Comparison

PureLut Camera vs theLAB

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

Head to head
About

PureLut Camera

Features
Read full description

PureLut. Pure Pictures, Film Lut Soul. Capture the soul of film with the precision of digital. PureLut transforms your iPhone into a film simulation camera powerhouse, blending classic analog aesthetics with modern PureRAW picture flexibility. What’s New in PureLut? We've built PureLut from the ground up for photographers and filmmakers who cherish the look of film. Our app goes beyond filters, offering authentic film simulations through professional 3D LUTs, combined with full manual controls and RAW processing. Key Features: • Authentic Film Simulations — Apply professional 3D LUTs that replicate classic film stocks from Kodak, Fujifilm, and more. • Comes with PreLoaded Film simulation Selected Luts • Pure RAW Capture — Shoot in RAW DNG or Jpeg, Heif with without any processing or with the film look • Advanced Processing Pipeline — Fine-tune your images with professional adjustments: gamma, contrast, saturation, and temperature. Add analog effects like halation, bloom, and grain. • Import Your Own LUTs — Bring your custom 3D LUTs (in .cube format) and organize them with tags and favorites. • Aspect Ratio Composing — Frame your shot in classic aspect ratios: 4:3, 1:1 and 65:24 Xpan • Intuitive Interface — Designed for one-handed use with a left-handed option. Swipe and tap to adjust without missing a shot. • Background Processing — Capture rapidly and let the app process in the background.

About

theLAB

Create film-inspired photos with advanced controls for color, texture, and scan effects. Apply realistic grain, borders, and light leaks to achieve a unique aesthetic. Save custom editing styles for consistent results.

Highlights
  • Film-inspired color and monochrome looks
  • Scanned grain and cinema-style grain
  • Lab scan profiles and correction
  • Halation, borders, textures, light leaks
  • Customizable editing styles
  • Camera capture and import tools
Features
Read full description

theLAB is a film-inspired photo editor for building finished images with color, texture, and scan character. Import an image, then shape it with film looks, scanned grain, lab-style color, halation, borders, paper textures, light leaks, artifacts, and crop tools. Designed for photographers who want more than a simple filter, theLAB gives you hands-on control over the feel of the image: density, warmth, tone bias, grain range, scan character, border placement, and finishing details. Features include: - Film-inspired color and monochrome looks - Scanned grain and cinema-style grain options - Lab scan profiles and scan correction controls - Halation, scanner noise, borders, textures, light leaks, and artifacts - Camera capture, photo import, file import, and share tools - Saved looks for building a repeatable editing style theLAB includes a free editing mode. theLAB Pro unlocks the full film stock library, advanced lab controls, additional grain scans, premium finishing assets, and high-quality export options. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://calebsalvadori.com/thelab

Screenshots

PureLut Camera4 screens
theLAB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: theLAB at Free against PureLut Camera's $4.99. theLAB also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). PureLut Camera's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#186 vs unranked). On update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

theLAB is free to download; PureLut Camera costs $4.99 up front. theLAB sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. PureLut Camera asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PureLut Camera ships an update every 4 days, theLAB every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
PureLut Camera versus theLAB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPureLut CameratheLAB
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
Best chart rank#186 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB301 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCuthbert MuchecheCaleb Salvadori

In-app purchases

None

PureLut Camera

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

theLAB

Subscriptions2
  • theLAB Pro Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • theLAB Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • theLAB Pro Lifetime$74.99

Questions

Is PureLut Camera free?
PureLut Camera costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is theLAB free?
theLAB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PureLut Camera or theLAB have ads?
Neither PureLut Camera nor theLAB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PureLut Camera or theLAB?
PureLut Camera ships an update every 4 days, and theLAB every 3 days. Most recently, PureLut Camera was updated on October 25, 2026 and theLAB on October 28, 2026.

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