# The Darkroom Lab vs FieldNotes

The clearest difference is rating: FieldNotes at 5.0 against The Darkroom Lab's 3.7. FieldNotes also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). The Darkroom Lab's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (89 vs 3). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FieldNotes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. The Darkroom Lab asks for nothing beyond the download.

FieldNotes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Darkroom Lab has 89 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The Darkroom Lab ships an update every 3 weeks, FieldNotes weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Darkroom Lab | FieldNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (89 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-darkroom-lab/id1528784514/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fieldnotes-archive/id6760303560/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **89** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 44.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Darkroom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1528784516) | [Cameron Teal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883737422) |

## What reviewers say

### The Darkroom Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-darkroom-lab/id1528784514)

View your developed film photos as soon as they are scanned. This app connects you to a professional film developing service with decades of experience.

**Highlights:** View scanned film photos, Professional film developing, Experienced lab professionals, Access photos as soon as scanned

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### FieldNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fieldnotes-archive/id6760303560)

This app transforms screenshots and photos into organized, searchable entries, decluttering your camera roll. It automatically identifies key information like links and keywords, creating a private archive of your discoveries without ads or feeds.

**Highlights:** Screenshot and photo capture, Automatic text and keyword detection, Organized categories, Instant search functionality, Deletes original images, On-device processing for privacy

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FieldNotes Pro | $2.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Darkroom Lab free?

The Darkroom Lab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FieldNotes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Darkroom Lab or FieldNotes?

FieldNotes is rated higher. The Darkroom Lab averages 3.7 out of 5 from 89 ratings, while FieldNotes averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do The Darkroom Lab or FieldNotes have ads?

Neither The Darkroom Lab nor FieldNotes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Darkroom Lab or FieldNotes?

The Darkroom Lab ships an update every 3 weeks, and FieldNotes weekly. Most recently, The Darkroom Lab was updated on October 29, 2026 and FieldNotes on October 14, 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.*