Chronodev vs Max Photo Frames
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chronodev
This app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a darkroom enlarger timer. It uses HomeKit-enabled devices to control your enlarger and safelights, offering features like manual control, metronome for dodging/burning, and automatic test strip creation.
- iPhone/iPad enlarger timer
- HomeKit device control
- Manual enlarger focusing
- Metronome for dodging/burning
- EV stop time adjustments
- Automatic test strip creation
- Voice control support
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Transform your iPhone into an enlarger timer using Chronodev. Chronodev uses HomeKit-enabled wall plugs and lightbulbs to control your enlarger and safelights. Secondhand enlarger timers can be expensive and hard to find. This one costs the price of a wi-fi wall plug. - Control your enlarger and safelight with your iPhone or iPad - Expose prints accurately using the HomeKit-enabled timer - Manual enlarger control for focusing - Use the metronome for dodging and burning - Adjust times using EV stops - Automatically create test strips with incremental exposures, and keep track of exposure times using a handy graph - Automatically turn your safelight off when exposing/focusing - Voice control support for hands-free development - Safe to use in black and white darkrooms when using iOS's built-in red color filter A HomeKit-enabled wall plug and/or lightbulb is required to use all features of this app. Some features (like a basic timer and EV stop calculations) are available without a HomeKit-enabled device.
Max Photo Frames
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Frame it. Caption it. Keep it. Max Photo Frames turns your photos into keepsakes with clean borders, retro looks and captions in one tap. Free. No subscription. Nothing to unlock. NEW IN 3.3 • Print sizes with no white borders: 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, A4 and more, saved at the paper's real size • Drag or pinch to fit the photo • Your PNG logo as a watermark: add it once, use it on every photo • Your camera settings as a caption: shutter, aperture, ISO and focal length, read from the photo • Shot Data presets, with three film looks • Film and Retro Wide borders • Choose export quality and see the file size before you save • A rebuilt iPad landscape editor • Hub pages that open in place, with swipe back • Every section explains itself under its heading ALSO IN THE BOX • Retro and instant film looks, now in landscape too • One-tap Studio looks, and presets you can save, group and search • Seasonal presets, like Father Figures for Father's Day • Captions, dates, birthdays and countdowns • More than thirty fonts • Background blur, cutouts and 3D Pop • Face-aware 3D Props and playful decorations • White Balance with an Auto setting • Save as a photo, a Live Photo or a GIF • Share a preset with a friend as a file • iCloud Sync, and one backup file for your presets, captions and settings • Light and dark themes on iPhone and iPad IN-APP PURCHASES The only in-app purchases are optional tips to support the app. A tip unlocks nothing, because every feature is already yours. YOUR PHOTOS STAY YOURS No ads. No tracking. No account. Everything runs on your device, and your photos are never uploaded. We never touch your metadata. iCloud Sync stays off until you switch it on, and it carries your presets, captions and logos, never your photos.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chronodev at none against Max Photo Frames's 4. On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Max Photo Frames sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Chronodev asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chronodev ships an update monthly, Max Photo Frames every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chronodev | Max Photo Frames |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 62 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kevin Olmats | Oscar Lim |
In-app purchases
Chronodev
No in-app purchases
Max Photo Frames
- A small tip$0.99
- A coffee$3.99
- A bubble tea$7.99
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- A round of drinks$29.99
Questions
Is Chronodev free?
Is Max Photo Frames free?
Do Chronodev or Max Photo Frames have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chronodev or Max Photo Frames?
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