Darkroom Formulas vs Zone System
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Darkroom Formulas
This app provides a digital cookbook of over 160 chemical formulas for darkroom photography. It features a volume mixer for easy proportional adjustments and allows users to save, edit, and share their own recipes. Access all data offline, making it a convenient tool for photographers.
- 160+ chemical formulas
- Custom formula editing
- Proportional volume mixer
- Offline access
- Formula export and backup
- Supports multiple units
Read full descriptionHide full description
Darkroom Formulas contains a database with over 160 chemical formulas from Digitaltruth.com including film developers, print developers, toners, reducers, intensifiers and more. Users can edit existing formulas or add their own favorite recipes. The app contains a powerful Volume Mixer allowing all ingredients to be adjusted proportionally on-the-fly. No more messing around with complex calculations, simply change the final volume and every ingredient changes automatically! Your own saved formulas can be exported and shared by email, or stored externally as a back up. The app includes all the data internally, so there is no need to connect to the internet to use it. Simply download and store in your pocket. Ideal for lab technicians and other darkroom users who need to mix formulas from scratch. Formulas can include up to 3 part mixes (eg. Part A, Part B, Part C) and each part can contain up to 10 ingredients, allowing a maximum total of 30 ingredients. Available units are ml, g, fl oz, oz, tsp, grains and drops. Lifetime free updates, no ads, no add-ons.
Zone System
This tool simplifies Ansel Adams' exposure and development method for photographers. It helps measure shadows and highlights, calculate aperture and development times, and preview results with film stock presets.
- Measure shadows and highlights
- Aperture and development calculations
- Preview results with film presets
- ISO and EV calculations
- Simplified Zone System application
Read full descriptionHide full description
Zone System is a practical tool for applying Ansel Adams’ exposure and development method. • Measure shadows and highlights to set exposure • Get aperture and development (N, N+, N–) calculations • Preview results with film stock presets • Get calculations for aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and EV This app makes the Zone System simpler, faster, and more reliable.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Zone System at 100% against Darkroom Formulas's 29%. Zone System also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.5) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 14 months). Darkroom Formulas's advantage is chart position (#200 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Darkroom Formulas costs $5.99 and Zone System $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Zone System holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Darkroom Formulas's written reviews are positive against 100% of Zone System's.
Darkroom Formulas ships an update every 14 months, Zone System every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Darkroom Formulas | Zone System |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 2.5 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #200 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 17 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Freestyle Photo & Imaging | Davin Nguyen |
Customer experience
Darkroom Formulas
Zone System
In-app purchases
Darkroom Formulas
No in-app purchases
Zone System
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Darkroom Formulas free?
Is Zone System free?
Which has better reviews, Darkroom Formulas or Zone System?
Do Darkroom Formulas or Zone System have ads?
Which is updated more often, Darkroom Formulas or Zone System?
Other comparisons
