# Labmate vs Photonics Spectra

The clearest difference is ads: Photonics Spectra at none against Labmate's shown. Photonics Spectra also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Labmate ships an update every 6 months, Photonics Spectra every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Labmate | Photonics Spectra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photonics-spectra/id657383359/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 35 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [International Labmate Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/544714355) | [Laurin Publishing Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657383362) |

## What reviewers say

### Labmate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labmate/id544714352)

Access the latest news, product releases, and technical articles from the laboratory industry. Download full issues of leading scientific publications covering chromatography, biotechnology, and more. Stay updated with event previews, reviews, and industry news.

**Highlights:** Latest industry news and product releases, Download scientific publications, Technical and problem-solving articles, Event previews and reviews, Searchable content by subject, Video integration for product demonstrations

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Photonics Spectra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photonics-spectra/id657383359)

Access the leading magazine for the photonics industry on your mobile device. Read articles in a convenient format, download PDF issues, and search through archives of past content. Stay informed about optics, lasers, imaging, and more.

**Highlights:** Mobile-friendly article reading, Downloadable PDF issues, Searchable archives, Comprehensive industry coverage, Technical and practical information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Labmate free?

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

### Is Photonics Spectra free?

Photonics Spectra is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Labmate or Photonics Spectra have ads?

Labmate shows ads; Photonics Spectra does not.

### Which is updated more often, Labmate or Photonics Spectra?

Labmate ships an update every 6 months, and Photonics Spectra every 10 months. Most recently, Labmate was updated on September 9, 2026 and Photonics Spectra on September 8, 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.*