# NIR Color vs RetroLight Lite

The clearest difference is price: RetroLight Lite at Free against NIR Color's $2.99. RetroLight Lite also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 10 months). NIR Color's advantage is ratings volume (21 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

RetroLight Lite is free to download; NIR Color costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

RetroLight Lite holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NIR Color has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of NIR Color's written reviews are positive against 100% of RetroLight Lite's.

NIR Color ships an update every 10 months, RetroLight Lite every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NIR Color | RetroLight Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nir-color/id491992444/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrolight-lite/id784251572/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 82.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 16 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **7.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JixiPix, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/380605671) | [nedis](https://appshunter.io/developer/435715340) |

## What reviewers say

### NIR Color

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nir-color/id491992444)

Transform ordinary photos into surreal, ethereal landscapes with near-infrared technology and color filters. This app adds unique hues and dramatic contrast, making everyday objects appear otherworldly. Explore a different light and create magical, mysterious atmospheres in your images.

**Highlights:** Near infrared technology, Infrared color filters, Surreal and ethereal effects, Dramatic contrast adjustments, Preset library, Custom preset saving, Hi-Res image support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### RetroLight Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrolight-lite/id784251572)

Apply vintage light leak effects to your photos for a nostalgic, traditional photography look. Adjust the strength of the effects and share your creations instantly.

**Highlights:** Vintage light leak effects, 30 unique light leak styles, Adjustable opacity slider, Share to social media, Simple and powerful tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NIR Color free?

NIR Color costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RetroLight Lite free?

RetroLight Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NIR Color or RetroLight Lite?

RetroLight Lite is rated higher. NIR Color averages 4.3 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while RetroLight Lite averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do NIR Color or RetroLight Lite have ads?

Neither NIR Color nor RetroLight Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NIR Color or RetroLight Lite?

NIR Color ships an update every 10 months, and RetroLight Lite every 5 weeks. Most recently, NIR Color was updated on October 5, 2026 and RetroLight Lite on October 4, 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.*