Comparison

Light Meter LM vs MES

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

Head to head
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/

About

MES

This app offers a comprehensive commercial lighting control system using advanced Bluetooth Sig Mesh technology. It creates a secure IoT platform for smart LED products and sensors, enabling data-driven decisions to boost efficiency and cut energy expenses.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth Sig Mesh technology
  • Secure IoT platform
  • Smart LED product integration
  • Embedded sensor support
  • High-performance data processing
  • Energy cost reduction
Features
Read full description

Smart Pro Light is an all-in one commercial lighting solution that leverages advanced Bluetooth Sig Mesh technology to create a secure IoT platform encompassing smart LED products, embedded sensors, and IoT platform. The high-performance data processing capabilities enable customers making smarter decisions by improving operational efficiency and reducing energy costs.

Screenshots

Light Meter LM4 screens
MES4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MES at 5.0 against Light Meter LM's 4.5. MES also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Light Meter LM's advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 1). 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. MES asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MES 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Light Meter LM ships an update monthly, MES fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Light Meter LM versus MES: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLight Meter LMMES
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2.6K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.6K — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLightray Innovation GmbHMaverickled

Customer experience

Light Meter LM

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

MES

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

MES

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Light Meter LM

Subscriptions1
  • Continuous Charging$3.491 Month
One-time2
  • Single Charge$0.99
  • Unlimited Battery$19.99
None

MES

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Light Meter LM free?
Light Meter LM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MES free?
MES is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Light Meter LM or MES?
MES is rated higher. Light Meter LM averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while MES averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Light Meter LM or MES have ads?
Neither Light Meter LM nor MES shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Light Meter LM or MES?
Light Meter LM ships an update monthly, and MES fortnightly. Most recently, Light Meter LM was updated on October 25, 2026 and MES on October 12, 2026.

Other comparisons