# Flashlight ® vs First Mate

The clearest difference is price: Flashlight ® at $4.99 against First Mate's $19.99. Flashlight ® also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.5). First Mate's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 15 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Flashlight ® costs $4.99 and First Mate $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Flashlight ® ships an update every 15 months, First Mate every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flashlight ® | First Mate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $19.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashlight/id379745980/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 8 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 14.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [i4software](https://appshunter.io/developer/376546133) | [Matthew Ricciardo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1585527362) |

## What reviewers say

### Flashlight ®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashlight/id379745980)

This utility app provides an instant, bright light source using your device's LED flash. It offers a dimmable slider for adjustable brightness and avoids ads and distracting features found in free alternatives. It's designed as a simple, fast, and reliable tool for various lighting needs.

**Highlights:** Instant ON LED flashlight, Dimmable LED slider, No ads or push notifications, Fastest loading time, Simple and pure light function, Supports all iOS devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy to use
- 👍 Simple and straightforward interface
- 💡 Useful dimming feature
- 🔋 Always available on phone
- 🚀 Instant on/off

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Reported issues with updates
- 🔋 Drains battery when left on
- 👎 Limited functionality compared to free alternatives

**Reported bugs**

- App not working after recent update
- Incompatible with some iPad models

**Requested features**

- Option to turn off screen while keeping light on
- Additional brightness settings
- Customizable appearance


### First Mate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-mate/id1603120795)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flashlight ® free?

Flashlight ® costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Mate free?

First Mate costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Flashlight ® or First Mate have ads?

Neither Flashlight ® nor First Mate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Flashlight ® or First Mate?

Flashlight ® ships an update every 15 months, and First Mate every 3 weeks. Most recently, Flashlight ® was updated on October 13, 2026 and First Mate on September 26, 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.*