# Photone vs PPFD METER

The clearest difference is ads: Photone at none against PPFD METER's shown. Photone also leads on ratings volume (4.9K vs 118) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photone sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month and PPFD METER sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Photone against 4.6 for PPFD METER. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photone has 4.9K ratings behind it against 118, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Photone's written reviews are positive against 53% of PPFD METER's.

Photone ships an update monthly, PPFD METER every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photone | PPFD METER |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (4.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photone-grow-light-meter/id1450079523/reviews) | [4.6 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ppfd-meter-grow-light-meter/id6479329051/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.9K** | 118 |
| Positive reviews | **53.8% of reviews** | 52.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 80 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lightray Innovation GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1031383431) | [Candas Pamukcu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1735587895) |

## What reviewers say

### Photone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photone-grow-light-meter/id1450079523)

This app acts as a professional-grade light meter for plants, measuring PAR, PPFD, DLI, and more using your device's camera. It helps optimize plant lighting by providing accurate readings and in-app guides, with optional advanced features available through purchase.

**Highlights:** Measure PAR, PPFD, DLI, lux, foot-candles, and kelvin, Research-grade accuracy using device camera, Pre-calibrated for specific devices, In-app guides and tools, Light source selection for various grow lights, Hands-free 'read aloud' function

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photone Pro (Monthly) | $5.49 | per month |
| Photone Pro (Yearly) | $29.49 | per year |
| MH lifetime unlock | $5.49 | one-time |
| HPS (Standard) lifetime unlock | $5.49 | one-time |
| HPS DE lifetime unlock | $5.49 | one-time |
| FL (Daylight) Lifetime Unlock | $5.49 | one-time |
| Sun Lifetime Unlock | $5.49 | one-time |
| LED Full Spec. lifetime unlock | $6.49 | one-time |
| LED (Red / Blue) Lifetime Unlock | $6.49 | one-time |
| LED (Blue / White) Lifetime Unlock | $6.49 | one-time |
| LED (Full Spectrum) Lifetime Unlock | $6.49 | one-time |
| LED (Full Spectrum + Red) Lifetime | $6.49 | one-time |
| Photone Pro Lifetime Unlock | $97.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate readings
- 💡 Helpful for growing plants
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Saves money compared to expensive meters
- 👍 Useful for adjusting lighting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent readings
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔒 Requires additional equipment (diffuser) to work properly
- 🐛 Readings not accurate without calibration
- 🔒 Limited functionality in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Readings don't change with proximity
- Diffuser requirement not made clear upfront
- Purchased features not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add calibration feature
- Expand supported light types in free version
- Improve accuracy across different devices
- Provide a one-time purchase option instead of subscription


### PPFD METER

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ppfd-meter-grow-light-meter/id6479329051)

This app measures light intensity for plants, converting LUX to PPFD and DLI. It offers advanced light mapping, uniformity analysis, and efficiency insights to optimize plant growth. Customize profiles for different environments and growth stages.

**Highlights:** LUX, PPFD, DLI, and PAR measurements, Light mapping and distribution analysis, Uniformity and PPF evaluation, Energy efficiency and consumption tracking, Customizable setting profiles, Bluetooth sensor integration

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Plus | $2.99 | per month |
| Remove Ads | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photone free?

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

### Is PPFD METER free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Photone or PPFD METER?

Photone and PPFD METER are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4.9K and 118 ratings respectively.

### Do Photone or PPFD METER have ads?

PPFD METER shows ads; Photone does not.

### Which is updated more often, Photone or PPFD METER?

Photone ships an update monthly, and PPFD METER every 3 weeks. Most recently, Photone was updated on September 22, 2026 and PPFD METER on September 22, 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.*