Comparison

Lightme vs FrameAtlas

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

Head to head
About

Lightme

This app provides a powerful yet simple light metering tool for photographers. It offers advanced features like spot metering, zone system implementation, and reciprocity failure compensation, alongside a clean interface for easy one-handed use. It supports a wide range of films and camera setups, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users.

Highlights
  • Multiple aperture/shutterspeed combinations
  • Spot metering with variable zoom
  • Automatic reciprocity failure compensation
  • Pinhole mode with timer
  • Incident light metering with calibration
  • Black and white preview
  • Film stock selection
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

FrameAtlas

This app logs crucial data like GPS, time, lens, and ISO for each photo taken with a film camera. It helps you add metadata to your scanned images, making digital archiving easier and more informative. Log directly from your wrist using an Apple Watch.

Highlights
  • GPS and timestamp logging
  • Lens, ISO, and exposure tracking
  • Per-frame notes
  • Shot Map visualization
  • Film Bag archive
  • Barcode scanner
  • Gear Memory
  • Apple Watch logging
Features
Read full description

Analog soul. Digital precision. FrameAtlas is the missing link between your film camera and your digital archive. Film has no metadata. When your scans come back, every frame is a mystery, where it was shot, when it was taken, what worked. FrameAtlas logs GPS, time, lens, ISO, and more at the exact moment you press the shutter so you finally know. WHY FRAMEATLAS Film photography is about being present. FrameAtlas captures the data in the background so you don’t have to. APPLE WATCH: LOG FROM THE WRIST Leave your phone in your bag. Log frames instantly from your wrist with independent GPS capture. Everything syncs back to your iPhone automatically. THE WORKFLOW: SCAN → EXIF Shoot — log frames on iPhone or Watch Scan — get your rolls developed Export — generate a CSV from FrameAtlas Tag — write metadata into your scans using ExifTool Open in Lightroom or Adobe Bridge — location and time appear automatically. KEY FEATURES • GPS + timestamp logging for every frame • Lens, ISO, and exposure tracking (with per-shot overrides) • Per-frame notes • Shot Map — visualize an entire roll geographically • Film Bag — archive and revisit past rolls • Barcode scanner for quick roll setup • Gear Memory for cameras, film stocks, and lenses • Apple Watch sync for fast field logging FREE TIER • One active roll • Full GPS logging • Apple Watch support • Barcode scanner + notes PRO — $2.99 ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Unlimited rolls • CSV export for metadata embedding • Shot Map • Film Bag archive No subscriptions. No accounts. Yours forever. Built by a film photographer who got tired of guessing.

Screenshots

Lightme4 screens
FrameAtlas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Lightme at 944 against FrameAtlas's 2. Lightme also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). FrameAtlas's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 91%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 4 one-off in-app purchases and FrameAtlas sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FrameAtlas holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 944 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Lightme's written reviews are positive against 100% of FrameAtlas's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, FrameAtlas every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Lightme versus FrameAtlas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightmeFrameAtlas
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (944 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings944 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiuseppe BertoliniEric Edwards

Customer experience

Lightme

All ratings944 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews215 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.4%

FrameAtlas

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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)

FrameAtlas

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Lightme

One-time4
  • Guanciale$9.99
  • Parmigiano$16.99
  • Pizza for two$29.99
Show 1 more
  • Do this full-time$59.99
1 purchases

FrameAtlas

One-time1
  • FrameAtlas Pro$2.99

Questions

Is Lightme free?
Lightme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FrameAtlas free?
FrameAtlas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lightme or FrameAtlas?
FrameAtlas is rated higher. Lightme averages 4.8 out of 5 from 944 ratings, while FrameAtlas averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Lightme or FrameAtlas have ads?
Neither Lightme nor FrameAtlas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightme or FrameAtlas?
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, and FrameAtlas every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 30, 2026 and FrameAtlas on October 12, 2026.

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