Comparison

Lightme vs str33m

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

Head to head
About

Lightme

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
Read full description

Lightme - Lightmeter is a clean, simple to use yet very powerful lightmeter. It is optimised for an easy one-handed use, both for left-handed and right-handed users, with the main controls within your thumb's reach, without the fatiguing juggling of your precious smartphone. A core distinguishing feature of Lightme - Lightmeter is that - differently from most of the other apps - it can show multiple combinations of valid settings for aperture and shutterspeed at the same time by working like a - stretched out - old needle and wheel lightmeter. This allows the user to quickly pick the desired settings without having to scroll on a tiny wheel picker. The app is designed to be welcoming to people who are just starting out, with a simple one-button use. But it offers many useful and advanced features for the more experienced shooters/users: Continuous metering (by pressing and holding or double tapping the measure button) Spot metering with a variable zoom (for more precision) which also supports average metering, and a very intuitive implementation of the zone system Automatic reciprocity failure compensation (for 25+ films, if you see exposure times in red, they are being compensated) A dedicated pinhole mode with precise exposure times for user defined apertures (multiple apertures at a time), with the possibility of setting a timer (through a shortcut) Incident light metering with calibration when using the front facing camera And more ... It also includes some other features that are enjoyable by any kind of user: Black and white preview The ability to use any of the cameras on your smartphone (swipe left/right on the preview) Multiple presets for your different camera/film/lens setups Framelines for previewing your shot, before setting up your tripod etc. A searchable list of useful tips to make better use of the application's potential A searchable list of more than 70 films to choose from with the possibility of selecting a few favourites Dark mode support and a useful level of customisation You can find even more info in the tips inside the app or you can have a look at full user manual by tapping on manual (in the settings) The app is free in all its many functionalities, but it offers In-App-Purchases in order to support the project. The only minor perk you can enable only via certain IAPs is the replacement of the Ad button with a label containing the name of your current preset, check under settings -> coffee for more info. Don't panic though, even if there's an Ad button it doesn't mean I'm going to show you ads. In fact unless you decide to tap on that button I'm never going to show you any. But if you have a few minutes to spare, watching a few of them sure helps keeping this project alive :) Try it, and, if you like it, share it with your friends and consider writing a (mini) review ;) Have a nice day, and good light!

About

str33m

A gamified social media platform where users post photos to a feed, build their "source," and compete on leaderboards. Customize your profile, engage with friends through direct messaging, and level up through in-app quests.

Highlights
  • Rating-based feed for content discovery
  • Friend-focused chronological feed
  • App-wide and friend leaderboards
  • Flexible photo aspect ratio support
  • 24-hour disappearing direct messages
  • In-app quests for leveling up
  • Customizable profile "aura card"
Read full description

gamified social media is here. post photos to the str33m. find new users and content served by user consensus and build your source. compete app wide or amongst friends with our leaderboard systems. customize your aura card. whisper your friends. have fun. level up. gain aura. grow. come play in the str33m. features: str33m feed: a rating based feed to explore new content where you give aura, restack, or pass photos source feed: a chronological feed of your friends leaderboards: compete based on your aura or level on an app wide basis or see which friend has the most aura posting: use any aspect ratio you want. our feeds support any aspect ratio and even provide a rotated full screen view on horizontals without compromising your grid whisper: direct messaging that resets after 24 hours. users must have established a friendship to whisper. quests: gain EXP and level up your stats based on your engagements in app. profile: customize your aura card and enjoy freedom from gridlock. show off your personality with custom colors for your aura card, badges, and even export and share your aura card as a new digital business card. your str33m of photos is shown here with no aspect restrictions, alongside your restacks, and best performing photos feed. no ads

Screenshots

Lightme4 screens
str33m4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: str33m at none against Lightme's 6. Lightme's advantage is ratings volume (918 vs 22) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. str33m asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Lightme against 4.7 for str33m. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 918 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 91% and 90% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, str33m every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Lightme versus str33m: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightmestr33m
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (918 ratings) — better4.7 (22 ratings)
Positive reviews90.5% of reviews — better90.0% of reviews
Number of ratings918 — better22
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB58 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperGiuseppe BertoliniDigital Str33m LLC

Customer experience

Lightme

All ratings918 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews211 reviews
Positive90.5%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.6%

str33m

All ratings18 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

Bugs and requests

Lightme

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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)

str33m

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Lightme

One-time6
  • Espresso ristretto$1.99
  • Pecorino Romano$4.99
  • Guanciale$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Parmigiano$16.99
  • Pizza for two$29.99
  • Do this full-time$59.99
None

str33m

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lightme free?
Lightme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is str33m free?
str33m is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lightme or str33m?
Lightme is rated higher. Lightme averages 4.8 out of 5 from 918 ratings, while str33m averages 4.7 from 22 ratings.
Do Lightme or str33m have ads?
Neither Lightme nor str33m shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightme or str33m?
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, and str33m every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 2, 2026 and str33m on September 23, 2026.

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