# ND Filter Calc vs LightMate

The clearest difference is price: ND Filter Calc at Free against LightMate's $0.99. ND Filter Calc also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

ND Filter Calc is free to download; LightMate costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ND Filter Calc ships an update every 6 days, LightMate every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ND Filter Calc | LightMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jerry Watson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1647846813) | [Qiao Hu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1076093840) |

## What reviewers say

### ND Filter Calc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nd-filter-calc/id6449380764)

This tool helps photographers calculate neutral density filter effects on their camera's exposure. It includes a countdown timer for long exposures, simplifying the process of achieving desired results.

**Highlights:** Neutral density filter calculation, Exposure compensation, Long exposure timer, Countdown for shutter speeds > 3 seconds, Simple interface

**In-app purchases:** none


### LightMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmate-expocalc/id6743069293)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ND Filter Calc free?

ND Filter Calc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is LightMate free?

LightMate costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do ND Filter Calc or LightMate have ads?

Neither ND Filter Calc nor LightMate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ND Filter Calc or LightMate?

ND Filter Calc ships an update every 6 days, and LightMate every 2 weeks. Most recently, ND Filter Calc was updated on September 30, 2026 and LightMate on October 7, 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.*