# Luminar vs SharpStacker

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SharpStacker at none against Luminar's 12. Luminar's advantage is chart position (#180 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Luminar ships an update every 2 weeks, SharpStacker fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Luminar | SharpStacker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminar-photo-editor-pro/id6476109261/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4.6K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#180** | — |
| Size | 643 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Skylum](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457042223) | [LUIGI VANNOZZI](https://appshunter.io/developer/6783673110) |

## What reviewers say

### Luminar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminar-photo-editor-pro/id6476109261)

**Currently charting:** #180 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)


### SharpStacker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sharpstacker/id6783673108)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Luminar free?

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

### Is SharpStacker free?

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

### Do Luminar or SharpStacker have ads?

Neither Luminar nor SharpStacker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Luminar or SharpStacker?

Luminar ships an update every 2 weeks, and SharpStacker fortnightly. Most recently, Luminar was updated on October 1, 2026 and SharpStacker on September 28, 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.*