Light Meter LM vs Chill
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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/
Chill
This app is a dedicated companion for cold plunge sessions, offering precision timing, guided breathing exercises, and rhythmic chimes to enhance your cold immersion experience. It helps optimize your practice for physical recovery, mental clarity, and energy boosts.
- Customizable session durations
- Guided box breathing exercise
- 30-second interval chimes
- 10-second final countdown
- Enhances cold immersion benefits
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Cold plunging asks you to be present. Our Chill - Cold Plunge Timer App takes care of the timing so you can focus on the moment. Choose your duration, set the temperature, settle into guided box breathing, and keep a private record of the sessions you complete. TIME YOUR PLUNGE Choose a session length from 1 to 59 minutes and select the water temperature for accurate record keeping. Watch the large countdown, hear a gentle chime every 30 seconds while Chill is on screen, and turn on Audio Countdown for spoken time updates and the final 10-second countdown. With notifications enabled, Chill can alert you when your timer completes. BREATHE WITH GUIDANCE Follow the on-screen box breathing animation during your session. You can turn the animation or spoken countdown on or off in Settings. LOOK BACK See completed sessions in your iPhone history, including time in the water and the temperature you selected. Time a plunge on Apple Watch and have it appear in your iPhone history when the devices connect. Watch-face complications can show your plunge count. MAKE IT YOURS WITH CHILL+ The timer, guided breathing, basic history, and Apple Watch timer are free. Chill+ is a one-time purchase that adds: • Month and year activity grids • Streaks and consecutive-day goals • Plunge reminders on the days you choose • Private notes about each session • Activity-grid Home Screen widgets • Streak and goal views on Apple Watch PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your sessions and notes are stored locally on your devices. Chill has no account, sign-up, ads, or tracking, and it does not upload your records to a developer server. Device backups are controlled by your Apple settings. Chill is a timing and journaling tool, not a medical or safety device. Cold water immersion has risks; seek medical advice if you have concerns, and never rely on a timer or alert as your only safety measure.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Chill at 5.0 against Light Meter LM's 4.5. Chill also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). Light Meter LM's advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). 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
Both are free to download. Light Meter LM sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. Chill asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chill holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Light Meter LM has 2.6K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Light Meter LM ships an update monthly, Chill every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Light Meter LM | Chill |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2.6K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2.6K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lightray Innovation GmbH | Anda Blandu |
Customer experience
Light Meter LM
Chill
Bugs and 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
Chill
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Light Meter LM
- Continuous Charging$3.491 Month
- Single Charge$0.99
- Unlimited Battery$19.99
Chill
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Light Meter LM free?
Is Chill free?
Which has better reviews, Light Meter LM or Chill?
Do Light Meter LM or Chill have ads?
Which is updated more often, Light Meter LM or Chill?
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