# Astra vs Illuminance Meter

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Astra at none against Illuminance Meter's 3. Astra also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Illuminance Meter's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 28 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Illuminance Meter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Astra asks for nothing beyond the download.

Astra ships an update every 28 months, Illuminance Meter every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astra | Illuminance Meter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 28 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 69 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Promont Solucoes Ltds](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450762911) | [LEAN ASIA CO., LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815050814) |

## What reviewers say

### Astra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astra/id1579549185)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Illuminance Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illuminance-meter-lux-ppfd/id6759972986)

Transform your iPhone into a professional light meter to measure illuminance in lux or foot-candles. Ideal for photographers, plant enthusiasts, and workplace safety, it provides instant, accurate light readings with various specialized modes and data export options.

**Highlights:** Real-time lux measurement with live gauge, Photography mode for exposure value (EV) calculation, Plant light mode with recommendations, Workplace standards verification, Measurement history with export options, Spectrum analysis for color temperature and CRI, Multiple illuminance unit switching

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly Plan | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astra free?

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

### Is Illuminance Meter free?

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

### Do Astra or Illuminance Meter have ads?

Neither Astra nor Illuminance Meter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Astra or Illuminance Meter?

Astra ships an update every 28 months, and Illuminance Meter every 3 months. Most recently, Astra was updated on November 3, 2026 and Illuminance Meter on November 7, 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.*