Comparison

Luxometer vs Light Meter LM

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

Head to head
About

Luxometer

Measure ambient light intensity in Lumens and color temperature in Kelvin using your phone's built-in sensors. Point your device at a light source and see real-time readings, enhanced with augmented reality visualizations.

Highlights
  • Ambient light intensity measurement (Lumens)
  • Ambient color temperature measurement (Kelvin)
  • Real-time data readouts
  • Augmented reality visualizations
  • Uses device's built-in hardware
Features
Read full description

This app functions as a light detector right from the convenience of your phone! As the old saying goes, the best light detector is the one you have on you. Well now, you can have one on you for all your safety and light detection needs with the tap of a finger. App uses the built in hardware and light detection algorithms provided by the device to offer powerful ambient light intensity detection (in Lumens) as well as ambient color temperature(in Kelvin) measurements. Simply point device in direction of light source, toggle the Light Estimation switch, and see the real time read outs of the incoming data. As a nice visual, the app also integrates some of the latest advances in Augment Reality to render floating spheres that reflect the light qualities being detected by the app.

About

Light Meter LM

Transform your smartphone into a professional light meter. Measure illuminance and color temperature with scientifically validated accuracy, trusted by professionals. Requires a simple diffuser for precise readings.

Highlights
  • Measure illuminance (lux/foot-candle)
  • Measure color temperature (Kelvin)
  • Industry-leading accuracy
  • Pre-calibrated for your device
  • Low light sensitivity
  • Save peak reading
  • Custom calibration option
Read full description

Turn your smartphone into a professional-grade light meter. Measure illuminance (lux/foot-candle) and color temperature (CCT in Kelvin) with unmatched accuracy — trusted by photographers, engineers, and lighting professionals worldwide. Why waste money on a hardware meter when you’re already carrying one in your pocket? The LM-3000 offers the same quality and usability as a traditional hardware light meter. Developed by optics scientists at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, LM-3000 is the only light meter app scientifically validated for accuracy. It achieves professional-grade precision by leveraging your iPhone's front-facing camera sensor with advanced RAW image processing. Unlike relying on estimates like other apps, it adheres to the ISO/CIE 19476 standard, ensuring measurements you can trust for critical applications. MEASUREMENTS ⎷ Illuminance in lux or foot-candles ⎷ Correlated color temperature in kelvin FEATURES ⎷ Industry-leading accuracy, matching professional high-end lux meters ⎷ Pre-calibrated for your specific device ⎷ Excellent low light sensitivity to detect light pollution ⎷ No ads ⎷ No Bluetooth and location permission required ⎷ In-app manual ⎷ Save peak reading ⎷ HOLD function with acoustic signal ⎷ Custom calibration option to align readings to another meter DIFFUSER REQUIRED Like every real light meter, the LM-3000 requires a diffuser to measure accurately. A diffuser scatters incoming light evenly on the sensor and prevents hotspots. While it may sound complex, the solution is surprisingly easy. You have two options: 1) Easily build a diffuser yourself in less than a minute using standard printer paper. This is accurate enough for most use cases. 2) Get the dedicated Diffuser Accessory (free worldwide shipping) for best accuracy and convenience. More details on https://lightray.io/diffuser/ (!) Avoid apps that don’t require a diffuser! They are inaccurate because they ignore the basic physics of light measurement. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY The LM-3000 is free to download and comes with a free trial period. The trial period lasts for two non-consecutive days, giving you enough time to see if the app fits your needs. The status of your free trial will be shown as the "battery level" on the top right of the LM-3000's display and on the "Battery Status" screen. Once your light meter's "battery" is depleted, you may choose a Charging Option to keep using the app. You can pick what works best for you: → Single Charge — top-up for another 48 hours (perfect for occasional use), → Continuous Charging — a monthly subscription (great if you use it regularly), → Unlimited Battery — a one-time purchase for unlimited lifetime access LM-3000 is the result of over five years of dedicated research and development, ensuring you get a tool that is precise and reliable. Every in-app purchase supports future development and helps keep the app ad-free for everyone. As a member of 1% for the Planet, we donate at least one percent of all revenue to environmental non-profits — this is our way of giving back. ACCURACY Accuracy is not an afterthought — Apps developed by Lightray Innovation are developed according to the ISO/CIE 19476 standard. Thanks to RAW image processing and a default calibration per device model they’re able to match the performance of high quality traditional hardware light meters. To ensure quality we rigorously test our apps regularly on upcoming devices. DOWNLOAD FOR FREE. TRUSTED BY MILLIONS. LM-3000 is the go-to light meter for photographers, professionals, engineers, and lighting enthusiasts who rely on accurate measurements — not estimates or guesswork. Download for free today and experience the difference! See the app in action: https://youtu.be/EJW7NfE2qCk Terms and Conditions: https://lightray.io/lightmeter/terms/

Screenshots

Luxometer3 screens
Light Meter LM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Light Meter LM at 4.5 against Luxometer's 4.0. Light Meter LM also leads on ratings volume (2.6K vs 8). Luxometer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (daily vs monthly). On price, ads and device support 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. Light Meter LM sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. Luxometer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Light Meter LM holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Light Meter LM has 2.6K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Luxometer's written reviews are positive against 40% of Light Meter LM's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Luxometer ships an update daily, Light Meter LM monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Luxometer versus Light Meter LM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLuxometerLight Meter LM
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (8 ratings)4.5 (2.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better40.4% of reviews
Number of ratings82.6K — better
Update frequencyDaily — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArias Software LLCLightray Innovation GmbH

Customer experience

Luxometer

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

Light Meter LM

All ratings2,595 ratings
Positive87.8%
Neutral3.7%
Negative8.4%
Written reviews208 reviews
Positive40.4%
Neutral6.3%
Negative53.4%

Bugs and requests

Luxometer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Light Meter LM

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Diffuser not recognized even when used
  • App locks up/crashes
  • Constant diffuser pop-up interruptions

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to use rear camera
  • More flexible diffuser options
  • Improved accuracy without diffuser

In-app purchases

None

Luxometer

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Light Meter LM

Subscriptions1
  • Continuous Charging$3.491 Month
One-time2
  • Single Charge$0.99
  • Unlimited Battery$19.99

Questions

Is Luxometer free?
Luxometer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Light Meter LM free?
Light Meter LM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Luxometer or Light Meter LM?
Light Meter LM is rated higher. Luxometer averages 4.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Light Meter LM averages 4.5 from 2.6K ratings.
Do Luxometer or Light Meter LM have ads?
Neither Luxometer nor Light Meter LM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Luxometer or Light Meter LM?
Luxometer ships an update daily, and Light Meter LM monthly. Most recently, Luxometer was updated on October 3, 2026 and Light Meter LM on October 23, 2026.

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