# MetaLog vs Lightme

The clearest difference is price: Lightme at Free against MetaLog's $0.99. Lightme also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (912 vs 12). MetaLog's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Lightme is free to download; MetaLog costs $0.99 up front. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. MetaLog asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lightme holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 912 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of MetaLog's written reviews are positive against 91% of Lightme's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 1, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MetaLog | Lightme |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metalog/id1475309518/reviews) | **[4.8 (912 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightme-lightmeter/id1509033790/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **912** |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | **90.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 2 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christopher Curzio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475309517) | [Giuseppe Bertolini](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509033789) |

## What reviewers say

### MetaLog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metalog/id1475309518)

This app helps film photographers meticulously record and log photo settings, locations, and equipment details. It offers a simple interface for tracking film rolls, individual shots, and managing your camera gear for cataloging or post-processing.

**Highlights:** Log film roll details (load/unload dates, frames), Record photo settings (lens, aperture, shutter speed, location), Intelligent pre-fill and filtering for quick logging, Manage multiple film rolls and cameras, Pinpoint photo locations on a map, Export logged data as CSV, Create a gear inventory with camera/lens details

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lightme

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightme-lightmeter/id1509033790)

This powerful light meter app offers a clean, intuitive interface optimized for one-handed use. It displays multiple aperture and shutter speed combinations simultaneously, aiding quick setting selection. Suitable for beginners and experienced photographers alike, it includes advanced features like spot metering, reciprocity failure compensation, and pinhole mode.

**Highlights:** Multiple exposure settings display, One-handed operation, Spot metering with zoom, Reciprocity failure compensation, Pinhole mode, Incident light metering, Film database

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Espresso ristretto | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pecorino Romano | $4.99 | one-time |
| Guanciale | $9.99 | one-time |
| Parmigiano | $16.99 | one-time |
| Pizza for two | $29.99 | one-time |
| Do this full-time | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate metering
- 👍 Intuitive and clean interface
- 💡 Comprehensive features (spot metering, zone system, film stock selection, etc.)
- 🚀 Consistently accurate exposures
- 👍 Thoughtful design with user's needs in mind

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 👎 Confusing or cluttered interface for some users
- 👎 Tedious film selection process
- 🐛 Inaccurate metering in certain lighting conditions

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iOS 16
- Metering issues with certain camera/lens combinations

**Requested features**

- Add shutter angle adjustment for cinematography
- Implement ISO lock feature
- Add more film stock profiles
- Improve film selection process (e.g. search, categories)
- Provide more customization options (e.g. interface themes)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MetaLog free?

MetaLog costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lightme free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MetaLog or Lightme?

Lightme is rated higher. MetaLog averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Lightme averages 4.8 from 912 ratings.

### Do MetaLog or Lightme have ads?

Neither MetaLog nor Lightme shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MetaLog or Lightme?

MetaLog ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lightme every 3 weeks. Most recently, MetaLog was updated on August 1, 2026 and Lightme on September 23, 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.*