Comparison

RAW2HDR vs Sunward

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

Head to head
About

RAW2HDR

Transform your camera's RAW files into stunning 10-bit HDR images with over a billion colors. Enhance brightness, shadows, and color depth for photos that truly pop. Includes professional editing tools, black & white conversion, and customizable frames.

Highlights
  • RAW to 10-bit HDR conversion
  • Enhanced color depth and dynamic range
  • Professional editing tools
  • Black & white conversion
  • Customizable picture frames and borders
  • LUT and style simulations
  • Universal RAW file support
Features
Read full description

Unlock the True Potential of Your Photos : raw2hdr transforms your camera's RAW files into stunning 10-bit HDR images that bring your photography to life. Whether you're shooting with a Sony, Fujifilm, Canon, or Leica, this app unlocks the full dynamic range hiding in your RAW files. What is 10-bit HDR? Standard photos are limited to 8-bit color (16 million colors). 10-bit HDR images contain over 1 billion colors — that's 64 times more color information! This means: * Brighter whites that truly shine without washing out * Deeper shadows with visible detail instead of pure black * Richer colors that match what your eyes actually saw * Glowing highlights in sunsets, city lights, and reflections Think of it like viewing your photos through a professional slide projector instead of looking at a print — everything has depth, luminance, and presence that jumps off the screen. The HDR Difference You Can See When you view HDR images on modern iPhones, iPads, or HDR-enabled displays, you'll notice: * Sunsets actually glow with warm radiance * City lights sparkle like real life * Black & white photos show brilliant whites that feel illuminated from within * Picture frames make your images pop off the screen with dimensional depth Perfect for Social Media - Share your HDR masterpieces where they'll shine: * Instagram - HDR photos stand out in feeds with eye-catching vibrancy * Threads - Your HDR images will stop the scroll * iMessage - Send HDR photos that look stunning on recipients' HDR screens * iPhone Photos - Full HDR viewing with the HDR badge Professional Editing Tools : * Histogram, Crop mode, Exposure, Contrast, Black Point, White Balance, Shadow Recovery, Lens Correction, Noise Reduction Black & White Conversion : * Transform your photos into luminous black & white images where whites actually glow brighter than standard photos. In HDR, monochrome photography reaches a new level — imagine viewing Ansel Adams prints with a backlight. Picture Frames & Borders : * Borders in any size with any colors * Custom aspect ratios (65:24 x-pan, 16:9, 4:3, 3:2, 1:1, or original) * Flexible alignment * HDR frames create a gallery presentation effect — like matted prints in a professional exhibition Simulations & LUTs: * Adding styles into your images in both SDR / HDR from ranges of 50+ styles Universal RAW Support - Apple's CIRAWFilter for professional-grade RAW processing Works with RAW files from major camera brands: * Sony (ARW) * Fujifilm (RAF) — including X-Trans sensors * Canon (CR2, CR3) * Leica, Apple, DJI, Google, Sigma, Ricoh (DNG) * Panasonic (RAW, RW2) * Hasselblad (3FR) * Olympus (ORF) * Pentax (PEF) * Nikon (NEF) * And many more... The Value of Converting to HDR : Your camera captures far more light information than what standard 8-bit photos can display. RAW files contain this "hidden" data, but you need HDR to actually see it. Standard Photo: Clipped highlights, crushed shadows, compressed colors HDR Conversion: Full dynamic range, glowing lights, rich shadows, true-to-life colors It's like the difference between looking through a dirty window vs. standing outside — suddenly everything is vivid, dimensional, and real. How It Works : 1. Import your RAW photos from anywhere 2. Convert to 10-bit HDR HEIC with a single tap 3. Editing with adjustments, add elegant frames, experimenting with film simulations 4. Share to Instagram, Threads, or save to Photos 5. Experience your photos in stunning HDR on compatible displays See the Difference : The difference between standard photos and HDR is impossible to describe — you have to see it. Once you experience HDR images on an HDR display, standard photos will feel flat and lifeless by comparison.

About

Sunward

Features
Read full description

Where will the sun be — and when will the light be perfect? Sunward answers that question anywhere on Earth, on any date — past or future. Point your camera at the sky and watch the sun's full-day arc appear in augmented reality. Drop a pin on a 3D map and see exactly how shadows will fall across a street, a façade, or a balcony. Know the precise minute golden hour begins — today, next month, or on the winter solstice. Built for photographers, filmmakers, real-estate scouts, architects, and outdoor creators who plan around natural light. Every solar calculation runs on device, powered by our own astronomy engine. TRY EVERYTHING FREE FOR 7 DAYS Full features require a paid subscription or one-time Lifetime purchase. Start with a 7-day free trial — full access to every feature below. SEE THE SUN BEFORE IT GETS THERE - AR Sun Path — a live camera overlay of the sun's complete arc, with time-travel scrubbing through any date, solstices, and equinoxes. Sun-align calibration gives degree-perfect framing. - Sun Dial — one beautiful screen with sunrise, sunset, solar noon, golden hour, blue hour, twilight bands, and the sun's current position. - Shadow Studio — a 3D map with physically accurate building shadows that stretch and rotate through the day. Drop a probe pin anywhere to see when that exact spot is in sun or shade. KNOW A PROPERTY'S LIGHT BEFORE YOU COMMIT - Property Sun Report — a Sun Score plus a year-round comparison for any address, exportable as a PDF or photo. Perfect for house hunting, real-estate listings, and architecture briefs. - Construction Footprint — draw a building footprint and preview its projected shadow at any time of year. Made for architects, landscape designers, and solar panel planning. PLAN THE SHOOT, NOT JUST THE DAY - Planner — save shoots by date and location with automatic weather and light forecasts, then share shoot cards with your crew. - Light Match — import a reference photo and Sunward reads its data to find when the same light — angle, color temperature, sun altitude — will happen again at any location. - Timetable & Forecast — 14-day light forecasts with cloud, rain, and temperature overlays, exportable as PDF. NEVER MISS THE LIGHT - Golden hour, blue hour, sunrise, sunset, and solar noon alerts with Live Activities and Dynamic Island countdowns. - Apple Watch app with today's light phases, a live countdown, and complications for every watch face. - Home and Lock Screen widgets: golden hour countdown, sunrise/sunset, mini dial, and sun position. MADE THE RIGHT WAY - Works fully offline once your locations are pinned. - Privacy-first: no accounts, no ads, no analytics, no tracking. Your location never leaves your device. - Liquid Glass design with full Light and Dark Mode, on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. - Available in 15 languages. Whether you're timing a portrait session, matching continuity light between shoot days, comparing apartments, positioning solar panels, or picking the sunny café terrace — Sunward shows you where the sun will be, when the light will be best, and what the shadows will do. SUNWARD PRO Every plan unlocks the complete feature set — choose how you'd like to pay: - Sunward Monthly — auto-renewing subscription - Sunward Yearly — auto-renewing subscription with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers - Sunward Lifetime — one-time purchase, yours forever Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://www.jyvapps.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

RAW2HDR4 screens
Sunward4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: RAW2HDR at 13.0 against Sunward's 17. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. RAW2HDR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sunward sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RAW2HDR ships an update every 2 weeks, Sunward every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
RAW2HDR versus Sunward: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRAW2HDRSunward
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size183 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChris chi-fu HUANGFarah Aydoni

In-app purchases

1 purchases

RAW2HDR

One-time1
  • raw2hdr Pro Unlimited$2.99
3 purchases

Sunward

Subscriptions2
  • Sunward Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Sunward Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Sunward Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is RAW2HDR free?
RAW2HDR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sunward free?
Sunward is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do RAW2HDR or Sunward have ads?
Neither RAW2HDR nor Sunward shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RAW2HDR or Sunward?
RAW2HDR ships an update every 2 weeks, and Sunward every 3 weeks. Most recently, RAW2HDR was updated on September 22, 2026 and Sunward on September 22, 2026.

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