Review Insights · App Store
Photone - Grow Light Meter
Lightray Innovation GmbH · 4,813 ratings · ★ 4.6
4.6
★★★★★
4,813 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 52 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"light"
22 negative reviews mention this · 42% of all complaints
★★★★★ "don’t bother. measuring led lights is paywalled" - brankmank
2
"free"
15 negative reviews mention this · 29% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Sunlight not Free. I downloaded the app because it claims to work for simple measurements without additional purchases. However, if you want to see if your plants are getting enough sunlight from a window, you must pay for “pro.”" - Deadassh
3
"meter"
14 negative reviews mention this · 27% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No trial. I couldn’t even try this because it doesn’t offer any lighting options to test the lights I have. I’m not going to buy a subscription without testing it. I bought a standalone light meter instead." - Rater1234
4
"lights"
13 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "don’t bother. measuring led lights is paywalled" - brankmank
5
"diffuser"
13 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Rip off!. I purchased the full spectrum light upgrade only to find out I now have to purchase a light diffuser, which they are so “generously”willing sell me." - Lisa M21
6
"light meter"
12 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No trial. I couldn’t even try this because it doesn’t offer any lighting options to test the lights I have. I’m not going to buy a subscription without testing it. I bought a standalone light meter instead." - Rater1234
7
"work"
10 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Sunlight not Free. I downloaded the app because it claims to work for simple measurements without additional purchases. However, if you want to see if your plants are getting enough sunlight from a window, you must pay for “pro.”" - Deadassh
8
"trial"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No trial. I couldn’t even try this because it doesn’t offer any lighting options to test the lights I have. I’m not going to buy a subscription without testing it. I bought a standalone light meter instead." - Rater1234
9
"subscription"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No trial. I couldn’t even try this because it doesn’t offer any lighting options to test the lights I have. I’m not going to buy a subscription without testing it. I bought a standalone light meter instead." - Rater1234
10
"accurate"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Use to be a 5 star. Not sure what happened with this update. I guess I’m hearing about but it’s ruining my grow. I have a paid for a version and it’s not accurate anymore. It used to be but now it shows PPFD off 2 300. Not sure when the next update will be, bu…" - YoForms
11
"purchase"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Sunlight not Free. I downloaded the app because it claims to work for simple measurements without additional purchases. However, if you want to see if your plants are getting enough sunlight from a window, you must pay for “pro.”" - Deadassh
12
"iphone"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Crashing on iPhone 17 pro. Does anybody have problems with the app crashing after using paper cover on iPhone 17 pro?" - P.Baslo
📋 All 52 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
don’t bother
measuring led lights is paywalled
No trial
I couldn’t even try this because it doesn’t offer any lighting options to test the lights I have.
I’m not going to buy a subscription without testing it. I bought a standalone light meter instead.
I’m not going to buy a subscription without testing it. I bought a standalone light meter instead.
Paywalled
They paywall the functionality most home growers would need. Avoid these scammers.
Rip off!
I purchased the full spectrum light upgrade only to find out I now have to purchase a light diffuser, which they are so “generously”willing sell me.
Crashing on iPhone 17 pro
Does anybody have problems with the app crashing after using paper cover on iPhone 17 pro?
Requires a diffuser
Requires a diffuser, which isn’t stated in the description nor any of the photos. You can use paper but you lose accuracy. I wouldn’t care if they were upfront about it, but the message didn’t pop up until after I subscribed. Basically I got screwed out of 6 bucks.
Pay wall for LED
This app is misleading you. Unless you need to go back in time when people used fluorescent lights to grow plants this app is useless in the free format.
Clueless
No explanation on how to use
Frightful app
You download a “free” app. Then it makes you pay so you can assess intensity of sunlight which is the point of a light meter. Fine, I pay. Then I’ve got to pay for a diffuser???? I deleted app. This fool is not parting with any more money.
Bait and switch
I don’t appreciate bait and switch. There is no limited free trial without signing up for a subscription. Congratulations you have convinced me to buy a dedicated device instead.
Doesn’t work and feel scammed
Very displeased to only find out AFTER purchasing that it won't function unless you also get a diffuser, which they attempt to sell you. On top of that it doesn't work anyway. multiple readings came out different, and when I turned my light up, the reading went down.
Bad pay walls need to end.
Seriously just want to know if my plants are getting enough light, but nah - gotta pay $6 just to do that. Half the app is locked behind that stupid paywall.
Nope
You don’t follow international trade laws boo! Why don’t you give me your right to jury trial in exchange for ALL of your data! This is the way of Thieves. Crooks. Charlatans. Not that I’m saying that’s what you are, of course, just pointing out something I’m positive you probably overlooked with your lawyers and law school and all of that
Free for Android, Pay to play with Apple
I downloaded the app on the iPhone to compare it with the app on my android phone. Too bad I can’t do any comparison since I have to pay seven dollars to activate the LED full spectrum function on the Apple phone meanwhile on the android phone everything is free. I could check the spectrum of the sun LEDs blurple lights but on iPhone you have to pay to use any other feature besides CFL light bulb. I guess it’s true what they say Apple users pay for free stuff.
No readings
App worked great for years. Now there are no readings when I try and measure PPFD. No numbers appear. Checked camera and privacy settings for the app, everything is permitted.
Won’t work on my iPhone
No matter what I’ve tried I cannot get the camera to gather light data from front camera. It’s the app doing it because it’s changing my camera every time I try to open it and won’t read.
In-app purchases required!
This app was useless for me even after paying for an upgrade. If you want to know if your plants are getting enough light, this app will not tell you.
Don’t buy this!
Paid for this app to unlock readings for full spectrum LED lights. Then, after purchase I was told I have to have a diffuser which they would be happy to sell to me! Worthless app for using the phone camera only.
$$$
Used to be free for all the types now you gotta pay to use the ones you actually need. Unless you like inaccurate readings that will have you guessing 👍👍
Does not work
You have to buy additional equipment to make this work. Complete scam, just buying an actual light meter is much better and cheaper.
Rip off
If you buy this to check par on led you have to buy a diffuser also to make it work but they don’t tell you until you buy the led full spectrum oh ya the diffuser cost 26 dollars
Garbage paywall
This app produces extremely quesitonal readings and are not accurate! they also demand payment for each light type rather then using ads like every other app. I recommend buying a meter on Amazon #screwrTheseCrooks
First response:
In response to your absurdly, slow and Manipulative response to my review. As a mechanical engineer, I take extreme offense to your statements and innuendos. Furthermore, if you’re paid fair salaries, I would like to know why it took almost 2 weeks to receive a response? And people that buy things on Amazon should expect the garbage that they are purchasing. I did purchase a Sekonic L-858D-U Speedmaster from B&H and compare them to the results from your app that my friend purchased using his brand new iPhone… We also used a cheap $60 sensor from Amazon…. Interestingly, both the sensors were very close. However, your app was not so please again tell me how your app is delivering $500 accuracy 🤣🤣
2nd Response to developer reply:
You’re testing your $2.46/month app against “hundreds of measuring devices in a lab” ????? 🤣🤣🤣 this is truly a clown show!!
Please provide this list of the hundreds of devices and their testing results or stop the nonsense replies. Lies on top of lies. Honestly, at this point, I’m just embarrassed for you.
Light meters are tested and calibrated for accuracy using a device which produces a known luminescence! Why on earth would you be testing against other devices on the market what benefit is that for you or the customer? You should spend more time investigating the science and making your app better rather than coming up with these nonsensical comments in your review section!
Now everyone sees what kind of company you truly are. Be better!
First response:
In response to your absurdly, slow and Manipulative response to my review. As a mechanical engineer, I take extreme offense to your statements and innuendos. Furthermore, if you’re paid fair salaries, I would like to know why it took almost 2 weeks to receive a response? And people that buy things on Amazon should expect the garbage that they are purchasing. I did purchase a Sekonic L-858D-U Speedmaster from B&H and compare them to the results from your app that my friend purchased using his brand new iPhone… We also used a cheap $60 sensor from Amazon…. Interestingly, both the sensors were very close. However, your app was not so please again tell me how your app is delivering $500 accuracy 🤣🤣
2nd Response to developer reply:
You’re testing your $2.46/month app against “hundreds of measuring devices in a lab” ????? 🤣🤣🤣 this is truly a clown show!!
Please provide this list of the hundreds of devices and their testing results or stop the nonsense replies. Lies on top of lies. Honestly, at this point, I’m just embarrassed for you.
Light meters are tested and calibrated for accuracy using a device which produces a known luminescence! Why on earth would you be testing against other devices on the market what benefit is that for you or the customer? You should spend more time investigating the science and making your app better rather than coming up with these nonsensical comments in your review section!
Now everyone sees what kind of company you truly are. Be better!
Does not work
Don’t pay. It’s a waste of money
Not accurate at all.
Ran this next to my Apogee MQ-500 and it was wayyyyyy off. The readings were unbelievably inconsistent, and totally inaccurate (by quite a bit). Not worth the $7 at all.
App badge ruined it all
I'm extremely disappointed that as soon as you sign up for pro version they slap a big orange "PRO" badge over the app badge on the Home Screen. It completely ruins the perfect aesthetic of the black and white circle and ruins the vibe of the whole app since that's what u see right before going into it. I love the workings of the app itself, and I decided to subscribe monthly to show support but the orange "PRO" badge is so ugly I decided to unsubscribe. There should definitely be a option to turn that badge on and off on the app screen. The pro badge gives off a cheap gimmicky vibe when you look at the app. If somebody can fix this I'd be happy to give this app a much better in depth review once my diffuser comes in sometime next month and I compare the app to a close friends light meter. I felt a comparison video to an expensive light meter wouldn't be fair if I used paper as a diffuser. I'll be back sometime next month with a diffuser and hopefully a better app badge.
Subscription Rip-Off!!!
I installed the app and found out that in order to measure LED Red/Blue light I would have to pay. I was willing to try it for a small fee. When offered the choices, it showed an Annual subscription for 2.49. I was only going to do a monthly subscription to try it out but an annual subscription at that price was too good to pass up. I figured it was some introductory offer. So I purchased the annual plan. Only to find out that for best results I should be using a diffuser. That should’ve been stated upfront before I purchased a subscription. Then I went online to my Apple account to find out I have been charged $31.63!!! For that much I almost could’ve purchased a real light meter once and not an app with a yearly subscription! Absolute ripoff!
Free isn’t!
As usual these days, three quarters of this app is disabled in the trial version and you can pay for each feature ($6 each light source) to be unlocked or pay a high price to actually use all the features. I won’t pay a weekly, monthly or annual fee for apps that simply translate the iPhone capabilities. I will buy my copy of a useful app that doesn’t reach into my wallet for the life of my use. I bought a real light meter for more money and I don’t have to pay for each feature or week of use.
Useless
The free lights sources are useless….mostly people use LEDs and these of course are blocked. It would be great to have a try period, at least one day trial would be great…. I hear people have to buy another thing after purchasing the unlock…. Thanks but no thanks….removing this app.
Waste of purchase
I purchased this app because a lot of people were talking about how great it was, well I have the iPhone 15 pro max and when I purchased the full spectrum plugin for my plant lights and when I went to get a reading it said I have to use a light diffuser! Well now they want another $24 for a bag clip light infuser! What a waste and I’m definitely not buying a light infuser for my camera lenses that looks like a bag clip for $24. Very disappointed and scammed! Should have said it needed it before I purchased the plugin. Very unsatisfied!
Shady business practices
Originally, I love this app used it for my LED lights. I had to wipe my phone and reinstall the app to which I found I need to pay now to use the features I had for free before.
This app is the definition of clickbait
You have to pay for any lights that you might actually be using to try to grow anything. A free 30 day trial would be much more useful. At least that way you could compare it to other meters to get an idea of what this can provide.
Kind of pointless
This app caught my attention. I recently installed some grow lights and I simply want to know how far they should be from my plants. Was going to buy a light meter, but then this app says “free” on it. Thought I’d try it out.
Well here’s the catch. It’s free to download, but you have to pay for anything actually useful. Theoretically, I’m fine with that. But you have to pay for each individual kind of light. You have to pay for information on what measurements mean. Really? What if, after spending all this money, you find the information is wrong? You can choose to unlock everything for a monthly fee or a onetime fee of $80. But here’s the thing…that same cost will buy a very decent light meter. You can buy a mediocre meter for less than half. And with this app, they insist you make a filter. And seriously, they INSIST. Like the alert will not go away even after you dismiss it, so the warning blocks measurements even after you have done a onetime payment to unlock something. Seriously? I’m just going to buy a light meter without all the hassle, thanks.
Recommendation: Save your money and buy a meter instead.
Well here’s the catch. It’s free to download, but you have to pay for anything actually useful. Theoretically, I’m fine with that. But you have to pay for each individual kind of light. You have to pay for information on what measurements mean. Really? What if, after spending all this money, you find the information is wrong? You can choose to unlock everything for a monthly fee or a onetime fee of $80. But here’s the thing…that same cost will buy a very decent light meter. You can buy a mediocre meter for less than half. And with this app, they insist you make a filter. And seriously, they INSIST. Like the alert will not go away even after you dismiss it, so the warning blocks measurements even after you have done a onetime payment to unlock something. Seriously? I’m just going to buy a light meter without all the hassle, thanks.
Recommendation: Save your money and buy a meter instead.
Photone App
I was dead in the water during setup with the question “What is the reference number of your growlight?” I have all of the specs in front of me there are no numbers refered to as a reference number
Crap on I phone se
Of by 30% on iPhone SE, plus you have to pay for LED. It’s free on android and works great on galaxy S10 tested with apogee.
Useless
If you are growing with any decent lights this app is useless, unless you want to pay 6$.
Who pays $30 a year for a light meter?
The developers have wildly overestimated the value of this app.
Doesn’t work well at all
I got this yesterday and paid for the upgrade and it doesn’t work at all. Now I’m fighting to get my money back. The free app works way better. Don’t get scammed and pay for this one.
The Sun isn’t free
I installed this app and saw I had to pay for sun measurements, immediately uninstalled. I have the sun, I do not have LED lights…
Subscription………
If you’re looking for true results by a real light meter.
UPDATE INACCURACY!
The new update ruined my readings. Nothing is even close to accurate anymore. I know how to adjust the settings, I did that. Something changed.
Not recommended
Will not let you read LED lights without App Upgrade. Keeps asking you to purchase an additional Diffuser. Not very user friendly.
Sunlight not Free
I downloaded the app because it claims to work for simple measurements without additional purchases. However, if you want to see if your plants are getting enough sunlight from a window, you must pay for “pro.”
Use to be a 5 star
Not sure what happened with this update. I guess I’m hearing about but it’s ruining my grow. I have a paid for a version and it’s not accurate anymore. It used to be but now it shows PPFD off 2 300. Not sure when the next update will be, but this is ridiculous. Hope it’s resolved
Way Overpriced
Sorry, a subscription for a light meter app is silly. And for the lifetime pro version I could buy two or three actual light meters and not have to guess if I used the right type of paper for a diffuser. I was going to buy the app before I saw the outrageous pricing.
Waste
You have to buy extra equipment for it to work correctly and they don’t tell you that until you make a purchase. Check the reviews by sorting by most recent to see the issues with this app and the equipment needed to have the app work correctly.
Paid for sunlight to get the exact same numbers
I was using this app as a rough guide for my plants that are in indirect sunlight. The values using the default CFL free default light source were not accurate using their paper diffuser as compared to an actual light meter but that was never the expectation. I decided to buy "sunlight" in hopes of getting a more accurate reading, and I got the EXACT same values as CFL across the board. I don't understand why they would charge for the exact same free product under a different name.
OK for what it is, but way overpriced
You can buy an actual, physical PAR meter that integrates with your smartphone to calculate DLI and generate PPFD distribution maps, for all light sources, for less than the “unlock” price of this app.
A little misleading
App seams fine but I bought the upgrade for my led lighted tanks only to find you needed to buy more items to make the led portion work. Now I’m out $30 on something I really can’t use.
Cute but not all that accurate
Tested against a known good light meter. Using the a diffuser lux was measured too low in all circumstances.
$$$$
Not even a trial period not goin to pay for something I don’t know if works or not no thanks
+ 2 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
91%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
6%
Negative (1-2★)