Comparison

Calotype vs Sunbeam Editor

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

Head to head
About

Calotype

This app provides a streamlined RAW camera experience for photographers, offering direct access to DNG files without cloud services or extra processing. It features manual controls like shutter speed, ISO, and focus, along with interval shooting and exposure bracketing.

Highlights
  • RAW DNG file saving
  • Manual camera controls (shutter, ISO, focus)
  • Interval shooting for timelapses
  • Exposure bracketing
  • In-app gallery for review and sharing
Read full description

Calotype is a simple RAW camera for photographers who want a cleaner path from lens to file. Your iPhone already has a very capable camera. It also makes a lot of decisions before you ever see the photo. Calotype keeps things quieter. On supported back cameras, Calotype saves real RAW DNG files that you can take into the editor of your choice. No accounts, no cloud library, no extra processing layer. Manual controls are built around the camera you are actually using. Shutter speed follows the sensor’s real format limits, with ISO, focus, white balance, exposure offset, and focus peaking close at hand. You also get interval shooting for timelapses and hands-free captures, exposure bracketing for tricky light, and a simple in-app gallery for reviewing, sharing, and deleting recent shots. Calotype is made by a photographer, for the moments when you want the phone to feel a little more like a camera.

About

Sunbeam Editor

Features
Read full description

Create photos the world should see. Sunbeam is a mobile photo editor built to be intuitive, tactile, and private. — POWERFUL TOOLS IN THUMB'S REACH A fleet of tactile sliders lets you make refinements without needing to shift around or burrow into menus. ADVANCED CAPABILITIES Color grade, mix individual colors, apply film-like effects like grain and halation, adjust tone, and more. REFOCUS A powerful on-device depth model allows you to tap a subject and adjust focus and bokeh intensity on the fly for any photo in your library. MAKE IT YOUR OWN Save your own edits or import cinema-grade 3D LUTs as customizable presets. PRESET CAROUSEL Find the right look by browsing presets that apply in real time as you scroll, and freely dial in the intensity once you've found the right one. BATCH EDITS MADE EASY Effortlessly apply presets across your library for quicker edits. SMART MASKS Automatically select a subject or region to make local adjustments. PUT YOUR BEST PHOTO FORWARD Toggle between edited and original views. Undo up to 50 times, or completely revert changes non-destructively at any time. Explore parallel edits with separate versions of a photo. EXPORT CONTROL Independently manage the format, scale, and included metadata of each export in a batch, or apply all settings globally. CLICKS, TICKS, THUMPS, AND POPS Sunbeam takes cues from the physicality of hardware. These small details make the editing process feel deliberate and close at hand. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Editing and rendering happen on your device. Sunbeam requires no account and uses no analytics, advertising, or tracking. Your photos are never uploaded to any servers operated by Sunbeam. GO INFINITE Sunbeam's core editing tools are entirely free to use. An optional one-time Sunbeam Infinite purchase unlocks unlimited saved presets and 3D LUT imports, alternate versions, complete undo history, and full export controls.

Screenshots

Calotype4 screens
Sunbeam Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Calotype at 18 against Sunbeam Editor's 26.2. On price 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. Calotype sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sunbeam Editor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Calotype versus Sunbeam Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalotypeSunbeam Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequency—Every 9 days
Ads—No
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
Devices—iPhone — better
Requires iOS18 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKyle AaserudKevin Manka

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Calotype

One-time1
  • Calotype Pro$3.99
1 purchases

Sunbeam Editor

One-time1
  • Sunbeam Infinite$4.99

Questions

Is Calotype free?
Calotype is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sunbeam Editor free?
Sunbeam Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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