Comparison

Lightme vs Spooli

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

Spooli

This app helps you declutter your camera roll by resurfacing photos from past years on the current date. Swipe to keep or delete, and enjoy features like live photo playback and smart duplicate detection. It operates entirely on-device for enhanced privacy.

Highlights
  • Memory resurfacing by date
  • Swipe to keep or delete
  • Live Photo playback
  • Smart similar-photo detection
  • On-device processing
  • Calendar progress view
Read full description

Spooli turns cleaning out your camera roll into something you'll actually want to do. Instead of scrolling through your entire photo library, Spooli shows you "memories" - photos matching today's date from years past. Swipe right to keep a photo, left to mark it for deletion. Keeping is always unlimited. • Daily streaks to keep you coming back • A full-year calendar showing your progress at a glance • Live Photo playback - hold to relive the motion • Smart similar-photo detection to quickly clear out near-duplicates • Share your favorite memories straight to Messages or Mail Nothing ever leaves your phone. Spooli works entirely on-device - no accounts, no uploads, no analytics. Spooli Pro unlocks unlimited daily deletions, date browsing beyond today, and more. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Lightme4 screens
Spooli4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Lightme at 936 against Spooli's 2. Lightme also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 Spooli sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spooli holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 936 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, Spooli every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Lightme versus Spooli: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightmeSpooli
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (936 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings936 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiuseppe BertoliniAriella Baum

Customer experience

Lightme

All ratings925 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews214 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.5%

Spooli

All ratings1 ratings
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)

Spooli

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

Spooli

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Annual$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Lightme free?
Lightme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spooli free?
Spooli is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lightme or Spooli?
Spooli is rated higher. Lightme averages 4.8 out of 5 from 936 ratings, while Spooli averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Lightme or Spooli have ads?
Neither Lightme nor Spooli shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightme or Spooli?
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, and Spooli every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 20, 2026 and Spooli on October 21, 2026.

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