Comparison

Lux Light Meter for Mobile vs Candela

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

Head to head
About

Lux Light Meter for Mobile

This app provides accurate and easy-to-use light measurements in lux and foot candles. It's ideal for photographers, plant owners, and anyone needing to assess ambient light levels in various spaces. Features include real-time color temperature measurement and calculation of the daily light integral.

Highlights
  • Real-time color temperature measurement
  • Lux and foot candle measurements
  • Daily light integral (DLI) calculation
  • Average and Max values
  • Optimal shooting value selection
  • Adjustable shooting values (shutter speed, aperture, ISO)
Features
Read full description

Light Meter - is the most accurate, easy-to-use and versatile light meter available. It is perfect for measuring and adjusting light levels in your environment. It is indispensable tool for the photographer, great for measuring light in your plants, workspace and other spaces. Features: - Measurement of color temperature in real time - Light measurements in lux and foot candles - The daily light integral (DLI) calculating - Average and Max values - Selection of optimal shooting values ​​in real time - Ability to change and fix individual values ​​(shutter speed, aperture, ISO) Please note, that the Light Meter app is not a replacement for a professional lux meter and should be used for personal needs only. If you have any questions or suggestions, please, contact us: info@webrain.ltd Privacy policy: https://webrain.ltd/lm/privacy-policy-light-meter-app.html Terms of service: https://webrain.ltd/lm/light-meter-terms-conditions.html

About

Candela

This utility app transforms your iPhone camera into a versatile light meter. It provides real-time readings for illuminance, exposure value, and color temperature, catering to photography, plant care, and room lighting needs. The app prioritizes user privacy with on-device processing and no data collection.

Highlights
  • Live illuminance (lux/foot-candles)
  • Exposure Value (EV) and exposure triangle solver
  • Color temperature readout
  • Plant light conversion (PPFD, DLI)
  • Room lighting recommendations
  • On-device calibration
  • Spot saving and history
Read full description

Candela turns the camera into a genuinely useful light meter. Point your iPhone and read the light around you — live illuminance in lux or foot-candles, exposure value (EV), and color temperature in Kelvin — on one beautiful instrument with a camera-iris dial that opens and closes with the light. One meter, three jobs: PHOTO / FILM • Live EV at ISO 100, plus a full exposure-triangle solver — lock any two of ISO, aperture, and shutter and Candela computes the third. • Color temperature readout for white balance. • Perfect for film shooters, manual photographers, and anyone learning exposure. PLANT • Convert measured light into PPFD and a projected Daily Light Integral (DLI) for the hours your plant gets light. • Instantly see whether a windowsill is deep shade, low, medium, bright-indirect, or direct sun — with example plants for each level. • Stop guessing why your monstera is leggy. ROOM / WELLBEING • Compare a spot against recommended light levels for reading, kitchen work, an office desk, and more. • A clear verdict — too dim, comfortable, or bright — plus a color-temperature note for evening, sleep-friendly lighting. Built for trust: • Calibrate to any reference in one tap so your readings match a meter you trust. • Lux or foot-candles, your choice. • Save a "spot" to remember a reading, with a tidy history. • A built-in Guide explains plant light needs, room standards, and a photographer's EV chart. Private by design: • Everything runs on your device. Camera frames are analyzed live and are never saved, photographed, or sent anywhere. • No account. No tracking. No ads. Data Not Collected. A note on accuracy: a phone camera is a reflected/scene light meter, so readings are a well-calibrated estimate rather than a laboratory instrument. For incident-style readings, meter off a neutral gray card. Calibration lets you dial Candela in to a reference.

Screenshots

Lux Light Meter for Mobile4 screens
Candela4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Lux Light Meter for Mobile at 4.5 against Candela's 2.0. Lux Light Meter for Mobile also leads on ratings volume (237 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). Candela's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Lux Light Meter for Mobile sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Candela asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lux Light Meter for Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lux Light Meter for Mobile has 237 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Lux Light Meter for Mobile versus Candela: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLux Light Meter for MobileCandela
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (237 ratings) — better2.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews17.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings237 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWeBrainSnizhana Babytska

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Lux Light Meter for Mobile

Subscriptions7
  • Lux Light Meter Pro3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Light Meter 1 Week7 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Lux Light Meter$5.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Light Meter3 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Lux Meter$7.991 Year
  • Light Meter Pro$14.991 Year
  • Light Meter for Mobile3 Days trial$14.991 Year
None

Candela

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lux Light Meter for Mobile free?
Lux Light Meter for Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Candela free?
Candela is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lux Light Meter for Mobile or Candela?
Lux Light Meter for Mobile is rated higher. Lux Light Meter for Mobile averages 4.5 out of 5 from 237 ratings, while Candela averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Lux Light Meter for Mobile or Candela have ads?
Lux Light Meter for Mobile shows ads; Candela does not.

Other comparisons