# BudLabs vs LUX

The clearest difference is rating: LUX at 5.0 against BudLabs's 3.2. LUX also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 36%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). BudLabs's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LUX sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. BudLabs asks for nothing beyond the download.

LUX holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BudLabs has 77 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of BudLabs's written reviews are positive against 60% of LUX's.

BudLabs ships an update every 2 months, LUX every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BudLabs | LUX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budlabs/id1174388506/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lux-illuminance-meter/id1631156210/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **77** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 36.5% of reviews | **60.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Advanced Nutrients](https://appshunter.io/developer/1223498164) | [koji torishima](https://appshunter.io/developer/1622793467) |

## What reviewers say

### BudLabs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budlabs/id1174388506)

This hydroponics grow guide helps growers of all levels organize their cultivation process. It provides tailored feeding schedules with precise nutrient proportions and allows users to manage multiple virtual crops, track progress, and access product information.

**Highlights:** Tailored feeding schedules, Nutrient calculator, Manage multiple virtual crops, Track crop growth phases, Task management and notes, Advanced Nutrients product info, Retailer locator

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for tracking grows
- 👍 Calculates nutrient needs
- 👍 Easy to use calculator
- 👍 Good for beginners
- 👍 Useful for experienced growers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App freezes often
- 🐛 App does not work
- 🐛 Useless for autos
- 🐛 Nutrient ratios are wrong

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes
- App freezes
- App does not work
- App not opening
- App under maintenance message

**Requested features**

- Ability to input pH and PPM
- Grower suggestions for adjustments
- All grow info in one place
- Edit or delete entries on to-do list
- Support for autoflower community


### LUX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lux-illuminance-meter/id1631156210)

Measure ambient light levels in lux or foot-candles instantly. Track minimum, average, and maximum readings, and analyze color temperature. Useful for photography, plant care, and general environmental assessment.

**Highlights:** Instant illuminance measurement, Color temperature (CCT) reading, Min/Avg/Max lux tracking, Foot-candle unit option, Measurement history, CSV/PDF export (Premium)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $11.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BudLabs free?

BudLabs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is LUX free?

LUX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BudLabs or LUX?

LUX is rated higher. BudLabs averages 3.2 out of 5 from 77 ratings, while LUX averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do BudLabs or LUX have ads?

LUX shows ads; BudLabs does not.

### Which is updated more often, BudLabs or LUX?

BudLabs ships an update every 2 months, and LUX every 2 weeks. Most recently, BudLabs was updated on November 2, 2026 and LUX on November 12, 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.*