Comparison

Developer Box for Film vs ProLab Film Developer

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

Head to head
About

Developer Box for Film

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This app contains various tools and counters that are useful when developing black and white film. It can be used with most film developer tanks, some adjustments have made to make it fit with the Lab-box from ars-imago. Neither this tool nor the creator of it are affiliated with ars-imago or the Lab-box in anyway.

About

ProLab Film Developer

Achieve consistent color film development at home with real-time adjustments for temperature and chemistry. This app eliminates guesswork by actively recalculating development times based on changing conditions, ensuring repeatable results without expensive equipment.

Highlights
  • Real-time time compensation
  • Chemistry tracking
  • Dynamic Time-Temperature Engine
  • Push processing support
  • Guided workflow
  • Supports major C-41 kits
Features
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No sous-vide. No guesswork. Just consistent colour film development. ProLab is a precision colour film development tool with real-time time compensation and chemistry tracking. ProLab Film Developer is the smarter way to develop colour film at home. Most home colour film development goes wrong for two reasons: temperature drift and tired chemicals. Every other app ignores that. ProLab Film Developer doesn’t. It’s the only app that actively adjusts your development time in real time, based on what’s actually happening, not what should be happening. Real-time time and temperature correction Built around a Dynamic Time-Temperature Engine, ProLab continuously recalculates your development time as conditions change. Temperature drops? Time is adjusted. Chemistry weakening? Compensated. No guessing. No assumptions. No expensive setup. No barriers. You don’t need a sous-vide. You don’t need a lab. Just a tank, a thermometer and a bowl. This is consistent, repeatable colour development without the cost or complexity. What makes it different • Real-time time compensation based on live temperature input • Chemistry tracking with exhaustion awareness • Intelligent adjustments based on actual usage, not theory • Built-in push processing for 1 and 2 stops • Clean, guided workflow from start to finish Supports major home C-41 kits, including Cinestill, Bellini, Rollei, Adox, Fuji and more. Built by a photographer, not a developer This was made to solve a real problem in home film processing. If your temperature moves and your timing doesn’t, you’re already off. Get it right. Every time.

Screenshots

Developer Box for Film4 screens
ProLab Film Developer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Developer Box for Film at Free against ProLab Film Developer's $7.99. ProLab Film Developer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Developer Box for Film is free to download; ProLab Film Developer costs $7.99 up front. Developer Box for Film sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ProLab Film Developer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Developer Box for Film versus ProLab Film Developer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeveloper Box for FilmProLab Film Developer
PriceFree — better$7.99
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.215.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB189 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerzlent solutions ouJames Maher

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Developer Box for Film

One-time1
  • Donation$1.99
None

ProLab Film Developer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Developer Box for Film free?
Developer Box for Film is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ProLab Film Developer free?
ProLab Film Developer costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Developer Box for Film or ProLab Film Developer have ads?
Neither Developer Box for Film nor ProLab Film Developer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Developer Box for Film or ProLab Film Developer?
Developer Box for Film ships an update every 3 months, and ProLab Film Developer every 3 months. Most recently, Developer Box for Film was updated on September 24, 2026 and ProLab Film Developer on October 5, 2026.

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