev

Customer experience

Candle

All ratings14 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive58.8%
Neutral11.8%
Negative29.4%

Reading Light

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Candle

One-time1
  • Ads Free$1.99
2 purchases

Reading Light

Subscriptions1
  • Weekly Premium3 Days trial$3.997 Days
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$19.99

Questions

Is Candle free?
Candle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reading Light free?
Reading Light is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Candle or Reading Light?
Reading Light is rated higher. Candle averages 2.8 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Reading Light averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Candle or Reading Light have ads?
Neither Candle nor Reading Light shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Candle or Reading Light?
Candle ships an update monthly, and Reading Light every 2 months. Most recently, Candle was updated on November 6, 2026 and Reading Light on October 31, 2026.

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