SnapGuru vs Chase the Light
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SnapGuru
Plan and capture stunning photos in any light with this photography assistant. It offers real-time geolocation, astronomical data, and advanced calculation tools for various photography styles.
- Real-time geolocation for planning
- Golden hour and blue hour tracking
- Moon phase and Milky Way visibility
- Photo weather conditions
- ND filter exposure calculator
- Hyperfocal distance and depth of field calculators
- Social media templates and LUTs
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SnapGuru is your ultimate assistant for night photography, landscape shooting, and astrophotography, built to help you plan and capture perfect shots in any light condition. With real-time geolocation, SnapGuru provides: -Golden hour, blue hour, sunrise and sunset times with duration -Updated moon phases and full moon visibility -Milky Way position with AR Live View to track it in the sky -Photo weather conditions ideal for outdoor planning Advanced tools designed for DSLR, mirrorless, and mobile photography: -ND filter exposure calculator -Exposure equivalence between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture -Hyperfocal distance and depth of field calculators with camera-specific presets -Social media templates for perfect ratio, feeds, reels, posts, live -Ultimate LUTs and Filters -Shoot photos and videos with overlay photography grids like golden rule, perspective, thirds, symmetry and so on... Whether you're capturing stars, cityscapes, or natural landscapes, SnapGuru is the perfect app to plan your shots with accuracy and confidence.
Chase the Light
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Chase the Light is the essential tool for cinematographers, photographers, and anyone who lives for the magic of natural light. Know exactly when golden hour begins where you're standing. Every time is calculated for your GPS coordinates and today's date, and live weather tells you what the light will actually look like. THE LIGHT LOOP — YOUR DAY'S LIGHT AT A GLANCE A 24-hour loop on the home screen shows where you are in the day, from soft daylight through golden hour, blue hour and night. As golden or blue hour approaches, it opens up with a live countdown to the next phase. The rest of the day it folds into a compact capsule, out of your way. Tap any phase to see when it starts today, what the light looks like, and how to shoot it. SEVEN PHASES OF LIGHT — PRECISELY TIMED Every cinematographer knows the best light lasts only minutes. Chase the Light times every phase of the day for your exact location and date: - Night — Full darkness. Stars and long exposures. - Astronomical Twilight — The sky begins to glow. Deep navy hues emerge. - Nautical Twilight — Rich indigo and violet tones. The horizon comes alive. - Blue Hour — Cool ethereal blue light. No shadows. Pure atmosphere. Also known as civil twilight. - Golden Hour — Warm, soft, directional light. The magic begins. - Low Sun — Warm, angled light. Long dramatic shadows. - Soft Light — Gentle daylight. Flattering and cinematic. LIVE ACTIVITY — THE COUNTDOWN ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN Open the app around golden or blue hour and follow the countdown on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, phase by phase, without unlocking your phone. With Pro alerts on, it starts on its own. APPLE WATCH Put the Light Loop on your watch face: a ring of the day's light phases with the time to the next one, alongside a Next Event complication for sunrise and sunset. LIVE SUN TRACKING A real-time cinematic sun arc shows the sun's exact position in the sky right now. Watch it move. Know where it's heading. The arc updates every second with the sun's true altitude and azimuth for your coordinates. SUNRISE & SUNSET FORECASTS Not just the times — but what the light will actually look like. Cloud cover, weather conditions, and a Great/Good/Poor light quality rating tell you whether to set your alarm or sleep in. LIVE SATELLITE IMAGERY See the actual clouds over your region right now with live GOES satellite imagery. Know what's coming before you pack your gear. DEPARTURE REMINDERS Set notifications for exactly when you need to leave to reach your shooting location on time. Account for travel time and setup. Never miss the light because you left too late. GLOBAL LOCATION SEARCH Search any city or location worldwide. Planning a shoot in Iceland? Patagonia? The Sahara? Chase the Light works everywhere. REAL-TIME WEATHER Current conditions, temperature, cloud cover, humidity, wind speed, and a 24-hour forecast strip with golden and blue hour windows highlighted. FREE AND PRO The Light Loop, all seven light phases, the sun arc, current weather and the Apple Watch complications are free. Chase the Light Pro adds golden- and blue-hour alerts, departure reminders, a Live Activity that starts on its own, and the full Apple Watch app. Built by a cinematographer, for cinematographers. Because the best light only lasts minutes. Chase it.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Chase the Light at Free against SnapGuru's $8.99. Chase the Light also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). SnapGuru's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.2). On 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
Chase the Light is free to download; SnapGuru costs $8.99 up front. Chase the Light sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SnapGuru asks for nothing beyond the download.
SnapGuru ships an update every 4 months, Chase the Light fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SnapGuru | Chase the Light |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 26.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 189 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stefano Alberti | JEFFREY ELVIN HAUPT |
In-app purchases
SnapGuru
No in-app purchases
Chase the Light
- Chase the Light$1.99









