Comparison

LightMeter Express vs Aurelo

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

Head to head
About

LightMeter Express

This tool transforms your iPhone into a professional light meter for photography. It offers accurate exposure readings with real-time calculations for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, supporting various camera settings and providing exposure compensation.

Highlights
  • Real-time light metering
  • Precise exposure calculations
  • Support for standard camera settings
  • Exposure value (EV) display
  • Spot metering (Pro feature)
  • Live histogram (Pro feature)
Read full description

LightMeter Express - Professional Camera Tool Transform your iPhone into a precision light meter for film and digital photography. Get accurate exposure readings with an intuitive interface designed for photographers who demand professional-grade metering capabilities. CORE FEATURES (FREE): • Real-time light metering using your device's camera • Precise aperture, shutter speed, and ISO calculations • Support for all standard camera settings • Clean, professional interface optimized for quick readings • Exposure value (EV) display with compensation controls • Camera settings reference for popular film and digital cameras • Works in any lighting condition your camera can see • Intuitive haptic feedback with "full-stop" detents for exposure drag gestures PERFECT FOR: • Film photographers seeking accurate meter readings • Digital photographers wanting precise exposure control • Studio and outdoor photography • Learning proper exposure techniques • Backup metering when your camera's meter fails PRO FEATURES (One-time $0.99 purchase): • **Spot Metering** - Professional spot metering with zoomed preview for precise exposure readings from specific areas of your scene. Drag to reposition, tap to meter. Works best on iPhones with telephoto lenses for maximum precision • Custom Step Increments - Choose between 1/3, 1/2, or full stop increments for all exposure parameters to match your camera and shooting style • Live Histogram - Real-time histogram display with RGB channel analysis for precise exposure evaluation and highlight/shadow monitoring • Preview Compensation - See exposure compensation effects directly in the camera preview to visualize over/under exposure before shooting • Custom Limits - Set personalized aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation limits to match your specific camera gear and preferences • Black & White Preview - Turn the camera preview into a grayscale image for helping with B&W photography The free version provides full light metering functionality suitable for most photography needs. Pro features add advanced customization and analysis tools for professional and enthusiast photographers. TECHNICAL NOTES: • Requires camera access to function as a light meter • All processing happens locally on your device • No internet connection required • Compatible with iPhone • Spot metering optimized for devices with multiple camera lenses PRIVACY: Light Meter respects your privacy. Camera data is processed locally and never stored or transmitted. No personal information is collected.

About

Aurelo

Features
Read full description

Aurelo helps photographers catch the best light. Open the app and instantly see when golden hour begins, where to point your camera, and how good the light will be — no planning required. Using AR, Aurelo locks the sun's full daily path to the real sky, so you can see exactly where the sun will be at any moment. The sun's position is calculated, not seen through the lens, so it works even through clouds or at twilight. FEATURES • Live golden hour & blue hour windows for your exact location • AR sun path locked to the real sky • Light-quality guidance — know if the light is soft, golden, or harsh • Look ahead to any hour or day • Light-direction advice for front-lit and artistic shots • Cloud & light forecast powered by Apple WeatherKit • Clean, minimal design — answers at a glance LAUNCH OFFER All Pro features are free during the launch period. Enjoy everything while we put the finishing touches on Aurelo Pro. Aurelo — find the light.

Screenshots

LightMeter Express4 screens
Aurelo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Aurelo at none against LightMeter Express's 1. LightMeter Express's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. LightMeter Express sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Aurelo asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
LightMeter Express versus Aurelo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightMeter ExpressAurelo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (11 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better—
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDigitaino LLCATA UNAL

In-app purchases

1 purchases

LightMeter Express

One-time1
  • Light Meter Pro$2.99
None

Aurelo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LightMeter Express free?
LightMeter Express is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aurelo free?
Aurelo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LightMeter Express or Aurelo have ads?
Aurelo shows ads; LightMeter Express does not.

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