Massive Dev Chart Timer vs The Darkroom Lab
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Massive Dev Chart Timer
This app provides an offline film development chart and a multi-step timer for photographers. It includes customizable agitation, darkroom themes, and support for various developing and fixing steps. It also offers automated compensation for development time and temperature.
- Offline film development chart
- Multi-step timer with sound notifications
- Customizable agitation schemes
- Darkroom themes
- Dilution mixer
- Automated time/temperature compensation
Read full descriptionHide full description
The Massive Dev Chart is the world's largest film development chart with easy to use multi step timer and darkroom support for iPhone and iPad. Watch the instructional video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P915z6THiY8. *** Features *** • Offline copy of The Massive Dev Chart in your pocket • Multi Step Timer with sound notifications • Customizable agitation scheme • Darkroom themes • Dilution Mixer • Support for two-step development and two-step fixing • Support for optional hypoclear and photo flo steps • Automated development time/temperature compensation
The Darkroom Lab
View your developed film photos as soon as they are scanned. This app connects you to a professional film developing service with decades of experience.
- View scanned film photos
- Professional film developing
- Experienced lab professionals
- Access photos as soon as scanned
Read full descriptionHide full description
Since 1976 The Darkroom has developed literally millions of rolls of film with experienced lab professionals and film enthusiasts This free app enables you to view your photos as soon as they've been scanned in the lab.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: The Darkroom Lab at Free against Massive Dev Chart Timer's $9.99. The Darkroom Lab also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). Massive Dev Chart Timer's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 45%) and chart position (#32 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
The Darkroom Lab is free to download; Massive Dev Chart Timer costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.7 for Massive Dev Chart Timer against 3.7 for The Darkroom Lab. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 54 and 90 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of Massive Dev Chart Timer's written reviews are positive against 45% of The Darkroom Lab's.
Massive Dev Chart Timer ships an update every 5 months, The Darkroom Lab every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Massive Dev Chart Timer | The Darkroom Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.7 (54 ratings) | 3.7 (90 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.8% of reviews — better | 44.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 54 | 90 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #32 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Freestyle Photo & Imaging | The Darkroom |
Customer experience
Massive Dev Chart Timer
The Darkroom Lab
Bugs and requests
Massive Dev Chart Timer
Reported bugs
12 issues- HC110 dilution section displays only letters, not ratios
- Dilution ratios not calculating when solution amount adjusted
- App crashes after selecting film speed
- Crashes on iPad with new update
- Timer display shows three dots instead of seconds
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- UI elements overlap on older iPhone models
- Safelight mode white banner blocks display on iPad
- Crashes during development process
- Home screen line emits bright light in darkroom mode
- App incompatible with newer iOS versions on older devices
- Notes don't word wrap properly
- Inconsistent film/developer availability between iPhone and iPad
Requested features
15 requests- Color film support (C-41, E-6, ECN-2 processes)
- Search functionality by film brand/name
- Ability to add custom process steps (presoak, toning)
- Individual agitation control per development stage
- Continuous agitation option
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- Volume calculator for stop bath and fixer
- Background timer functionality
- Custom step name editing
- Pull/push development times
- Stand development support with hour-based timing
- Apple Watch app
- Syncing between iPhone and iPad
- Fahrenheit temperature option
- Additional common film stocks (Portra, Fuji 400H, Ektar)
- Ability to add films not in database to custom times
The Darkroom Lab
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Massive Dev Chart Timer
No in-app purchases
The Darkroom Lab
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Massive Dev Chart Timer free?
Is The Darkroom Lab free?
Which has better reviews, Massive Dev Chart Timer or The Darkroom Lab?
Do Massive Dev Chart Timer or The Darkroom Lab have ads?
Which is updated more often, Massive Dev Chart Timer or The Darkroom Lab?
Other comparisons
