Comparison

LightCalc.io vs Raccord Lighting

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

Head to head
About

LightCalc.io

Features
Read full description

LightCalc is the on-set lighting tool built for cinematographers, gaffers and lighting professionals. Stop doing mental maths under pressure - get the right exposure, the right fixture, and the right setup in seconds. Exposure Calculator Input your camera settings - T-stop, ISO, shutter angle, frame rate, ND filters - and instantly see the illuminance your scene needs. Switch between lux and foot-candles with one tap. Ambient Light Meter Use your iPhone camera as a live lux meter. Point at any surface to get a real-time ambient reading and feed it directly into your calculations - no separate hardware needed. Fixture Comparison Compare up to four lighting fixtures side by side at any distance. Adjust count and dimming per fixture and see relative output at a glance. Power & Distance Solver Know exactly what dimming level or distance you need to hit your target exposure. Works with your chosen fixture, modifier, diffusion and gel. Full Fixture Library Access a curated library of professional fixtures and modifiers. Plus users can add their own custom fixtures and diffusion materials - synced across web and mobile. Projects Save your setups and reload them on the next shoot. Your lighting data travels with you. Built for the Set Dark UI, fast inputs, haptic feedback - designed to be used in low-light environments with one hand while holding a light meter in the other. LightCalc requires an active LightCalc Plus subscription. Manage your subscription at lightcalc.io. Privacy Policy: https://lightcalc.io/privacy-policy | Terms of Use: https://lightcalc.io/terms-conditions

About

Raccord Lighting

Features
Read full description

Arrive on set with the light planned and a map the whole crew can understand. Raccord Lighting helps you create complete lighting plots, place lights and modifiers, check electrical distribution, and prepare the production’s technical material. Start by drawing the floor plan from scratch or, on supported iPhones and iPads, scan the room in 3D to automatically create the base of the plot. Then adjust walls and measurements, organize equipment, and build the lighting setup. CREATE THE LIGHTING PLOT Build a clear representation of the space before the shoot. Work to scale, place lights, modifiers, and set elements, and make dimensions, directions, and notes easy to understand. • Draw walls, doors, and room elements. • Scan the space in 3D on supported devices. • Place lights and modifiers. • Organize the plot with dimensions, layers, and labels. • See light direction with Smart Beams. CHECK THE POWER • Organize sources, circuits, and loads. • Review watts, amps, available capacity, and overload warnings. • Estimate battery and generator runtime for the setup. HAND IT TO THE CREW • Export plots as PDF, PNG, or JPEG. • Generate a technical pack, electric report, rental list, and CSV. • Review the document before sharing it with the crew or rental house. USE THE RIGHT DEVICE Work on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Projects remain available locally and can sync through iCloud when it is available. Smart Beams are a 2D visual aid, not a lux simulation. The app does not control lights or DMX consoles. Free mode lets you try the main workflow with creation limits. Raccord Lighting Pro removes those limits; plans and prices are shown by the App Store. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

LightCalc.io4 screens
Raccord Lighting4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Raccord Lighting at none against LightCalc.io'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. LightCalc.io sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $34.99 per year and Raccord Lighting sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LightCalc.io ships an update fortnightly, Raccord Lighting every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
LightCalc.io versus Raccord Lighting: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightCalc.ioRaccord Lighting
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthias Streicher-FeldhoferRaphael Medeiros

In-app purchases

1 purchases

LightCalc.io

Subscriptions1
  • LightCalc Plus14 Days trial$34.991 Year
3 purchases

Raccord Lighting

Subscriptions2
  • Raccord Lighting Pro Mensal7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Raccord Lighting Pro Anual7 Days trial$22.991 Year
One-time1
  • Raccord Lighting Pro Vitalício$59.99

Questions

Is LightCalc.io free?
LightCalc.io is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Raccord Lighting free?
Raccord Lighting is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LightCalc.io or Raccord Lighting have ads?
LightCalc.io shows ads; Raccord Lighting does not.
Which is updated more often, LightCalc.io or Raccord Lighting?
LightCalc.io ships an update fortnightly, and Raccord Lighting every 2 weeks. Most recently, LightCalc.io was updated on November 9, 2026 and Raccord Lighting on November 10, 2026.

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