# Lightme vs ZoneCalc

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Lightme at 925 against ZoneCalc's 2. Lightme also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). ZoneCalc's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and ZoneCalc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ZoneCalc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 925 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightme | ZoneCalc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (925 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightme-lightmeter/id1509033790/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zonecalc-zone-system-meter/id6772102746/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **925** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 90.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 9 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Giuseppe Bertolini](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509033789) | [Juergen Suk](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772102748) |

## 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)


### ZoneCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zonecalc-zone-system-meter/id6772102746)

This app assists photographers in precisely calculating exposure and tonal placement using Ansel Adams' Zone System. It offers features for metering, reciprocity correction, and development adjustments, with options for multi-point measurements and data export.

**Highlights:** Zone System exposure calculation, Multi-point metering, Reciprocity correction, Development adjustment recommendations, Film-specific development times, Calculation history and export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZoneCalc Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightme free?

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

### Is ZoneCalc free?

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

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

ZoneCalc is rated higher. Lightme averages 4.8 out of 5 from 925 ratings, while ZoneCalc averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Lightme or ZoneCalc have ads?

Neither Lightme nor ZoneCalc shows ads.

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

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, and ZoneCalc every 3 weeks. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 15, 2026 and ZoneCalc on September 26, 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.*