Comparison

LightPlan vs EsMax

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

Head to head
About

LightPlan

Visualize the sun and moon's path in 3D on real-world terrain to plan outdoor photography. See golden hour, blue hour, and shadows with precision. Save locations and camera angles for perfect shots.

Highlights
  • Photorealistic 3D sun and moon visualization
  • Interactive timeline for golden hour and blue hour
  • 3D building shadow visualization
  • Smart location library with custom camera angles
  • Syncs locations across devices
  • Elevation charts and compass
Features
Read full description

Plan Perfect Outdoor Shots with Stunning 3D Sun, Moon & Milky Way Visualization See exactly where the sun, moon, and Milky Way will be at any time with photorealistic 3D visualization overlaid on real‑world terrain. Turn your photography from guesswork into precision planning. Why Photographers Love LightPlan Photorealistic 3D Visualization — The only app that shows celestial paths in true 3D space. Watch the sun arc across mountains and the moon rise behind city skylines with pinpoint accuracy. Choose Your Map — Switch between photorealistic 3D, 2D satellite, and a true 3D terrain map with real elevation. Your sun and moon paths stay aligned, even behind ridgelines. Weather That Matters for Light — Overlay a cloud‑cover forecast to find clear skies for astro or dramatic clouds for golden hour, plus a precipitation layer — all scrubbable along the timeline. Plan the Milky Way — Find the dark‑sky window, galactic‑core direction and altitude, and the best nights this month. Golden Hour Perfection — An interactive timeline shows golden hour, blue hour, sunrise, and sunset with color‑coded periods and elevation charts. See the day's light at a glance. Moon Calendar — Scroll month‑by‑month moon phases; tap any day for moonrise, sun & twilight times, and eclipses. Shadow View — Visualize real‑time 3D building shadows through the day and across seasons — perfect for photographers, architects, or anyone studying how light shapes a place. Smart Location Library — Save shooting spots with custom camera angles, organize them into folders for trips, and sync across all your devices. Home Screen Widgets — Golden hour, moonrise/moonset, and tonight's Milky Way visibility at a glance. Perfect for Every Photographer • Real Estate — Plan exteriors for flattering light, avoid harsh shadows, and time twilight shoots when interiors glow against a blue‑hour sky. • Landscape — Scout remotely; know when the sun aligns with a peak or canyon wall, and check the cloud forecast first. • Astro & Night — Plan around the dark‑sky window and galactic core, line up the moon with a foreground, and pick the clearest nights. • Wedding — Mark ceremony and portrait spots in advance and know exactly when golden hour begins. • Commercial & Architectural — See when sunlight hits glass facades at the ideal angle and plan multi‑day shoots around optimal light. Free Forever • 3D sun & moon paths for anywhere on Earth • Multiple map engines — photorealistic 3D, 2D satellite & 3D terrain • Plan up to 72 hours ahead • All preset camera angles • Complete rise/set timings • Golden & blue hour calculations • Full elevation charts • Moon calendar with eclipses • Tonight's Milky Way window • 3D Compass LightPlan Pro • Unrestricted dates to plan any shoot, any time • Unlimited locations • Weather layers — cloud cover & precipitation forecasts • 30‑night Milky Way forecast & alerts • Shadow View — real‑time building shadows • Custom camera presets • Home screen widgets — golden hour, moon & Milky Way • Folder organization • Priority support • Early access to new features What Photographers Are Saying "Finally, an app that shows me exactly where the sun will be without a PhD in astronomy." "The 3D visualization is a game‑changer. I can see my shot before I even leave the house." "Beautifully designed and actually fun to use." Privacy‑focused design · No ads, ever · Works worldwide Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://lightplan.app/privacy.html

About

EsMax

Features
Read full description

ESMax vous permet de regarder n’importe quelle vidéo instantanément. Entrez une URL et lancez la vidéo en un clic. Page de connexion simple pour la sécurité (code par défaut : 1212). Simple, rapide et fiable. Idéal pour un usage personnel ou pour partager des vidéos en toute sécurité.

Screenshots

LightPlan4 screens
EsMax3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EsMax at none against LightPlan's 3. On price, 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

Both are free to download. LightPlan sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. EsMax asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
LightPlan versus EsMax: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightPlanEsMax
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.618.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRivolu LLCahmed ben sassi

In-app purchases

3 purchases

LightPlan

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Membership$59.99
None

EsMax

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LightPlan free?
LightPlan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EsMax free?
EsMax is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LightPlan or EsMax have ads?
Neither LightPlan nor EsMax shows ads.

Other comparisons