# Lightme vs ZoneCalc

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Lightme at 102 against ZoneCalc's 2. Lightme also leads on device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). ZoneCalc's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightme sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ZoneCalc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ZoneCalc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 102 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Lightme ships an update every 2 weeks, ZoneCalc every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightme | ZoneCalc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (102 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightme-logbook/id1544518308/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zonecalc-zone-system-meter/id6772102746/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **102** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 13 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Giuseppe Bertolini](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509033789) | [Juergen Suk](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772102748) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightme

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightme-logbook/id1544518308)

This app helps analog photographers meticulously track their film rolls, shots, and development processes. It allows for detailed logging of gear and consumables, with features for data visualization and export. Users can also manage film holders and add post-development notes with photos of final results.

**Highlights:** Log film rolls, shots, and development, Track gear and consumables, Data visualization with graphs/histograms, Data export in JSON/CSV formats, Manage large format film holders, Post-development notes with photos

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Cappuccino | $2.99 | per month |
| Focaccia Barese | $12.99 | per year |
| Spaghetti Carbonara | $29.99 | per year |
| Homemade Pizza party | $49.99 | per year |
| A smile :) | Free | one-time |
| Box of Prosecco | $59.99 | one-time |
| Fuel for my '90s camper | $119.99 | one-time |
| Terme for two | $239.99 | one-time |


### ZoneCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zonecalc-zone-system-meter/id6772102746)

This app assists photographers in precisely calculating exposure and tonal placement using Ansel Adams' Zone System. It offers features for metering, reciprocity correction, and development adjustments, with options for multi-point measurements and data export.

**Highlights:** Zone System exposure calculation, Multi-point metering, Reciprocity correction, Development adjustment recommendations, Film-specific development times, Calculation history and export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZoneCalc Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightme free?

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

### Is ZoneCalc free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lightme or ZoneCalc?

ZoneCalc is rated higher. Lightme averages 4.8 out of 5 from 102 ratings, while ZoneCalc averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Lightme or ZoneCalc have ads?

Neither Lightme nor ZoneCalc shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightme or ZoneCalc?

Lightme ships an update every 2 weeks, and ZoneCalc every 3 weeks. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 17, 2026 and ZoneCalc on October 12, 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.*