Massive Dev Chart Timer vs Frames
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
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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
Frames
This app helps film photographers meticulously log every detail of their analog shots. It allows you to record frame settings, attach reference images, and organize your entire film library. The companion Mac app can embed this logged data directly into your scanned negatives as EXIF metadata.
- Log shot settings and EXIF data
- Attach reference images to frames
- Organize film rolls, cameras, and lenses
- Interactive map of shot locations
- Export records in multiple formats
- Embed metadata into scanned negatives
- Supports 35mm, medium, and large format film
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Frames is a film photography logbook that connects every shot to its final scan. Record your frames as you shoot, then embed your shooting data into scanned images as EXIF once your negatives are developed. • Manage film rolls, cameras, lenses, and filters in one place • Log every frame: aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, metering, ISO, location, and more • Controls that adapt to your camera and lens setup • Autofill film stock, camera, lens, and ISO for faster logging • Attach reference images for visual context per frame • Organize with folders and search • View shoots on an interactive map and revisit locations • Sync across iPhone and iPad with iCloud • Export to Frames, PDF (print-ready), CSV, TXT, GPX, and XMP • Includes 200+ film stocks: Kodak, Fujifilm, Ilford, CineStill, Lomography, and more • Supports 35mm, 120 medium format, and large format cameras • Privacy-focused: no ads, no tracking, no account required Embed Your Metadata with the Frames Mac App After developing and scanning your negatives, the Frames Mac app writes your shooting data directly into image files as EXIF metadata. Compatible with JPEG, JXL, TIFF, and DNG files from any scanner. Every scan then carries the full context of how it was shot: camera, lens, film stock, shutter speed, aperture, flash, focus distance, exposure program, metering mode, location, and more. Adobe Lightroom, Apple Photos, and any EXIF-aware software read your film settings the same way they read a digital camera’s. No spreadsheets. No scattered notes. One consistent record attached to every image. Includes up to 5 film rolls for free. Upgrade for unlimited rolls, subfolders, data export, and metadata embedding with the Frames Mac app. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Frames at Free against Massive Dev Chart Timer's $9.99. Frames also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). Massive Dev Chart Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#39 vs unranked). On ads and device support 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
Frames is free to download; Massive Dev Chart Timer costs $9.99 up front. Frames sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Massive Dev Chart Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Frames holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Massive Dev Chart Timer has 54 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Massive Dev Chart Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Frames's.
Massive Dev Chart Timer ships an update every 5 months, Frames weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Massive Dev Chart Timer | Frames |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.7 (54 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.8% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 54 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #39 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Freestyle Photo & Imaging | Vincent Tantardini |
Customer experience
Massive Dev Chart Timer
Frames
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
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- 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
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- 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
Frames
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Massive Dev Chart Timer
No in-app purchases
Frames
- Monthly Plan$1.991 Month
- Annual Plan$17.991 Year
- Lifetime Access$59.99
Questions
Is Massive Dev Chart Timer free?
Is Frames free?
Which has better reviews, Massive Dev Chart Timer or Frames?
Do Massive Dev Chart Timer or Frames have ads?
Which is updated more often, Massive Dev Chart Timer or Frames?
Other comparisons
