# 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 update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). MetaLog's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Lightme is free to download; MetaLog costs $0.99 up front. Lightme sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. 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 101 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 74% of Lightme's.

MetaLog ships an update every 3 weeks, Lightme every 9 days. 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 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightme-logbook/id1544518308/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **101** |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | **73.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 2 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| 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-logbook/id1544518308)

This app helps analog photographers meticulously track their film rolls, shots, and development processes. It allows for detailed logging of gear and consumables, with features for data visualization and export. Users can also manage film holders and add post-development notes with photos of final results.

**Highlights:** Log film rolls, shots, and development, Track gear and consumables, Data visualization with graphs/histograms, Data export in JSON/CSV formats, Manage large format film holders, Post-development notes with photos

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Cappuccino | $2.99 | per month |
| Focaccia Barese | $12.99 | per year |
| Spaghetti Carbonara | $29.99 | per year |
| Homemade Pizza party | $49.99 | per year |
| A smile :) | Free | one-time |
| Box of Prosecco | $59.99 | one-time |
| Fuel for my '90s camper | $119.99 | one-time |
| Terme for two | $239.99 | one-time |


## 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 101 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 9 days. 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.*