Comparison

Lightme vs Espresso Mirror

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

Espresso Mirror

Features
Read full description

Espresso Mirror is a hands-free camera, shot timer, and pull log for dialing in espresso. RECORD THE PULL Start the video before you touch the machine. Start the extraction timer exactly when the pump or lever engages. Separate recording and timer controls keep pre-infusion and the full workflow on camera without distorting shot time. WORK HANDS-FREE Say “Start recording,” “Start timer,” “Stop timer,” or “Stop recording.” Repeated commands are safely ignored. If “start” or “stop” could mean two things, the app asks you to choose. READ THE EXTRACTION Review time, dose, yield, ratio, pressure, roast, grinder setting, and notes. Shot history syncs through iCloud so you can compare pulls and dial in with evidence. EXPORT CLEANLY Save the finished video to Photos and share it in five restrained layouts designed around extraction data. Espresso Mirror has no account and no ads. A one-time Pro purchase unlocks clean exports and full shot history. COMPLETE DIAL-IN TOOLKIT • Tap the preview to focus. • Save and reuse beans, grinders, and espresso machines. • Record dose, yield, ratio, pressure, temperature, roast, grind setting, dates, and notes. • Rate pulls from one to five stars and filter history by bean name. • Preview five export styles, rotate video by 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°, and see percentage progress while large videos render.

Screenshots

Lightme4 screens
Espresso Mirror4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Espresso Mirror at every 3 days against Lightme's every 3 weeks. Lightme's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, 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 6 one-off in-app purchases and Espresso Mirror sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, Espresso Mirror every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Lightme versus Espresso Mirror: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightmeEspresso Mirror
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (942 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings942 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiuseppe BertoliniTakeOnePiece LLC

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)

Espresso Mirror

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
2 purchases

Espresso Mirror

One-time2
  • Espresso Mirror Pro$2.99
  • Espresso Mirror Pro$7.99

Questions

Is Lightme free?
Lightme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Espresso Mirror free?
Espresso Mirror is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lightme or Espresso Mirror have ads?
Neither Lightme nor Espresso Mirror shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightme or Espresso Mirror?
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, and Espresso Mirror every 3 days. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 27, 2026 and Espresso Mirror on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons