Comparison

Lux Light Meter vs Lucent

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

Head to head
About

Lux Light Meter

Measure ambient light levels with your iPhone. Get real-time lux and foot-candle readings, with specialized modes for photography and plant care. Track light history and calibrate for accuracy.

Highlights
  • Ambient light metering (lux/fc)
  • Photography exposure suggestions
  • Plant light (PPFD/DLI) estimation
  • Continuous measurement and history
  • Optional meter calibration
  • Privacy-friendly local storage
Features
Read full description

Lux Light Meter: Illuminance A practical lux and illuminance meter for iPhone. Measure ambient light in seconds, check if a room is bright enough for study, work, or home use, and get helpful exposure and plant-lighting guidance when you need it. Core metering works offline. Key Features: Ambient light metering - Live lux / fc readings with scene targets that tell you if the light is too dim, about right, or too bright — plus simple tips to adjust Photography mode (Pro) - Aperture- or shutter-priority suggestions with ISO and exposure compensation so you can dial in exposure faster Plant mode (Pro) - Estimate PPFD and DLI for common houseplants, with light source and daily photoperiod options Continuous measure & history - Save single readings, track how light changes over time, and review min, average, and max values Optional calibration - Fine-tune against a trusted meter; Pro saves separate factors for the front and rear cameras Units & privacy-friendly storage - Switch between lux and fc; your measurements stay on your device How to Use: Open the app, allow camera access, and point your iPhone at the area you want to measure. Switch between Environment, Photography, and Plant modes, then save a reading or run a continuous measurement when you need a longer sample. Subscription Options: * Weekly and yearly subscriptions, plus a lifetime purchase * Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account * Subscriptions renew automatically within 24 hours before the current period ends * Manage or cancel anytime in your Account Settings Clearer readings. Better light decisions. Terms of Use: https://lightmeter.xzonesoft.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://lightmeter.xzonesoft.com/privacy.html Contact Us: support@xzonesoft.com

About

Lucent

Features
Read full description

Check the light where you read, then make time for a break. Lucent uses your iPhone rear camera's exposure data to estimate ambient light. See an estimated lux value, a written lighting assessment, and a suggested break interval. It is not a calibrated light meter. CHECK YOUR READING LIGHT Point the rear camera toward your reading area, keep the lens clear, and hold steady. Numbers, written assessments, and a scale help you compare lighting conditions. Fresh ambient readings are taken while Live is visible or when you request a current measurement for a mark. The Timer tab and background timer do not continuously measure light. FOCUS AND BREAKS YOU CONTROL Choose a baseline from 10 to 30 minutes. Suggestions use the latest valid reading and your selected model. Start a focus session, pause or resume, take an early break, or end the whole session. Restart only the current interval without deleting existing records. LOCK SCREEN AND DYNAMIC ISLAND On supported devices, Live Activities show your current phase and remaining time. Availability follows system Live Activity settings. A running countdown does not mean the camera is sampling in the background. OPTIONAL BREAK SOUNDS Enable gentle cues for break start and completion in Settings. Sounds are off by default and follow system silent and notification settings. COMPARE SCREEN AND SURROUNDINGS Try a relative screen-to-environment brightness check, not an absolute screen-brightness measurement in nits. If capture or detection fails, follow the guidance to adjust the angle, distance, or surroundings. LOCAL RECORDS AND CSV Review foreground samples, add a scene label to a current valid reading, and export CSV. Gaps remain gaps; Lucent does not invent readings. Saving a mark requires a fresh reading from that attempt. FOCUS FILTERS A configured system Focus filter can start or pause the timer. It does not enable background camera measurement. Baseline timing remains available without camera access. Reminders require notification permission and follow system Focus and notification settings. Camera frames are processed on your device without taking or saving photos or video. No account, ads, or analytics SDK. Measurements and records stay on your device. Feedback emails and support links open only at your request through system mail or browser services. Light readings and screen comparisons are estimates, not professional measurements. Break suggestions come from Lucent's own model, inspired by 20-20-20, not a medical standard or treatment recommendation.

Screenshots

Lux Light Meter3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Lux Light Meter at Free against Lucent's $0.99. Lux Light Meter also leads on iOS requirement (17 vs 26.2). Lucent's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Lux Light Meter is free to download; Lucent costs $0.99 up front. Lux Light Meter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Lucent asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lux Light Meter ships an update fortnightly, Lucent every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Lux Light Meter versus Lucent: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLux Light MeterLucent
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer灿耿 陈志杰 张

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Lux Light Meter

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Access$1.997 Days
  • Annual Subscription$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$12.99
None

Lucent

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lux Light Meter free?
Lux Light Meter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lucent free?
Lucent costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lux Light Meter or Lucent have ads?
Neither Lux Light Meter nor Lucent shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lux Light Meter or Lucent?
Lux Light Meter ships an update fortnightly, and Lucent every 4 weeks. Most recently, Lux Light Meter was updated on November 5, 2026 and Lucent on October 25, 2026.

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