Comparison

Lux Light Meter · Photometer vs MarinCompass

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

Measure light intensity in various units like lux, foot-candles, and EV using your iPhone's camera. It offers features for plant light assessment, historical data tracking, and detailed measurement insights. Ideal for gardeners, photographers, and lighting professionals.

Highlights
  • Measure light in lux, foot-candles, EV, and PPFD
  • Estimate DLI for plant photoperiods
  • Four measuring modes: Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, Photo
  • Automatic reading saving with 7-day trend chart
  • Add notes and favorites to readings
  • Export readings as CSV or share as images
  • Kalman-smoothed readings with min, max, and average
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

MarinCompass

Features
Read full description

MarinCompassは、iPhoneの磁気センサーによる磁気方位を大きく見やすく表示するシンプルなコンパスアプリです。 端末を船首方向へ正しく固定して使用すると、現在の向きに応じた方位角と方位記号を確認できます。文字盤は滑らかに回転し、縦向き・横向きの画面に対応しています。 主な機能 ・0〜359°の磁気方位表示 ・N、NE、E、SE、S、SW、W、NWの方位表示 ・縦向き・横向き対応 ・方位センサーが利用できない場合の「No signal」表示 ・位置情報の許可状態と方位精度の表示 ・画面表示中のスリープ抑制 ご注意 このアプリはiPhoneの磁気センサーによる方位を表示します。GPSの進行方向(COG)は使用しません。 船体の金属、電源ケーブル、モーター、スピーカー、無線機などの近くでは磁気方位が乱れる場合があります。 本アプリは航海用機器ではなく、航行の安全や方位の正確性を保証するものではありません。

Screenshots

Lux Light Meter · Photometer3 screens
MarinCompass3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: MarinCompass at none against Lux Light Meter · Photometer's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lux Light Meter · Photometer ships an update every 4 days, MarinCompass weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Lux Light Meter · Photometer versus MarinCompass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLux Light Meter · PhotometerMarinCompass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (7 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB1 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperKyu-Hee JangYOSHIKAZU OHORI

In-app purchases

None

Lux Light Meter · Photometer

No in-app purchases

None

MarinCompass

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 MarinCompass free?
MarinCompass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lux Light Meter · Photometer or MarinCompass have ads?
Lux Light Meter · Photometer shows ads; MarinCompass does not.
Which is updated more often, Lux Light Meter · Photometer or MarinCompass?
Lux Light Meter · Photometer ships an update every 4 days, and MarinCompass weekly. Most recently, Lux Light Meter · Photometer was updated on October 31, 2026 and MarinCompass on October 29, 2026.

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