Comparison

Develop! Film Timer vs DevelopFilm

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

Head to head
About

Develop! Film Timer

This app provides a flexible and intuitive timer for film and darkroom development. Create custom development recipes with multiple steps and intervals, and utilize a special darkroom mode for low-light conditions. Easily share your recipes and import them from FilmDev.org.

Highlights
  • Customizable development recipes
  • Multiple steps and intervals per recipe
  • Darkroom Mode (red-on-black theme)
  • Integrated interval timer
  • Import recipes from FilmDev.org
  • Share recipes via social media
Features
Read full description

Develop your film with a smile! Develop! is a flexible, elegant timer for developing film and working in the darkroom. Build your own development recipes in a few taps: as many steps as you need, each with its own agitation intervals. It's entirely up to you; you're in full control. Notable features: - Voice Control: Hands wet? Just say "NEXT" to move on to the next step. Recognition runs on your iPhone, no internet connection needed. - Keeps time in the background: Leave the app or lock your phone and the timer keeps running. You'll get a notification when a step ends and at every agitation. - Intervals: A built-in interval timer handles things like "beep after the first minute, then every 30 seconds." You'll see at a glance how long until your next inversion. - Darkroom Mode: A strict red-on-black theme for darkroom use. - Flexible: As many recipes and steps as you like, steps of up to 90 minutes, named your way, with notes for every recipe. - Easy to read: A large timer you can see across the room, styled after a classic camera body, right down to the vulcanite. - Import: Bring in recipes straight from FilmDev.org. - Share: Send a recipe as a file with Mail, Messages, AirDrop or anything else on the share sheet. No more losing track of time or forgetting to agitate every 30 seconds. Concentrate on being the best photographer and alchemist you can be, and leave the timing to Develop! Now go out there and shoot a roll of film. Good luck! 100% free. Always.

About

DevelopFilm

This app is a pocket darkroom companion for black-and-white film development. It offers official developing times, a smart timer with agitation guidance, and full process control. Track your film details and parameters in a built-in journal to refine your workflow and achieve consistent results.

Highlights
  • Official developing times database
  • Smart timer with agitation guidance
  • Full process control adjustments
  • Built-in film roll journal
  • Quick custom timer
  • Darkroom-ready minimal interface
Features
Read full description

Your pocket darkroom for black-and-white film. DevelopFilm is a complete darkroom companion designed to help you develop film with confidence — whether it’s your first roll or your hundredth. Official developing times: Access precise data from manufacturer datasheets for Adox, Bergger, Foma, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kentmere, Kodak, Rollei, and more. The library is continuously expanding. Smart timer with agitation guidance: Run a clean dual-phase timer for developing and fixing, with built-in agitation reminders and visual alerts. Full process control: Adjust by temperature, developer reuse, push/pull stops, processing vessel, fixer, stop bath, toners, and more — everything that affects your final look. Built-in journal: Keep track of every roll. Save your film details, developing parameters, notes, and photos so you can repeat your best results or refine your workflow. Quick Timer: Need flexibility? Set a custom time and start developing instantly. Darkroom-ready design: A minimal, dark-mode interface that stays readable under safe lights and keeps you focused on the process. Whether you’re new to film developing or refining your craft, DevelopFilm helps you stay consistent, learn faster, and enjoy every step of the process. Upgrade to Darkroom Pass to unlock pro features like push/pull adjustments, fixer timer, and photo journaling. Terms of Use: mirnijatom.github.io/terms.html Privacy Policy: mirnijatom.github.io/privacy.html

Screenshots

Develop! Film Timer4 screens
DevelopFilm4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Develop! Film Timer at none against DevelopFilm's 3. Develop! Film Timer also leads on ratings volume (416 vs 4) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). DevelopFilm's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, ads 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

Both are free to download. DevelopFilm sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Develop! Film Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DevelopFilm holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Develop! Film Timer has 416 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Develop! Film Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of DevelopFilm's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Develop! Film Timer ships an update every 4 weeks, DevelopFilm every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Develop! Film Timer versus DevelopFilm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDevelop! Film TimerDevelopFilm
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (416 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings416 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTodd BreslowAleksandrs Bertulis

Customer experience

Develop! Film Timer

All ratings374 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews115 reviews
Positive88.7%
Neutral6.1%
Negative5.2%

DevelopFilm

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Develop! Film Timer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on startup for some users
  • Timer stops when switching apps or locking phone
  • Issues with saving and editing recipes

Requested features

7 requests
  • Ability to pause and resume timers
  • Option to clone/duplicate existing recipes
  • Integration with development charts or databases
  • More detailed task descriptions and notes
  • Ability to skip optional steps
Show 2 more
  • Larger font size for better visibility
  • Background music playback without interruption

DevelopFilm

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Develop! Film Timer

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

DevelopFilm

Subscriptions2
  • Darkroom Pass Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Darkroom Pass Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$34.99

Questions

Is Develop! Film Timer free?
Develop! Film Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DevelopFilm free?
DevelopFilm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Develop! Film Timer or DevelopFilm?
DevelopFilm is rated higher. Develop! Film Timer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 416 ratings, while DevelopFilm averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Develop! Film Timer or DevelopFilm have ads?
Neither Develop! Film Timer nor DevelopFilm shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Develop! Film Timer or DevelopFilm?
Develop! Film Timer ships an update every 4 weeks, and DevelopFilm every 11 days. Most recently, Develop! Film Timer was updated on November 13, 2026 and DevelopFilm on November 5, 2026.

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