# Lightme vs Capture One

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightme at 91% against Capture One's 18%. Lightme also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.5) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Capture One sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lightme holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 925 and 329 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Lightme's written reviews are positive against 18% of Capture One's.

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, Capture One fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightme | Capture One |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (925 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightme-lightmeter/id1509033790/reviews)** | [3.5 (329 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/capture-one/id1514081672/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **925** | 329 |
| Positive reviews | **90.7% of reviews** | 18.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 1.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Giuseppe Bertolini](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509033789) | [Capture One A/S](https://appshunter.io/developer/404906438) |

## What reviewers say

### 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)


### Capture One

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/capture-one/id1514081672)

Edit and organize RAW photos on your mobile device, tethering directly to your camera. Collaborate with clients in real-time, apply edits instantly, and maintain incredible color quality. Seamlessly transfer your work to desktop for final touches.

**Highlights:** Retouch Faces, Sessions Support, External Storage backup, Tether camera to mobile, Real-time image review, Instant sharing and collaboration, Apply edits as you shoot, RAW conversion and color editing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Capture One mobile | $10.99 | per month |
| All in One | $39.99 | per month |
| Capture One mobile | $109.00 | per year |
| All in One | $294.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent tethering capability
- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 🚀 Fast image rendering
- 👍 Great for culling and rating photos on the go
- 👍 Seamless integration with desktop Capture One

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Requires separate subscription even for desktop users
- 👎 Severely limited editing features compared to desktop version
- 👎 Slow cloud sync and lack of external storage support
- 👎 Unintuitive file management and export workflow

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in due to keyboard not appearing
- Inconsistent behavior when importing and exporting photos
- Crashes when attempting to use certain editing features
- Issues with wireless tethering and connection stability

**Requested features**

- Add layers, masks, curves, and other advanced editing tools
- Enable direct import from camera/SD card, not just cloud sync
- Allow opening and editing desktop Capture One sessions/catalogs
- Improve tethering functionality with live view and camera control
- Provide option to purchase app outright instead of subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightme free?

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

### Is Capture One free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lightme or Capture One?

Lightme is rated higher. Lightme averages 4.8 out of 5 from 925 ratings, while Capture One averages 3.5 from 329 ratings.

### Do Lightme or Capture One have ads?

Neither Lightme nor Capture One shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightme or Capture One?

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, and Capture One fortnightly. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 17, 2026 and Capture One on October 17, 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.*