# Lightframer Pro vs Shadow Planner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightframer Pro at 100% against Shadow Planner's 40%. Lightframer Pro also leads on price ($19.99 vs $29.99) and rating (4.8 vs 4.0). Shadow Planner's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Lightframer Pro costs $19.99 and Shadow Planner $29.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Lightframer Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Lightframer Pro's written reviews are positive against 40% of Shadow Planner's.

Lightframer Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, Shadow Planner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightframer Pro | Shadow Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$19.99** | $29.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightframer-pro/id6758417364/reviews)** | [4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-planner/id6793171158/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#103** | #191 |
| Size | 40 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [eric Hernandez](https://appshunter.io/developer/875120891) | [Christopher Fenner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896490601) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightframer Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightframer-pro/id6758417364)

**Currently charting:** #103 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This app transforms your iPhone into a professional cinema viewfinder, allowing you to preview shots with specific camera and lens combinations. It also features real-time sun tracking to help plan shoots around natural light conditions and exports scout photos with detailed metadata.

**Highlights:** Real-time AR viewfinder, Camera and lens simulation, Sun path tracking, Customizable frame lines, Metadata export, Golden hour and blue hour prediction

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shadow Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-planner/id6793171158)

**Currently charting:** #191 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Visualize sun and shadow placement on real-world maps before filming. Scout locations by dropping virtual objects, simulating light movement throughout the day, and measuring distances for precise rigging. Export scenes for planning and collaboration.

**Highlights:** Real sun and shadow simulation on maps, 3D terrain and buildings for accurate shadows, Place and manipulate virtual frames and objects, Simulate light movement from sunrise to sunset, Measure distances and gear ranges, Export scenes and share links

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightframer Pro free?

Lightframer Pro costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shadow Planner free?

Shadow Planner costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lightframer Pro or Shadow Planner?

Lightframer Pro is rated higher. Lightframer Pro averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Shadow Planner averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Lightframer Pro or Shadow Planner have ads?

Neither Lightframer Pro nor Shadow Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightframer Pro or Shadow Planner?

Lightframer Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shadow Planner every 5 days. Most recently, Lightframer Pro was updated on September 15, 2026 and Shadow Planner on September 16, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Lightframer Pro or Shadow Planner?

Lightframer Pro currently peaks at #103 in the App Store charts, and Shadow Planner at #191. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*