# Matter vs AR Lightning

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Matter at 82% against AR Lightning's 0%. Matter also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (304 vs 3). AR Lightning's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Matter costs $4.99 and AR Lightning $1.99 up front. Matter sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. AR Lightning asks for nothing beyond the download.

Matter holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Matter has 304 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Matter's written reviews are positive against 0% of AR Lightning's.

Matter ships an update monthly, AR Lightning weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Matter | AR Lightning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | **[4.5 (304 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matter-3d-effects/id897754160/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-lightning/id1539110577/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **304** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 335 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.7 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pixite Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/285719021) | [Masanori Katsuta](https://appshunter.io/developer/320172788) |

## What reviewers say

### Matter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matter-3d-effects/id897754160)

Enhance your photos by seamlessly integrating 3D objects and applying various visual styles. Adjust shadows and use masking tools for realistic blending. Create animated video loops with dynamic object movements.

**Highlights:** Add 3D objects to photos, Apply reflective/refractive styles, Adjust model shadows, Built-in masking tools, Create animated video loops, High-resolution image/video export

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Forms in Orbit | Free | one-time |
| Twisted Geometry | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stock and Render | $0.99 | one-time |
| Future Machines | $1.99 | one-time |
| Master Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Forever Unlock | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and creative photo editing
- 🚀 Powerful 3D rendering engine
- 💡 Unique and innovative features
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 👍 Excellent for digital art creation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Limited import/export options
- 🔋 High resource usage causing performance problems
- 👎 Outdated and no longer supported

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to open app or load new projects
- Rendering quality issues, especially on newer devices
- Crashes when trying to add custom audio

**Requested features**

- Add option to import custom 3D objects
- Extend video duration beyond 15 seconds
- Improve audio integration with ability to use own music
- Implement layering and depth control for 3D objects


### AR Lightning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-lightning/id1539110577)

Create realistic lightning effects from your fingertips using augmented reality. Control the direction and intensity of the lightning in real-time by changing your hand pose. Save your creations as videos or photos and share them.

**Highlights:** AR hand pose recognition, Real-time lightning control, Customizable ray color and power, Save as video or photo, Share to social media, Select photos from camera roll

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Matter free?

Matter costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is AR Lightning free?

AR Lightning costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Matter or AR Lightning?

Matter is rated higher. Matter averages 4.5 out of 5 from 304 ratings, while AR Lightning averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Matter or AR Lightning have ads?

Neither Matter nor AR Lightning shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Matter or AR Lightning?

Matter ships an update monthly, and AR Lightning weekly. Most recently, Matter was updated on September 23, 2026 and AR Lightning on September 11, 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.*