# LensKit vs Shadow Planner

The clearest difference is price: LensKit at Free against Shadow Planner's $29.99. LensKit also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (70% vs 40%). Shadow Planner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

LensKit is free to download; Shadow Planner costs $29.99 up front. LensKit sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Shadow Planner asks for nothing beyond the download.

LensKit holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LensKit has 56 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of LensKit's written reviews are positive against 40% of Shadow Planner's.

LensKit ships an update every 2 months, Shadow Planner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LensKit | Shadow Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $29.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (56 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lenskit-lens-tools/id1523521746/reviews)** | [4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-planner/id6793171158/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **56** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **70.0% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Size | 165 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zak Ray](https://appshunter.io/developer/890528996) | [Christopher Fenner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896490601) |

## What reviewers say

### LensKit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lenskit-lens-tools/id1523521746)

This app provides professional tools for filmmakers and cinematographers, offering extensive lens specifications, camera coverage simulations, and advanced depth of field calculations. It helps plan shoots, make on-set decisions, and ensure compatibility with various cameras and lenses, including Netflix-approved formats.

**Highlights:** Extensive lens database (2000+ lenses), Camera sensor coverage simulation, Lens matching for various configurations, Depth of field calculator, Shot preview and framing simulation, Netflix 4K mandate compliance tool

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $99.99 | one-time |


### Shadow Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-planner/id6793171158)

Visualize sun and shadow placement on real-world maps before filming. Scout locations by dropping virtual objects, simulating light movement throughout the day, and measuring distances for precise rigging. Export scenes for planning and collaboration.

**Highlights:** Real sun and shadow simulation on maps, 3D terrain and buildings for accurate shadows, Place and manipulate virtual frames and objects, Simulate light movement from sunrise to sunset, Measure distances and gear ranges, Export scenes and share links

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LensKit free?

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

### Is Shadow Planner free?

Shadow Planner costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, LensKit or Shadow Planner?

LensKit is rated higher. LensKit averages 4.9 out of 5 from 56 ratings, while Shadow Planner averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do LensKit or Shadow Planner have ads?

Neither LensKit nor Shadow Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LensKit or Shadow Planner?

LensKit ships an update every 2 months, and Shadow Planner every 5 days. Most recently, LensKit was updated on October 24, 2026 and Shadow Planner on October 31, 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.*