Comparison

Lux Light Meter · Photometer vs RulerApp

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

Head to head
About

Lux Light Meter · Photometer

This tool transforms your iPhone into a precise light meter, offering multiple modes for various environments and photography needs. It records measurement history, allows for notes and comparisons, and supports CSV export for detailed analysis.

Highlights
  • Precise ambient light measurement (lux)
  • Multiple measurement modes (Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, Photo)
  • Measurement history with trend charts
  • Add notes and favorites to readings
  • Compare saved readings side-by-side
  • CSV export for data analysis
  • EV exposure value for photographers
Features
Read full description

Measure light properly — in lux, foot-candles, EV, or PPFD for plants — using your iPhone's camera to read the light falling on the scene. GROW LIGHTS & PLANTS • PPFD estimated from your live reading, matched to your light source: white LED, HPS, fluorescent or daylight • DLI for a 12, 14, 16 or 18 hour photoperiod, so you can tell whether a shelf actually reaches a seedling's daily light target • These are spectrum-based estimates, not a calibrated PAR sensor. Read them as guidance for placing lights, not as lab data. FOUR MEASURING MODES • Auto — radial gauge with the closest real-world reference shown live • Outdoor — a log scale to 100,000 lx, from deep twilight through overcast and direct sun • Indoor — 10 to 10,000 lx, from corridor and living room up to reading desk, drafting and surgical levels • Photo — EV at ISO 100 with a suggested shutter speed HISTORY THAT ADDS UP • Every reading saves automatically, with a 7-day trend chart and plain-language insight such as "+12% vs your 7-day average" • Notes and favourites — label a reading "kitchen window 3pm" and star it • Compare any two saved readings side by side • Export everything as CSV, or share a single reading as an image MEASUREMENT DETAIL • Kalman-smoothed readings, so there is no jitter to read through • Min, max and average with elapsed time • Log-scale range bar in Outdoor and Indoor modes • Lux, foot-candle and EV units • Calibration factor — scale every reading by a multiplier to match a reference meter you trust WHO USES IT Indoor gardeners and grow-tent owners · photographers and filmmakers · electricians and lighting installers · studio engineers · workplace and office ergonomics checks · industrial lighting surveys HOW IT WORKS Readings are estimated from the back camera's exposure, so this is a reflected-light measurement: point the back of the phone at the surface you care about and keep the lens clean and unshaded. Because it reads reflected light, a white wall and a dark carpet under identical lighting will not read the same, and very dim scenes are the least reliable. Cameras differ between models, so for absolute numbers set the calibration factor against a meter you trust. Available in 25 languages.

About

RulerApp

Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a precise on-screen ruler. Hold any small object against the screen and read its exact size — no tape measure, no guesswork. FEATURES • Accurate out of the box — no manual calibration. Ruler scale is calculated from your exact device's screen density. • Switch between centimeters, inches, or both at once. • Drag to drop a crosshair anywhere and read precise X/Y measurements from the corner. • Toggle a grid overlay (off, major lines, or major + minor) for finer alignment. • iPad extras: hover measurements with a trackpad or Apple Pencil, and keyboard shortcuts (U for units, G for grid) with a hardware keyboard. Simple, fast, and always in your pocket.

Screenshots

Lux Light Meter · Photometer3 screens
RulerApp3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: RulerApp at none against Lux Light Meter · Photometer's shown. RulerApp also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Lux Light Meter · Photometer versus RulerApp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLux Light Meter · PhotometerRulerApp
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (7 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB4 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperKyu-Hee JangMathieu Rancourt

In-app purchases

None

Lux Light Meter · Photometer

No in-app purchases

None

RulerApp

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lux Light Meter · Photometer free?
Lux Light Meter · Photometer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RulerApp free?
RulerApp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lux Light Meter · Photometer or RulerApp have ads?
Lux Light Meter · Photometer shows ads; RulerApp does not.

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