# Lightmate vs Light Meter LM

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightmate at 83% against Light Meter LM's 40%. Lightmate also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). Light Meter LM's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 79). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Light Meter LM sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. Lightmate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Light Meter LM holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Light Meter LM has 2.6K ratings behind it against 79, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Lightmate's written reviews are positive against 40% of Light Meter LM's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Lightmate ships an update every 5 weeks, Light Meter LM monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightmate | Light Meter LM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmate/id791590935/reviews) | **[4.5 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-meter-lm-3000/id1554264761/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 79 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.0% of reviews** | 40.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luis Laugga](https://appshunter.io/developer/791590938) | [Lightray Innovation GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1031383431) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightmate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmate/id791590935)

This app functions as a light meter for photographers, offering a clear and intuitive interface. It supports aperture and shutter priority modes, with customizable EV scales and the ability to use both front and back cameras for measurements.

**Highlights:** Aperture priority mode, Shutter priority mode, Multiple EV scales, Back and front camera support, Tap-to-measure exposure

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Fast and accurate metering
- 💰 Free to use, no ads
- ✨ Minimalist and clean design
- 📸 Great for film photography

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤏 Small text size
- ❓ Confusing for beginners
- ⚠️ Values change too quickly
- 🎛️ Clumsy to use
- 🚫 No whole scene average reading

**Reported bugs**

- F stop disappeared
- Aperture reading disappeared
- Not working on iOS 11
- Link for camera association not working
- App requests to open association with camera

**Requested features**

- Add space between S, A, I
- Lock ISO values
- Add whole scene average reading
- Add tutorial/demo video for beginners
- Add dedicated screenshot button


### Light Meter LM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-meter-lm-3000/id1554264761)

Transform your smartphone into a professional light meter. Measure illuminance and color temperature with scientifically validated accuracy, trusted by professionals. Requires a simple diffuser for precise readings.

**Highlights:** Measure illuminance (lux/foot-candle), Measure color temperature (Kelvin), Industry-leading accuracy, Pre-calibrated for your device, Low light sensitivity, Save peak reading, Custom calibration option

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Continuous Charging | $3.49 | per month |
| Single Charge | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Battery | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Accurate measurements
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful customer service
- 👍 Useful for science/research

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Requires diffuser for accurate readings
- 💰 Expensive for a light meter app
- 🔋 Battery/trial period issues
- 🔍 Inconsistent/inaccurate readings
- 🙄 Misleading/deceptive marketing

**Reported bugs**

- Diffuser not recognized even when used
- App locks up/crashes
- Constant diffuser pop-up interruptions

**Requested features**

- Ability to use rear camera
- More flexible diffuser options
- Improved accuracy without diffuser


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightmate free?

Lightmate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Light Meter LM free?

Light Meter LM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Lightmate or Light Meter LM?

Light Meter LM is rated higher. Lightmate averages 4.1 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while Light Meter LM averages 4.5 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do Lightmate or Light Meter LM have ads?

Neither Lightmate nor Light Meter LM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightmate or Light Meter LM?

Lightmate ships an update every 5 weeks, and Light Meter LM monthly. Most recently, Lightmate was updated on October 6, 2026 and Light Meter LM on October 18, 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.*