theLAB vs FrameDrop
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
theLAB
Create film-inspired photos with advanced controls for color, texture, and scan effects. Apply realistic grain, borders, and light leaks to achieve a unique aesthetic. Save custom editing styles for consistent results.
- Film-inspired color and monochrome looks
- Scanned grain and cinema-style grain
- Lab scan profiles and correction
- Halation, borders, textures, light leaks
- Customizable editing styles
- Camera capture and import tools
Read full descriptionHide full description
theLAB is a film-inspired photo editor for building finished images with color, texture, and scan character. Import an image, then shape it with film looks, scanned grain, lab-style color, halation, borders, paper textures, light leaks, artifacts, and crop tools. Designed for photographers who want more than a simple filter, theLAB gives you hands-on control over the feel of the image: density, warmth, tone bias, grain range, scan character, border placement, and finishing details. Features include: - Film-inspired color and monochrome looks - Scanned grain and cinema-style grain options - Lab scan profiles and scan correction controls - Halation, scanner noise, borders, textures, light leaks, and artifacts - Camera capture, photo import, file import, and share tools - Saved looks for building a repeatable editing style theLAB includes a free editing mode. theLAB Pro unlocks the full film stock library, advanced lab controls, additional grain scans, premium finishing assets, and high-quality export options. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://calebsalvadori.com/thelab
FrameDrop
Transfer photos directly from your USB camera or memory card to your iPhone or iPad. Browse, select, and import original RAW and JPEG files into Apple Photos or the Files app. This app works offline and keeps your original files safe.
- Direct USB camera import
- Memory card reader import
- Preview photos before importing
- Import RAW and JPEG files
- Save to Apple Photos
- Save to Files app
- Offline functionality
Read full descriptionHide full description
FrameDrop makes it easy to bring photos from your camera to your iPhone or iPad. Connect a supported USB camera, or choose a memory-card folder in Files, preview your shots and transfer only the photos you want. PREVIEW BEFORE YOU TRANSFER Browse photos in a date-grouped grid or open Gallery for a closer look. Swipe between shots, zoom into details and use the thumbnail strip to find your favorites. SEE THE DETAILS BEHIND THE SHOT View available camera, lens and exposure information, including shutter speed, aperture, ISO and focal length. Expand the EXIF sections to explore more metadata when your source provides it. SAVE WHERE YOU WANT Transfer to Apple Photos or choose a folder in Files, including supported external storage and cloud locations. FrameDrop remembers your preferred destination. ORIGINALS OR LIGHTER JPEGs Keep JPEG, HEIF and RAW originals in their original format, or create optimized JPEG copies with your preferred output size. Save matching RAW and JPEG/HEIF originals together or separately in Apple Photos. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR IMPORTS Follow transfer progress and see which photos have been saved. Use import history to help prevent repeat imports, with an optional check for existing photos in your Photos library. MAKE IT YOURS Choose Light, Dark or System appearance. Adjust the browsing layout, filters and transfer settings to suit your workflow. On iPad, browse in two columns or fit more photos on screen, with up to eight columns in portrait and twelve in landscape, depending on window size. Your camera and memory-card originals are never changed or deleted. USB camera compatibility and RAW support depend on your equipment and the formats supported by iOS and iPadOS.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: theLAB at 100% against FrameDrop's 0%. theLAB also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (5.0 vs 1.0). FrameDrop's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads 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
theLAB is free to download; FrameDrop costs $2.99 up front. theLAB sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. FrameDrop asks for nothing beyond the download.
theLAB holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: theLAB has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of theLAB's written reviews are positive against 0% of FrameDrop's.
theLAB ships an update every 3 days, FrameDrop every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | theLAB | FrameDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (13 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 11 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 301 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Caleb Salvadori | Peter Olofsson |
Customer experience
theLAB
FrameDrop
In-app purchases
theLAB
- theLAB Pro Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
- theLAB Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
- theLAB Pro Lifetime$74.99
FrameDrop
No in-app purchases








