# Shutter vs Lightmate

The clearest difference is rating: Lightmate at 4.1 against Shutter's 3.5. Lightmate also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 58%) and ratings volume (79 vs 22). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Lightmate holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 79 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Shutter's written reviews are positive against 83% of Lightmate's.

Shutter ships an update monthly, Lightmate every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shutter | Lightmate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shutter-speed/id560154244/reviews) | **[4.1 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmate/id791590935/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **79** |
| Positive reviews | 58.0% of reviews | **83.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 6 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Filmomat GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/455575975) | [Luis Laugga](https://appshunter.io/developer/791590938) |

## What reviewers say

### Shutter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shutter-speed/id560154244)

Test the shutter speeds of your analog cameras using your iPhone. For precise measurements, use with the PhotoPlug accessory. Without it, the app analyzes shutter sound for speeds below 1/30sec.

**Highlights:** Test analog camera shutter speeds, Use with PhotoPlug accessory for light measurement, Analyze shutter sound for speeds below 1/30sec, Store measurement values in a table, Manage multiple cameras and lenses, Calculate correction factors for faulty shutters

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lightmate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmate/id791590935)

This app functions as a light meter for photographers, offering a clear and intuitive interface. It supports aperture and shutter priority modes, with customizable EV scales and the ability to use both front and back cameras for measurements.

**Highlights:** Aperture priority mode, Shutter priority mode, Multiple EV scales, Back and front camera support, Tap-to-measure exposure

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Fast and accurate metering
- 💰 Free to use, no ads
- ✨ Minimalist and clean design
- 📸 Great for film photography

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤏 Small text size
- ❓ Confusing for beginners
- ⚠️ Values change too quickly
- 🎛️ Clumsy to use
- 🚫 No whole scene average reading

**Reported bugs**

- F stop disappeared
- Aperture reading disappeared
- Not working on iOS 11
- Link for camera association not working
- App requests to open association with camera

**Requested features**

- Add space between S, A, I
- Lock ISO values
- Add whole scene average reading
- Add tutorial/demo video for beginners
- Add dedicated screenshot button


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shutter free?

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

### Is Lightmate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shutter or Lightmate?

Lightmate is rated higher. Shutter averages 3.5 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Lightmate averages 4.1 from 79 ratings.

### Do Shutter or Lightmate have ads?

Neither Shutter nor Lightmate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shutter or Lightmate?

Shutter ships an update monthly, and Lightmate every 5 weeks. Most recently, Shutter was updated on October 8, 2026 and Lightmate on October 6, 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.*