# LightCalc.io vs Shadow Planner

The clearest difference is price: LightCalc.io at Free against Shadow Planner's $29.99. Shadow Planner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

LightCalc.io is free to download; Shadow Planner costs $29.99 up front. LightCalc.io sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $34.99 per year. Shadow Planner asks for nothing beyond the download.

LightCalc.io ships an update every 3 weeks, Shadow Planner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightCalc.io | Shadow Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $29.99 |
| Rating | — | **[4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-planner/id6793171158/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Size | 48 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthias Streicher-Feldhofer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896729345) | [Christopher Fenner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896490601) |

## What reviewers say

### LightCalc.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightcalcio/id6770274311)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LightCalc Plus | $34.99 | per year |


### Shadow Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-planner/id6793171158)

Visualize sun and shadow placement on real-world maps before filming. Scout locations by dropping virtual objects, simulating light movement throughout the day, and measuring distances for precise rigging. Export scenes for planning and collaboration.

**Highlights:** Real sun and shadow simulation on maps, 3D terrain and buildings for accurate shadows, Place and manipulate virtual frames and objects, Simulate light movement from sunrise to sunset, Measure distances and gear ranges, Export scenes and share links

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightCalc.io free?

LightCalc.io is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shadow Planner free?

Shadow Planner costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do LightCalc.io or Shadow Planner have ads?

Neither LightCalc.io nor Shadow Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LightCalc.io or Shadow Planner?

LightCalc.io ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shadow Planner every 5 days. Most recently, LightCalc.io was updated on October 16, 2026 and Shadow Planner on October 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*