Comparison

Light Meter vs ArtBorder

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

Head to head
About

Light Meter

This app helps film photographers precisely measure light, distance, and depth of field before taking a shot. It offers tools for exposure evaluation, flash calculation, and reciprocity failure compensation, with advanced features available via a one-time purchase.

Highlights
  • Light metering
  • Zone metering
  • Flash calculator
  • Reciprocity failure compensation
  • Distance meter (LiDAR)
  • Depth of field calculator
  • Gear library
Features
Read full description

FilmBox Toolkit Shoot film with greater confidence. From exposure decisions and manual focusing to long-exposure compensation and photo notes, FilmBox Toolkit brings essential film photography tools together on your iPhone. Make informed choices before you press the shutter. ZONE SYSTEM METERING Visualize readings from different areas of your scene using Zone System principles. Compare highlights and shadows, decide which details to preserve, and adjust your exposure. Built for situations where careful exposure control matters. FREE TOOLS • Light Meter (basic mode): Evaluate ambient light and get exposure settings to work from. • LiDAR Rangefinder (up to 1 meter): Estimate subject distance to assist manual focusing and flash calculations. Requires compatible hardware. • Flash Calculator (GN): Calculate settings from the guide number for shooting without TTL. • Depth of Field Calculator: Estimate your focus range and hyperfocal distance. • Reciprocity Failure Compensation: Calculate long-exposure adjustments based on your selected film. • Shutter Speed Test: Help check your camera's shutter speed and assess its performance. • Negative Viewer: Use the camera to preview negatives as positive images and inspect their contents. For previewing only; not a replacement for professional scanning or post-processing. • Gear Library & Photo Log: Organize film stocks, flashes, and preferred settings, and keep shooting notes for later reference. FREE & PRO FilmBox Toolkit is free to download. All features are free except the three Pro features below. Free features include manual input for Zone System metering, basic light metering, rangefinding up to 1 meter, the Shutter Speed Test, and the Negative Viewer. FilmBox Pro unlocks: • Zone System metering: real-time light readings. • Light Meter: 1-degree spot metering mode. • Rangefinder: distance measurements beyond 1 meter. Choose either: • A one-time lifetime purchase. • An annual subscription with access during the subscription period. See the in-app purchase screen for current pricing and purchase terms. DEVICE COMPATIBILITY • Standard SDR metering: Compatible iPhones running iOS 17 or later. • Apple Log metering: Uses 10-bit Apple Log data. Supported on iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, 16 Pro/Pro Max, and 17 Pro/Pro Max. The app selects the appropriate mode for your device. • LiDAR rangefinding: Requires a LiDAR-equipped iPhone: Pro and Pro Max models in the iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 families. Devices without Apple Log or LiDAR can still use other compatible features. Hardware support and Pro access are separate requirements. PRIVACY Metering, depth of field, and other calculations run locally on your device. We do not collect or upload your personal data. Privacy Policy: https://www.filmboxtoolkit.com/privacy.html TERMS OF USE This app is licensed under Apple's standard End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ArtBorder

Easily add professional frames, backgrounds, and personalized touches to your photos. Offers batch editing and high-quality export options for visual creators.

Highlights
  • Multiple frame ratios with custom presets
  • Solid colors, textures, and custom image backgrounds
  • Controls for borders, shadows, watermarks, and text
  • Batch editing with thumbnail reordering
  • High-quality JPG and PNG export
Features
Read full description

ArtBorder is a photo framing tool designed for photographers and visual creators, helping you quickly add frames, backgrounds, and personalized details to your photos. · Multiple frame ratios with custom preset saving · Solid colors, textures, and custom image backgrounds · Flexible controls for borders, shadows, watermarks, and text · Batch editing with drag-and-drop thumbnail reordering · High-quality JPG and PNG export Create clean, professional, and distinctive photo presentations with ease. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Light Meter4 screens
ArtBorder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ArtBorder at 5.0 against Light Meter's 3.6. ArtBorder also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 85%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Light Meter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year and ArtBorder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ArtBorder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Light Meter's written reviews are positive against 95% of ArtBorder's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Light Meter ships an update every 9 days, ArtBorder every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Light Meter versus ArtBorder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLight MeterArtBorder
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (5 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.2% of reviews95.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer卓 朱昌荣 马

Customer experience

Light Meter

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive85.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative7.4%

ArtBorder

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive95.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.5%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Light Meter

Subscriptions1
  • FilmBox Toolkit Pro Subscription$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • FilmBox Toolkit Pro$17.99
2 purchases

ArtBorder

Subscriptions1
  • ArtBorder Annual$2.991 Year
One-time1
  • ArtBorder Lifetime Unlock$6.99

Questions

Is Light Meter free?
Light Meter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ArtBorder free?
ArtBorder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Light Meter or ArtBorder?
ArtBorder is rated higher. Light Meter averages 3.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while ArtBorder averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Light Meter or ArtBorder have ads?
Neither Light Meter nor ArtBorder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Light Meter or ArtBorder?
Light Meter ships an update every 9 days, and ArtBorder every 5 days. Most recently, Light Meter was updated on October 31, 2026 and ArtBorder on November 5, 2026.

Other comparisons