# LensTutorial vs PhotoPills

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | LensTutorial | PhotoPills |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $10.99 |
| Rating | [2.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lenstutorial/id500543869/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **84.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#4** |
| Size | 7 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Alf Jorgen Bratane](https://appshunter.io/developer/894390036) | [PhotoPills S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596026808) |

## What reviewers say

### LensTutorial

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lenstutorial/id500543869)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aperture upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |
| Zoom upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |
| Distance upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |
| Built-In lens | $1.99 | one-time |


### PhotoPills

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Paid · Photo & Video, #45 Top Paid (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Comprehensive planning tools
- 🚀 Powerful features for astrophotography
- 💡 Excellent tutorials and support
- 🌟 Indispensable for photographers
- ⭐ Incredible value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Steep learning curve
- 🤯 Overwhelming complexity
- 🤖 Confusing user interface
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location tracking

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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