# Luminar vs Project Indigo

The clearest difference is rating: Luminar at 4.8 against Project Indigo's 3.8. Luminar also leads on chart position (#192 vs unranked) and ratings volume (4.5K vs 702). Project Indigo's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Luminar sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Project Indigo asks for nothing beyond the download.

Luminar holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Luminar has 4.5K ratings behind it against 702, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 42% of Luminar's written reviews are positive against 45% of Project Indigo's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Luminar ships an update every 2 weeks, Project Indigo every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Luminar | Project Indigo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminar-image-editor-and-enhancer/id6476109261/reviews)** | [3.8 (702 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/project-indigo/id6742591546/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.5K** | 702 |
| Positive reviews | 41.8% of reviews | **45.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#192** | — |
| Size | 642 MB | 347 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Skylum](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457042223) | [Adobe Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/805812963) |

## What reviewers say

### Luminar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminar-image-editor-and-enhancer/id6476109261)

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Grossing · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This app offers powerful AI-driven photo editing tools for mobile devices. It features intuitive controls, smart enhancements for skies, lighting, and skin, and a range of editing options for composition and style. Supports RAW files and integrates with Apple devices.

**Highlights:** AI Sky Replacement, AI Photo Enhancement, AI Skin Retouching, AI Body Shaping, RAW File Editing, Intuitive Gesture Controls, Photo Filters

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month | $14.99 | per month |
| 6 Months | $25.99 | per 6 months |
| 12Months with monthly payment | $39.99 | per year |
| 12 Months | $39.99 | per year |
| 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Desktop | $99.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access: Mobile + Desktop | $179.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful editing tools
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Great AI-powered features
- 💡 Convenient mobile editing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Subscription-only model
- 🐛 Buggy and slow performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔙 No option to save mid-edit

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes
- Issues with saving and exporting
- Inaccurate AI-powered tools

**Requested features**

- Batch editing and presets
- Raw file support
- Masking and local adjustments
- Export options (PNG, TIFF)


### Project Indigo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/project-indigo/id6742591546)

This app offers advanced computational photography with manual controls for a natural, SLR-like image look. It captures bursts of photos to create high-quality images with reduced noise and enhanced dynamic range, suitable for both casual and professional users.

**Highlights:** Computational photography pipeline, Natural image look (SLR-like), Full manual camera controls, Photo and Night modes, Super-resolution for zoom, Macro mode, Live viewfinder with histogram and zebra striping

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent image quality
- 🚀 Powerful processing algorithms
- 🔍 Impressive zoom and detail enhancement

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔥 Overheating issues
- 🔋 Battery drain
- 🐛 Focusing problems
- 🚫 Incompatible with some regions/devices

**Reported bugs**

- Shutter sound cannot be disabled
- AI-based features causing loss of detail

**Requested features**

- Support for higher resolution photos
- Improved tap-to-focus functionality
- Better optimization for battery and thermal performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Luminar free?

Luminar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Project Indigo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Luminar or Project Indigo?

Luminar is rated higher. Luminar averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.5K ratings, while Project Indigo averages 3.8 from 702 ratings.

### Do Luminar or Project Indigo have ads?

Neither Luminar nor Project Indigo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Luminar or Project Indigo?

Luminar ships an update every 2 weeks, and Project Indigo every 3 weeks. Most recently, Luminar was updated on September 25, 2026 and Project Indigo on September 24, 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.*