Comparison

phNotes Pro vs Frames

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

Head to head
About

phNotes Pro

Features
Read full description

*** If you like this app please take the time and leave a feedback, this will help me a lot in maintaining it and add additional features. Thank you! *** This simple but powerful app allows photographers who use manual lenses, technical/view cameras, adapted gears with digital or even analog film photography to take note of the most important parameters of each shot taken on the field. Additionally, with the Pro version all annotations can be easily exported through email or into your cloud storage. When back home/studio, the freely downloadable desktop companion application "PhotoAnnotator" can read the exported data and automatically write all annotations as EXIF/IPTC metadata into the corresponding image files (RAW, TIFF, JPEG, etc...). This is particularly useful in all cases where the shooting parameters are not automatically written by the camera into the image files. Your image and shooting annotations can then live together in one single file. FEATURES (PRO VERSION): - Supported annotations: image counter, shoot date, camera make and model, lens make and model, filter, shutter speed, aperture value, focus distance, shift and tilt movements, film, GPS location, additional notes. - GPS location automatically read from the iPhone's GPS system. - Ability to swipe-clone an existing image for fast editing in the field. - Ability to swipe-delete single photos. - Ability to manage a list of cameras. - Ability to manage a list of lenses. - Ability to manage a list of filters. - Ability to manage a list of films. - Ability to clear the whole session after having exported it. - Contextual help available. - Ability to save unlimited image entries (the LITE version is limited to 12 max). - Ability to export all data via the standard iOS sharing machanism. - The companion desktop app PhotoAnnotator can be freely downloaded at https://www.marcoristuccia.com/it/photoannotator - The companion desktop app PhotoAnnotator supports all the major RAW and image types (see the application description at the indicated web page for more details).

About

Frames

This app helps film photographers meticulously log every detail of their analog shots. It allows you to record frame settings, attach reference images, and organize your entire film library. The companion Mac app can embed this logged data directly into your scanned negatives as EXIF metadata.

Highlights
  • Log shot settings and EXIF data
  • Attach reference images to frames
  • Organize film rolls, cameras, and lenses
  • Interactive map of shot locations
  • Export records in multiple formats
  • Embed metadata into scanned negatives
  • Supports 35mm, medium, and large format film
Features
Read full description

Frames is a film photography logbook that connects every shot to its final scan. Record your frames as you shoot, then embed your shooting data into scanned images as EXIF once your negatives are developed. • Manage film rolls, cameras, lenses, and filters in one place • Log every frame: aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, metering, ISO, location, and more • Controls that adapt to your camera and lens setup • Autofill film stock, camera, lens, and ISO for faster logging • Attach reference images for visual context per frame • Organize with folders and search • View shoots on an interactive map and revisit locations • Sync across iPhone and iPad with iCloud • Export to Frames, PDF (print-ready), CSV, TXT, GPX, and XMP • Includes 200+ film stocks: Kodak, Fujifilm, Ilford, CineStill, Lomography, and more • Supports 35mm, 120 medium format, and large format cameras • Privacy-focused: no ads, no tracking, no account required Embed Your Metadata with the Frames Mac App After developing and scanning your negatives, the Frames Mac app writes your shooting data directly into image files as EXIF metadata. Compatible with JPEG, JXL, TIFF, and DNG files from any scanner. Every scan then carries the full context of how it was shot: camera, lens, film stock, shutter speed, aperture, flash, focus distance, exposure program, metering mode, location, and more. Adobe Lightroom, Apple Photos, and any EXIF-aware software read your film settings the same way they read a digital camera’s. No spreadsheets. No scattered notes. One consistent record attached to every image. Includes up to 5 film rolls for free. Upgrade for unlimited rolls, subfolders, data export, and metadata embedding with the Frames Mac app. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

phNotes Pro4 screens
Frames4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Frames at Free against phNotes Pro's $5.99. Frames also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). phNotes Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). On ads and device support 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

Frames is free to download; phNotes Pro costs $5.99 up front. Frames sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. phNotes Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

phNotes Pro ships an update every 6 weeks, Frames weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
phNotes Pro versus Frames: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterphNotes ProFrames
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—6 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarco RistucciaVincent Tantardini

In-app purchases

None

phNotes Pro

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Frames

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Plan$1.991 Month
  • Annual Plan$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$59.99

Questions

Is phNotes Pro free?
phNotes Pro costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Frames free?
Frames is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do phNotes Pro or Frames have ads?
Neither phNotes Pro nor Frames shows ads.
Which is updated more often, phNotes Pro or Frames?
phNotes Pro ships an update every 6 weeks, and Frames weekly. Most recently, phNotes Pro was updated on October 25, 2026 and Frames on October 12, 2026.

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