# Light Meter LM vs IDEA

The clearest difference is rating: Light Meter LM at 4.5 against IDEA's 3.5. Light Meter LM also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 4). IDEA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (50% vs 40%). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Light Meter LM sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. IDEA asks for nothing beyond the download.

Light Meter LM holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Light Meter LM has 2.6K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of Light Meter LM's written reviews are positive against 50% of IDEA's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Light Meter LM ships an update monthly, IDEA every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Light Meter LM | IDEA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-meter-lm-3000/id1554264761/reviews)** | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-ble/id6667117980/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 22 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lightray Innovation GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1031383431) | [和平 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743103495) |

## What reviewers say

### Light Meter LM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-meter-lm-3000/id1554264761)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Continuous Charging | $3.49 | per month |
| Single Charge | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Battery | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Accurate measurements
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful customer service
- 👍 Useful for science/research

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Requires diffuser for accurate readings
- 💰 Expensive for a light meter app
- 🔋 Battery/trial period issues
- 🔍 Inconsistent/inaccurate readings
- 🙄 Misleading/deceptive marketing

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Ability to use rear camera
- More flexible diffuser options
- Improved accuracy without diffuser


### IDEA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-ble/id6667117980)

This intelligent operation app allows users to customize product usage and expand functionality. It provides a convenient way to interact with specific company products and gain a deeper understanding of their features.

**Highlights:** Intelligent operation, Product customization, Expandable functions, Enhanced product understanding, Convenient user interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Light Meter LM free?

Light Meter LM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is IDEA free?

IDEA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Light Meter LM or IDEA?

Light Meter LM is rated higher. Light Meter LM averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while IDEA averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do Light Meter LM or IDEA have ads?

Neither Light Meter LM nor IDEA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Light Meter LM or IDEA?

Light Meter LM ships an update monthly, and IDEA every 6 months. Most recently, Light Meter LM was updated on October 27, 2026 and IDEA on October 24, 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.*