# RTAB vs Lightgate

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RTAB at none against Lightgate's 10. Lightgate's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightgate sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. RTAB asks for nothing beyond the download.

RTAB ships an update every 5 months, Lightgate every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RTAB | Lightgate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtab-map-3d-lidar-scanner/id1564774365/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **41** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 20 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Mathieu Labbe](https://appshunter.io/developer/1564774367) | [Lightgate](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787238839) |

## What reviewers say

### RTAB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtab-map-3d-lidar-scanner/id1564774365)

This utility app enables real-time 3D scanning and mapping of environments using LiDAR or RGB-D sensors. It features online loop closure detection and map optimization for immediate feedback, with export options for various 3D formats.

**Highlights:** Online 3D scanning and mapping, Loop closure detection and map correction, Save maps in DB format, Export in PLY, LAS, or OBJ, Multi-session mapping, AR/VR visualization mode

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lightgate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightgate-send-kindness/id6739828001)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lightgate Basic Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Lightgate Premium Monthly Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| Lightgate Pro Monthly Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| Lightgate Basic Yearly Plan | $49.00 | per year |
| Lightgate Premium Yearly Plan | $49.00 | per year |
| Lightgate Pro Yearly Plan | $49.00 | per year |
| Buy 1 GIF | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy 2 GIF | $2.99 | one-time |
| Buy 5 GIFs | $6.99 | one-time |
| Buy 10 GIF | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RTAB free?

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

### Is Lightgate free?

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

### Do RTAB or Lightgate have ads?

Neither RTAB nor Lightgate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RTAB or Lightgate?

RTAB ships an update every 5 months, and Lightgate every 2 months. Most recently, RTAB was updated on October 27, 2026 and Lightgate on October 28, 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.*