Comparison

Filter Simulation vs GrayZone

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

Head to head
About

Filter Simulation

Simulate the effects of real optical filters for black and white photography. This app accurately mimics the luminance modulation of red, yellow, green, blue, and orange filters. It also includes an automatic shutter speed calculator for ND filters and a pinhole photography simulator.

Highlights
  • Simulate optical filters for B&W
  • Mimics red, yellow, green, blue, orange filters
  • Custom CIColorKernel shaders
  • Automatic shutter speed calculator for ND filters
  • Pinhole photograph simulation
Features
Read full description

Simulate real optical filters in black & white. This app uses custom CIColorKernel shaders to modulate grayscale luminance based on color vector similarity—accurately mimicking red, yellow, green, blue, and orange filters as used in film photography. Then, if needed, save the filtered image with filter information. Then, swipe left and find an automatic shutter speed calculator for applying various ND filters And that's not all; keep on swiping and you can simulate pinhole photographs before shooting!

About

GrayZone

This app acts as a precise light meter for photographers, allowing you to measure light in specific areas of your scene. It helps achieve consistent exposure and accurate tonal representation, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

Highlights
  • Zone System Mode for tonal analysis
  • Real SPOT metering for selected areas
  • Direct exposure control with ISO, shutter speed, and aperture
  • Live preview with native sensor ratio
  • UI color inversion option
  • No ads or data collection
Read full description

GrayZone reads light where you decide — not where your camera guesses. Built by Max of max&douglas — professional photographer with 25 years in editorial and advertising photography. Zone System Mode Measure a reference area first (Zone V), then check where the other tones will fall and their relative EV difference, for precise and consistent exposure. Real SPOT Metering Reads light exclusively in the area you select. Ideal for portraits, complex lighting and critical situations. Calibrated to render the selected area as neutral gray. Direct Exposure Control Set ISO before metering, like a dedicated light meter. Instant precise combinations of shutter speed and aperture. Exposure lock with AE LOCK. Half-stop support for finer control. MANUAL mode with over/underexposure scale. Essential Interface Live preview in your sensor's native ratio. NEW UI color inversion Shows only what you need. Nothing else. Complete Privacy No ads. No photos saved. No data collected or transmitted. For manual shooters — on film or digital. It does not replace your camera. It works alongside it.

Screenshots

Filter Simulation4 screens
GrayZone4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Filter Simulation at Free against GrayZone's $2.99. Filter Simulation also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 63%). GrayZone's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and chart position (#36 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Filter Simulation is free to download; GrayZone costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Filter Simulation holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Filter Simulation's written reviews are positive against 63% of GrayZone's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Filter Simulation ships an update monthly, GrayZone weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Filter Simulation versus GrayZone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFilter SimulationGrayZone
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better2.8 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better62.5% of reviews
Number of ratings35 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#36 — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAri JaaksiMassimiliano Schenetti

Customer experience

Filter Simulation

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

GrayZone

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%

In-app purchases

None

Filter Simulation

No in-app purchases

None

GrayZone

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Filter Simulation free?
Filter Simulation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GrayZone free?
GrayZone costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Filter Simulation or GrayZone?
Filter Simulation is rated higher. Filter Simulation averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while GrayZone averages 2.8 from 5 ratings.
Do Filter Simulation or GrayZone have ads?
Neither Filter Simulation nor GrayZone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Filter Simulation or GrayZone?
Filter Simulation ships an update monthly, and GrayZone weekly. Most recently, Filter Simulation was updated on September 18, 2026 and GrayZone on September 22, 2026.

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