Comparison

illumeter vs Lume

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

Head to head
About

illumeter

This app functions as a portable light meter, allowing users to measure exposure values like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. It offers features for logging shots with location and settings, and provides customization options for a personalized user experience.

Highlights
  • Exposure measurement (Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO)
  • Tap-to-focus exposure lock
  • Exposure compensation
  • Frame logging with location and settings
  • List and map view of logged frames
  • Customizable settings and appearance
Features
Read full description

illumeter, The Simplest Light Meter in Your Pocket. Exposure Meter • Choose the value you want to measure from Aperture, Shutter Speed, or ISO. • The selected value automatically adjusts based on changes in the other two settings. • Tap a specific point on the screen to lock the exposure to that area. • An exposure compensation feature is provided to help you handle various challenging lighting conditions. Frame Logging • Log your frames by composing your shot and pressing the shutter button. • Location, date and time, EV value, and settings are recorded with each frame. • Review your recorded frames in a list and on a map. • Easily delete or edit incorrect frames. Settings & Personalization • Easily toggle various features on or off. • Deactivate or remove unused values. • Customize the app's appearance and feedback to your preference.

About

Lume

Features
Read full description

Lume is a professional light meter for film photography and cinema. Meter the light with a spot you drag across the scene, lock the reading, then compose the shutter-aperture pair on click-stop wheels, the way a real meter works. PHOTO MODE • Spot reading with a reticle you drag across the scene • Aperture or shutter priority, third-of-a-stop scales • Exposure compensation ±3 EV and ND filters up to ND1000 • 24 film stocks with reciprocity failure correction FLASH • Work out the exposure for a shot with flash: guide number, the power the flash is set to (1/1, 1/2, 1/4…) and the distance • Flash and ambient light are added together, the way they add on film • See how much of the exposure comes from the flash, with a warning past sync speed • On models with LiDAR the subject distance is measured where you aim the reticle CINE MODE • Frame rate and shutter angle • Aperture in tenths of a stop, as used on set LOGBOOK • Save every reading with a photo, the data burned in and the metered area marked • Find your shots in a grid or on a map • Share, or save to your camera roll Metering uses the camera's real metadata together with pixel analysis, continuously calibrated against the sensor. Interface in English and Italian.

Screenshots

illumeter4 screens
Lume4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Lume at every 2 days against illumeter's every 2 weeks. illumeter's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

illumeter ships an update every 2 weeks, Lume every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
illumeter versus Lume: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterillumeterLume
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (11 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSeunghun YangMilo Zoppini

In-app purchases

None

illumeter

No in-app purchases

None

Lume

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is illumeter free?
illumeter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lume free?
Lume is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do illumeter or Lume have ads?
Neither illumeter nor Lume shows ads.
Which is updated more often, illumeter or Lume?
illumeter ships an update every 2 weeks, and Lume every 2 days. Most recently, illumeter was updated on October 7, 2026 and Lume on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons