# DevelopFilm vs Darkroom Studios

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Darkroom Studios at none against DevelopFilm's 3. Darkroom Studios also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DevelopFilm sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Darkroom Studios asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for DevelopFilm against 5.0 for Darkroom Studios. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

DevelopFilm ships an update every 11 days, Darkroom Studios fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DevelopFilm | Darkroom Studios |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/developfilm-darkroom-lab/id6749870154/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkroom-studios/id6800040114/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aleksandrs Bertulis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1825425669) | [JunziTech Solutions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1803950800) |

## What reviewers say

### DevelopFilm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/developfilm-darkroom-lab/id6749870154)

This app is a pocket darkroom companion for black-and-white film development. It offers official developing times, a smart timer with agitation guidance, and full process control. Track your film details and parameters in a built-in journal to refine your workflow and achieve consistent results.

**Highlights:** Official developing times database, Smart timer with agitation guidance, Full process control adjustments, Built-in film roll journal, Quick custom timer, Darkroom-ready minimal interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Darkroom Pass Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Darkroom Pass Yearly | $17.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $34.99 | one-time |


### Darkroom Studios

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkroom-studios/id6800040114)

This app helps analog photographers manage their darkroom printing process. It tracks equipment, darkroom setups, and print parameters to ensure repeatable results. Guided sessions with timed stages and live previews aid in achieving desired outcomes.

**Highlights:** Register and track darkroom gear, Build and save repeatable darkroom setups, Guided printing sessions with timed stages, Live print previews with parameter adjustments, Save and share print results with parameters, No ads or tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DevelopFilm free?

DevelopFilm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Darkroom Studios free?

Darkroom Studios is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DevelopFilm or Darkroom Studios?

DevelopFilm and Darkroom Studios are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do DevelopFilm or Darkroom Studios have ads?

Neither DevelopFilm nor Darkroom Studios shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DevelopFilm or Darkroom Studios?

DevelopFilm ships an update every 11 days, and Darkroom Studios fortnightly. Most recently, DevelopFilm was updated on November 5, 2026 and Darkroom Studios on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*