Cinecyclop vs Shadow Planner
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cinecyclop
This app helps film, commercial, and music video crew members prepare equipment for shoots. It allows users to build comprehensive gear lists, create reusable kit templates, and generate DMX patches. Quotes can be created and exported to PDF, with additional on-set calculation tools available.
- Equipment list generator
- Reusable kit templates
- DMX analysis and patch
- Quote generation and PDF export
- On-set calculation tools
- Cross-device project sync
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Prepare cinema equipment with Cinecyclop: lists, a catalogue and calculation tools for lighting, camera and grip crews. ORGANIZE YOUR EQUIPMENT Create projects and equipment lists, adjust quantities and track preparation. Add notes and find equipment references in the catalogue, available offline. PREPARE YOUR SHOOTS Use lighting and camera tools and calculations to prepare your setups. Browse the directory of studios in France and information about their stages. SHARE YOUR PREPARATION With a Cinecyclop account, export your lists as PDFs and invite collaborators to shared projects with viewing or editing permissions. Sharing and synchronization require an internet connection. ON IPHONE AND IPAD Use your lists and tools in a native interface with dedicated equipment artwork and dark mode. Calculations are for reference and must be checked on set, including by a qualified electrician for electrical installations. Terms of use: https://comenolo.fr/cinecyclop/cgu.html Privacy: https://comenolo.fr/cinecyclop/confidentialite.html
Shadow Planner
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.
- 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
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Scout the light before you get there. Shadow Planner puts a real sun on a real map. Drop your overheads on the actual location, scrub the day from sunrise to sunset, and watch true cast shadows fall across the ground in 3D — so you know what you're walking into before the truck rolls, and so does everyone you hand the page to. SCOUT ANY LOCATION • Search an address or drop straight onto your GPS position • Satellite, street and dark map styles • Real 3D buildings and terrain, so shadows fall off the geometry that's actually there • Live sun compass with azimuth and altitude KNOW WHEN YOU LOSE THE LIGHT • Sunrise, solar noon, sunset, golden hour and civil dusk for any date and any location, with the day's length • Tap any spot for a shade timeline: when it holds direct sun and when it goes into shade, across the whole day • See the sun's path arced over the map — amber where your spot has sun, blue-grey where something blocks it, so you can watch the moment the sun clears a roofline • Reads the buildings and terrain actually around it, plus your own overheads BLOCK THE SHOT TO SCALE • Drop 12x12, 20x20 and 40x40 frames, or set your own custom size • Dial height above ground, spin and tilt on every frame • Add vehicles and human stand-ins for scale • Stack as many objects as the day needs — each one colour-coded, with its own cast shadow and the area it covers SEE THE WHOLE DAY MOVE • Scrub sunrise to sunset and watch every shadow track with the sun • Pick any date and check the light for a shoot weeks out • Stand-ins and vehicles dim when they fall inside a frame's shadow MEASURE THE RIG IN 3D • Tap two points for a true diagonal distance — overhead down to ground • Know exactly where the base, the truck and the crew gear have to land • Measurements stay locked to a frame, so they update as you raise or move it • Matching gear ranges for the distance you measured, from a PeeWee dolly to a 120' Condor FEET OR METRES • One switch converts every height, span, distance and shadow area, and the gear ranges with them • Gear and frame names stay as the industry says them — a 12x12 is still a 12x12, a Condor 40' is still a Condor 40' • Your choice is remembered between sessions TAKE IT BACK TO THE OFFICE • Save a location by name with its camera angle, date, time, every frame, the measurement and the shade you picked — long-press to rename • Six stops in a day, all still there tomorrow • Export a letter-size page carrying the location, date, time, sun position, sunrise and sunset, the rig you had up, and the lift sizes that reach — so the gaffer, the AD and the office are all reading the same sheet • Same page on every device, straight to Photos, Files or Messages • On iPad, drag the menu panels into the order you work in • Full undo and redo Built by a working cinematographer for tech scouts, gaffers, grips, DPs, location managers and anyone who has ever guessed where the shadow would be. No account. No subscription. No tracking.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cinecyclop at 100% against Shadow Planner's 40%. Cinecyclop also leads on price (Free vs $29.99) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days). Shadow Planner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Cinecyclop is free to download; Shadow Planner costs $29.99 up front. Cinecyclop sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Shadow Planner asks for nothing beyond the download.
Cinecyclop ships an update every 2 days, Shadow Planner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cinecyclop | Shadow Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $29.99 |
| Rating | — | 4.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 40.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Every 5 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 255 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NOLO (APPS) | Christopher Fenner |
Customer experience
Cinecyclop
Shadow Planner
In-app purchases
Cinecyclop
- Cinecyclop Pro monthly$6.991 Month
- Cinecyclop Pro yearly1 Month trial$44.991 Year
Shadow Planner
No in-app purchases









