# Lightme vs FilmMeter

The clearest difference is update cadence: FilmMeter at every 2 days against Lightme's every 3 weeks. FilmMeter also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Lightme's advantage is ratings volume (936 vs 63) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and FilmMeter sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Lightme against 4.8 for FilmMeter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 936 ratings behind it against 63, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Lightme's written reviews are positive against 96% of FilmMeter's.

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, FilmMeter every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightme | FilmMeter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (936 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightme-lightmeter/id1509033790/reviews)** | [4.8 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filmmeter/id6753060069/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **936** | 63 |
| Positive reviews | 90.7% of reviews | **96.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 9 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Giuseppe Bertolini](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509033789) | [宗 侯](https://appshunter.io/developer/1841159038) |

## 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)


### FilmMeter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filmmeter/id6753060069)

This app transforms your iPhone into a professional light meter for film photography. It offers real-time metering, LiDAR ranging for accurate focus, and comprehensive film roll management. Features include reciprocity calculation, ND filter compensation, and an exposure log to streamline your shooting workflow.

**Highlights:** Real-time light metering, LiDAR ranging and depth of field, Film roll and camera management, Reciprocity and ND filter compensation, Long exposure timer, Exposure logging

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy me a coffee | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy me lunch | $2.99 | one-time |
| 请我吃块蛋糕 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 赞助开发 | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightme free?

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

### Is FilmMeter free?

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

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

Lightme is rated higher. Lightme averages 4.8 out of 5 from 936 ratings, while FilmMeter averages 4.8 from 63 ratings.

### Do Lightme or FilmMeter have ads?

Neither Lightme nor FilmMeter shows ads.

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

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, and FilmMeter every 2 days. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 20, 2026 and FilmMeter on October 14, 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.*