Darkroom Toolkit vs Spirale
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Darkroom Toolkit
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Process film and print in the darkroom, without the math. Darkroom Toolkit is a reference library and set of utilities for film processing and darkroom printing. Browse hundreds of photochemistry formulas, run step-by-step development timers with official manufacturer dev times, and handle common calculations β all in one app. WHY DARKROOM TOOLKIT? β’ One app instead of separate dev chart, formula, and printing calculator apps β’ Primary features are free: all darkroom chemistry formulas, official processes, and calculators included β’ Lifetime Pro unlock for saving favorites, custom workflows, and to support the project FILM DEVELOPING β’ Pre-configured timers for manufacturer-recommended film + developer combinations β’ Multi-step processing with optional audio alerts β’ iOS Live Activity: see your timer on the lock screen β’ Low light / safelight theme for working in the dark FORMULAS & CHEMISTRY β’ Extensive darkroom cookbook: developers, toners, lith, alt process, and more β’ Enter your target volume and every ingredient amount scales automatically β’ Dilution and solution strength conversion utilities DARKROOM PRINTING β’ f-Stop printing calculator: exposure sequences and test strip times β’ Print resizing calculator: new exposure times when changing print size PRO FEATURES (one-time purchase) β’ Save favorite processes and formulas β’ Create and edit custom recipes and processing timers β’ Sync your workflows across devices Whether you're developing your first roll of black and white film, mixing chemistry for cyanotype, or dialing in enlarger exposures, Darkroom Toolkit keeps you consistent. Download free. Upgrade once, yours forever.
Spirale
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Pair a black & white film and developer, pick a fixer and start developing. Spirale guides your sessions with clear timers, agitation cues, and reusable chemistry tracking. The data you need, organized around how development works β not around the database behind it. RECIPES. Your darkroom shelf. Spirale pairs each film and developer in one card, color-coded by packaging, so you spot them at a glance. Films, developers, fixers, all major brands are covered. β’ Reusable developers show batch usage and volume right on the card. β’ Long press on a recipe to rearrange or delete it. THE EDITOR. All the data, none of the noise. Fine-tune your development variables: target ISO, developer dilution, temperature compensation and agitation style for your chemistry. β’ See the roll count, mixing date and expiry date for reusable chemistry. β’ Tap the volume to see the dilution. β’ Pick from official Ilford, Kodak and Agfa agitation styles. β’ Add or remove optional steps. THE TIMER. Agitate with precision, leave nothing to chance. β’ Arcs around the clockface and dots on the progress bar mark each agitation cycle. β’ Sound, haptic, and text cues show what to do and when. β’ Tap the seconds hand or the dial to change the timerβs appearance. THE PROCESS. Make it yours. Your own times, recorded as you develop β tracked, averaged, and refined. The longer you use Spirale, the more it reflects how you work. The datasheet is where you start. Where you end up is yours.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Spirale at none against Darkroom Toolkit's 1. Darkroom Toolkit's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Darkroom Toolkit sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Spirale asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Darkroom Toolkit | Spirale |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | β |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No β better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 β better | 26.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert House | Bogdan Dumitrache |
In-app purchases
Darkroom Toolkit
- Darkroom Toolkit Pro$9.99
Spirale
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Darkroom Toolkit free?
Is Spirale free?
Do Darkroom Toolkit or Spirale have ads?
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