Comparison

LensTutorial vs PhotoPills

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

LensTutorial

Learn photographic lens usage with interactive simulations and calculations. Visualize effects of lens controls and estimate parameters like angle of view and depth of field easily. Supports all modern cameras.

Highlights
  • Interactive lens simulations
  • Depth of field calculator
  • Angle of view estimation
  • 35-mm equivalent calculation
  • Subject magnification display
  • Support for modern cameras
Features
Read full description

LensTutorial is about learning to use photographic lenses the easy way. The app wraps all lens calculations into one package and allows you to quickly see them in action. Learning photography can be easy and we encourage you to use our app to facilitate this process. LensTutorial allows to simulate photographic lens usage and display effects of lens controls manipulation. The app combines both visual and interactive way of representing information with classic DOF calculator functionality. It allows to quickly estimate and visualize the following parameters on one screen: Angle of view Total depth of field Near range of depth Far range of depth 35-mm equivalent of focal length Subject magnification All modern cameras of various makers supported.

About

PhotoPills

Plan and capture stunning photos of the sun, moon, and Milky Way. This app helps you visualize celestial events and landscape compositions with advanced planning tools and augmented reality.

Highlights
  • 2D Map-Centric Planner (Sun, Moon, Milky Way)
  • 3D Augmented Reality Views
  • Celestial Event Finder
  • Photo Plans Manager
  • Location Scouting Tool
  • Calculators (Long Exposure, Timelapse, etc.)
Features
Read full description

Unlock your creative potential! Discover how to easily turn any Sun, Moon and Milky Way scene you imagine into a real picture… and start shooting truly legendary photos every time you pick up the camera! Whether your passion is to capture beautiful landscapes, immortalize the infinite night sky, surprise the bride and the groom in their happiest day... or to travel the world, PhotoPills will make you love exploring new artistic possibilities to tell visual stories in a way it wasn’t possible before. * All in one app PhotoPills is your iPhone and iPad personal assistant in all photographic matters. It provides tasty remedies to answer most of the questions when planning and shooting your creative ideas: - The First 2D Map-Centric Planner: Sun, Moon, Milky Way - Sun, Moon Alignments Fast Finder - 3D Augmented Reality: Sun, Moon, Milky Way, Celestial Equator, Polaris, DoF, FoV - Photo Plans Manager - Location Scouting Tool - Key information: Sunrise/set, Twilights, Golden Hour, Blue Hour, Moonrise/set, Supermoon dates, Moon Calendar - Calculators: Long Exposure, Timelapse, Spot Stars, Star Trails, Hyperfocal Table, DoF, FoV - Widgets: Sun, Moon, Milky Way - PhotoPills Awards… and much more! * Endorsed by Masters “PhotoPills is an invaluable tool which I use every time I plan a shoot.” – Mark Gee, Astronomy Photographer of the Year. “A tool every photographer should have.” – Kevin Raber, Luminous-landscape.com. “It pays off! Using such a tool ensures that we are repeatedly capable of quickly planning powerful shots; leaving maximum opportunity for more creative ruminations.” – José B. Ruiz, Innovation Award, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. * How it works Have you ever walked around a place and thought: "What a pity the Moon isn't EXACTLY right there... I would have captured a great photo!"? What about the Sun? And the Milky Way? Well, now you can let your imagination fly and calculate when this specific magic moment happens in just a few seconds: - IMAGINE: the Milky Way arching over a powerful landscape, a giant full Moon appearing from behind a nearby hill or a sunset between two rocks on a magic beach... The only limit is your imagination! - PLAN: easily calculate the exact date and time the scene you’ve imagined happens. Work smarter, not harder! - SHOOT: just get out there, immerse yourself in the great outdoors, and enjoy living and capturing unique moments. * Become a Legend Because we know the huge amount of time, energy and love you put in your photos. We want to HONOR them, SHOW them to the World, and REWARD you with up to $6,600 in cash prizes. It's easy and FREE! Just submit your creative photos from PhotoPills and join the Legacy! * Never waste an unmissable scene again Create a To-Do list of planned photos and get to the location on time. * Get it right Adjust your frame for the best composition before you shoot. Use the 3D Augmented Reality Views to see whether Sun, Moon and Milky Way will be at the desired position when pressing the shutter. * Explore, discover great places and create your own database of locations If you come across a location you’d like to remember, save it as a Point of Interest. * Enjoy all daily information in just one swipe with the Widgets Just swipe down from the top of the screen to get all the Sun, Moon and Milky Way events for your current location and date, in addition to your upcoming photo plans. * Get more than an app Our goal is not only to help you plan your shots, but also to help you nail them. Whenever you need help, take a look at our How-To articles and videos, join our free online courses or just contact us! “This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take PhotoPills – you stay in Wonderland and we show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. Remember: all we’re offering are Legendary Photos and Goosebumps in your skin, nothing more.”

Screenshots

LensTutorial3 screens
PhotoPills4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LensTutorial at Free against PhotoPills's $10.99. LensTutorial also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). PhotoPills's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 2.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

LensTutorial is free to download; PhotoPills costs $10.99 up front. LensTutorial sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. PhotoPills asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PhotoPills holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhotoPills has 1.5K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of LensTutorial's written reviews are positive against 85% of PhotoPills's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LensTutorial ships an update every 7 months, PhotoPills every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
LensTutorial versus PhotoPills: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLensTutorialPhotoPills
PriceFree — better$10.99
Rating2.9 (7 ratings)4.7 (1.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews84.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings71.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#4 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB41 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperAlf Jorgen BratanePhotoPills S.L.

Customer experience

LensTutorial

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative40.0%

PhotoPills

All ratings1,525 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.0%
Written reviews482 reviews
Positive84.9%
Neutral4.1%
Negative11.0%

Bugs and requests

LensTutorial

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

PhotoPills

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when using depth of field calculator
  • Location settings not persisting between sessions
  • Milky Way position not aligning correctly

Requested features

5 requests
  • User guide in multiple languages
  • Improved integration with other apps
  • More customization options
  • Weather forecast integration
  • Apple Watch companion app

In-app purchases

4 purchases

LensTutorial

One-time4
  • Aperture upgrade$0.99
  • Zoom upgrade$0.99
  • Distance upgrade$0.99
Show 1 more
  • Built-In lens$1.99
None

PhotoPills

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LensTutorial free?
LensTutorial is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PhotoPills free?
PhotoPills costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, LensTutorial or PhotoPills?
PhotoPills is rated higher. LensTutorial averages 2.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while PhotoPills averages 4.7 from 1.5K ratings.
Do LensTutorial or PhotoPills have ads?
Neither LensTutorial nor PhotoPills shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LensTutorial or PhotoPills?
LensTutorial ships an update every 7 months, and PhotoPills every 2 months. Most recently, LensTutorial was updated on September 10, 2026 and PhotoPills on October 12, 2026.

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