Lux Light Meter · Photometer vs MarinCompass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
MarinCompass
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
| Parameter | Lux Light Meter · Photometer | MarinCompass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (7 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kyu-Hee Jang | YOSHIKAZU OHORI |
In-app purchases
Lux Light Meter · Photometer
No in-app purchases
MarinCompass
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Lux Light Meter · Photometer free?
Is MarinCompass free?
Do Lux Light Meter · Photometer or MarinCompass have ads?
Which is updated more often, Lux Light Meter · Photometer or MarinCompass?
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