Comparison

Darkroom Toolkit vs Darkroom Companion

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

Head to head
About

Darkroom Toolkit

Features
Read full description

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 – all in one app. WHY DARKROOM TOOLKIT? • One app instead of separate dev chart, formula, and printing calculator apps • Primary features are free: all darkroom chemistry formulas, official processes, and calculators included • Lifetime Pro unlock for saving favorites, custom workflows, and to support the project FILM DEVELOPING • Pre-configured timers for manufacturer-recommended film + developer combinations • Multi-step processing with optional audio alerts • iOS Live Activity: see your timer on the lock screen • Low light / safelight theme for working in the dark FORMULAS & CHEMISTRY • Extensive darkroom cookbook: developers, toners, lith, alt process, and more • Enter your target volume and every ingredient amount scales automatically • Dilution and solution strength conversion utilities DARKROOM PRINTING • f-Stop printing calculator: exposure sequences and test strip times • Print resizing calculator: new exposure times when changing print size PRO FEATURES (one-time purchase) • Save favorite processes and formulas • Create and edit custom recipes and processing timers • 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.

About

Darkroom Companion

Features
Read full description

Free film developing times and a multi-step darkroom timer for black-and-white film. Built-in development chart for common film and developer combinations, dilution calculator, reciprocity calculator and a red night mode. No subscription, no ads. Whether you are developing your first roll or your thousandth, it keeps the whole process in one place. FREE — NO SUBSCRIPTION, NO ADS • Multi-step timer — developer, stop bath, fixer, wash, wetting agent — with sound and haptic agitation cues • Night (red) mode that preserves your dark adaptation • Development time calculator for bath temperature and push/pull (± stops) • Built-in database of times for common film and developer combinations • Dilution calculator — how much concentrate, how much water • Celsius or Fahrenheit, whichever you think in • Reciprocity calculator for long exposures • One custom recipe and the last three developments in the log DARKROOM PRO — one-time unlock, no subscription • Unlimited custom recipes and custom process steps • Chemistry log — tracks expiry and exhaustion, warns you before you pour dead fixer • Unlimited development history • Data export and import Times are indicative. Verify them against the manufacturer datasheet before real use — the app reminds you as well. PRIVACY The app collects only anonymous usage statistics — which screens are opened and which features are used — so it can be improved. It does not send your recipes, log, notes or anything else you type into it, and it uses no advertising identifiers.

Screenshots

Darkroom Toolkit4 screens
Darkroom Companion4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Darkroom Companion at none against Darkroom Toolkit's 1. Darkroom Companion also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Darkroom Toolkit sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Darkroom Companion asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Darkroom Toolkit versus Darkroom Companion: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDarkroom ToolkitDarkroom Companion
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobert HouseStanislav Grunfeld

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Darkroom Toolkit

One-time1
  • Darkroom Toolkit Pro$9.99
None

Darkroom Companion

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Darkroom Toolkit free?
Darkroom Toolkit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Darkroom Companion free?
Darkroom Companion is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Darkroom Toolkit or Darkroom Companion have ads?
Neither Darkroom Toolkit nor Darkroom Companion shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Darkroom Toolkit or Darkroom Companion?
Darkroom Toolkit ships an update fortnightly, and Darkroom Companion fortnightly. Most recently, Darkroom Toolkit was updated on October 7, 2026 and Darkroom Companion on September 28, 2026.

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