# Reciprocity Timer vs Light Meter

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Light Meter at 85% against Reciprocity Timer's 33%. Light Meter also leads on price (Free vs $1.99) and rating (3.6 vs 2.5). Reciprocity Timer's advantage is chart position (#68 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Light Meter is free to download; Reciprocity Timer costs $1.99 up front. Reciprocity Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Light Meter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Light Meter holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Reciprocity Timer's written reviews are positive against 85% of Light Meter's.

Reciprocity Timer ships an update every 2 months, Light Meter weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reciprocity Timer | Light Meter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reciprocity-timer/id459691262/reviews) | **[3.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-meter-filmbox/id6757200856/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **85.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#68** | — |
| Size | 28 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pump Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/459691265) | [卓 朱](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864726195) |

## What reviewers say

### Reciprocity Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reciprocity-timer/id459691262)

**Currently charting:** #68 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This app helps film photographers calculate exposure compensation for reciprocity failure. It offers a standard version for basic calculations and a pro version with advanced features like note-taking and custom film databases. It also includes an exposure timer and filter compensation tools.

**Highlights:** Reciprocity compensation calculations, Exposure timer, Filter compensation slider, Note-keeping feature, Custom film and camera databases, Film stock favorites

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reciprocity Timer Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


### Light Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-meter-filmbox/id6757200856)

This app helps film photographers precisely measure light, distance, and depth of field before taking a shot. It offers tools for exposure evaluation, flash calculation, and reciprocity failure compensation, with advanced features available via a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Light metering, Zone metering, Flash calculator, Reciprocity failure compensation, Distance meter (LiDAR), Depth of field calculator, Gear library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FilmBox Toolkit Pro Subscription | $7.99 | per year |
| FilmBox Toolkit Pro | $17.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reciprocity Timer free?

Reciprocity Timer costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Light Meter free?

Light Meter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Reciprocity Timer or Light Meter?

Light Meter is rated higher. Reciprocity Timer averages 2.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Light Meter averages 3.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do Reciprocity Timer or Light Meter have ads?

Neither Reciprocity Timer nor Light Meter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reciprocity Timer or Light Meter?

Reciprocity Timer ships an update every 2 months, and Light Meter weekly. Most recently, Reciprocity Timer was updated on October 17, 2026 and Light Meter on October 14, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*