Pellica
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Buyer's guide · film-tracker appsPellica vs FilmMeter vs Frames vs Film LogbookUpdated April 2026
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Pellica vs FilmMeter vs Frames vs Film Logbook.

An honest look at the four film-tracking apps shooters actually use in 2026. We built Pellica, so take the verdict with a grain of salt — but the feature matrix is straight facts.

◎ The short versionReading time · 45s

If you want to spend zero time logging, pick Pellica.

One tap per frame, auto-fills everything, matches your scans for you. Free for most shooters. The app we built because we were tired of typing aperture values into Frames every time we fired the shutter.

If you're already deep in one of the others — and honestly happy there — stay. We import from all three.

Best overall
Pellica
Fastest logging, best scan matching, free tier covers most shooters.
Best for pros
Frames
Deep metadata, tethered scanning workflow, $8/mo.
Best free alternative
Film Logbook
Open-source, no-frills, community-run. Android only.
Best light meter
FilmMeter
Incident mode is the best on mobile. Weak on logging.
Feature matrix · frame 02

The full comparison.

Everything that matters, side by side. Checked against each app's April 2026 release.

Feature
Pellica
iOS · free + $2.99/mo
Frames
iOS · $8/mo
FilmMeter
iOS/Android · $4 once
Film Logbook
Android · free, OSS
1-tap frame loggingYes — core UX3-4 tapsNoForm-based
Auto GPS + weatherBoth, automaticBothGPS onlyManual entry
DX code scannerYesYesNoNo
Scan-to-frame auto matchEXIF + OCREXIF onlyNoNo
Built-in light meterFree · incident + reflectedNoYes · best on mobileNo
Film stock library320+ stocks280+ stocks—~90, community
Medium + sheet format135, 120, 4×5, 8×10All formats135 only135 + 120
Cloud sync across devicesE2E encrypted, ProYesNoSelf-hosted only
Lab finder / map500+ labs, reviewsNoNoNo
Export: PDF contact sheetYesYesNoPlain list
Offline-first100% offlineNeeds loginYesYes
AndroidYes, full parityiOS onlyYesYes
Data privacyOn-device defaultCloud-firstOn-deviceOn-device
Starting priceFree (Pro $2.99/mo)$8/mo · $79/yr$3.99 one-timeFree · open-source
Each one, in its own words · frame 03

How we actually feel about
the other three.

Frames

$8 / month

The pro choice for shooters with a high-volume workflow and a Lightroom catalog they care about. Deep metadata, solid tethered scanning, gorgeous UI.

+ Love
Lightroom plugin is excellent. Best-in-class metadata depth.
− Miss
3-4 taps per frame. No lab finder. Pricey.
Pick if
You shoot 5+ rolls a week and sell prints.
Our take: If you already pay for Frames and it works — keep it. It’s good software built by people who care. Pellica is faster for casual shooting, but Frames has depth we haven’t matched yet.

FilmMeter

$3.99 · once

Not really a logger — a light meter app that also happens to track rolls. If your phone is already on a tripod as your incident meter, FilmMeter is doing its best work.

+ Love
Incident mode is genuinely accurate. $4 forever.
− Miss
Logging is an afterthought. 135 only. No scan workflow.
Pick if
You want a reliable light meter and barely log at all.
Our take: FilmMeter’s meter inspired ours. We think we got close. If you own it, keep using it as a meter — you can log frames to Pellica in parallel.

Film Logbook

Free · open-source

Community-maintained on Android, with a small but loyal following. Ugly but honest — the analog-photography equivalent of a plaintext todo list.

+ Love
Free forever. Open-source. No cloud, no tracking, no nonsense.
− Miss
Android only. UI is rough. Sync is DIY.
Pick if
You use Android and prefer spartan software you control.
Our take: Enormous respect. Pellica for Android supports CSV import from Film Logbook — switch painlessly if you ever want the comforts.

Pellica

Free · Pro $2.99/mo

Obviously we think it’s the best one. But honestly: the thing we’re proudest of is not any single feature. It’s that you don’t have to think about the app at all.

+ Love
1-tap logging. Scan matching. Lab finder. Free tier covers most shooters.
− Miss
No Lightroom plugin yet.
Pick if
You want the least-friction possible way to keep a log.
Our take: Try it for a week. If it’s not better than what you use now, we’ll personally help you migrate back. Email [email protected].
Contact sheet · frame 04

Straight answers.

Can I import my rolls from another app?

Yes — from Frames, FilmMeter, Film Logbook, Lightroom, and plain CSV. Settings → Import. Takes about a minute per 100 rolls. If you hit any snag, email and we will do it by hand.

Why is Pellica free when Frames is $8?

Because the core tracker should be free. Paying is optional: Pellica Pro ($2.99/mo) is for shooters who want cloud sync, unlimited rolls, and exports — about 15% of our users. The other 85% get a fully-featured app forever, funded by that minority.

Is there a web version?

Not yet. A read-only web viewer for sharing rolls is in testing. A full web app is not on the near roadmap; mobile-first is the point.

Can I use Pellica alongside FilmMeter or Frames?

Of course. Lots of shooters meter in FilmMeter and log in Pellica. We do not try to lock you in.

What do I lose switching apps?

Nothing you have logged. Import preserves frame numbers, GPS, dates, notes, film stock, and lens info — all of it. If a field is missing in your source, the app flags it for manual review rather than silently dropping the row.

Same app on iOS and Android?

Yes. Full feature parity. Every update lands on both stores the same day. Free tier and Pro match exactly — pick whichever phone you carry.

Final frame

Try Pellica for a week.

If it's not the fastest film tracker you've used, email us and we'll help you move back. Seriously.

Get it on iOS — freeGet it on Android — free