FilmBox by Photomyne vs FilmLab
FilmBox by Photomyne
photomyne.com
FilmLab
filmlabapp.comSide by side
| Figure | FilmBox by Photomyne | FilmLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3.33/mo | $5/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 4 |
| Spec score · Photo Scanning Software | 9.2 (#2) | 9.3 (#1) |
| Headquarters | Bnei Brak, Israel | Kennebunk, Maine, USA |
| Integrations | The app can use a computer screen as a backlight source, or a backlight link provided inside the app. | The App Store description names scanning setups from Negative Supply, Valoi, pixl-latr, Lomography and Kodak as supported equipment. |
| Praise: ease of use | A German App Store reviewer reported that scanning decades-old negatives, quality, and colorization worked well. | An App Store reviewer called the interface clean and straightforward and said the app worked better than competing negative-scanning apps. |
| Purpose | FilmBox turns film negatives into digital photos using a smartphone, with backup and computer access. | FilmLab converts digital captures of film negatives into color or black-and-white images using a custom processing engine designed to produce darkroom-inspired colors and tones. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | 4.4 out of 5 from 6.2K ratings | 2.8 out of 5 from 34 ratings |
| Rating on Google Play | 3.5 out of 5 from 24.8K reviews | 2.7 out of 5 from 163 reviews |
| Support | The app listings direct users to [email protected] for assistance. | Support is provided by email, with the company saying a real person from its small team will respond. |
| System requirements | The current UK App Store listing requires iOS 17.6 or later; Mac use requires macOS 14.6 or later and an Apple M1-or-newer Mac. | The download page lists Windows 8 or later with DirectX 12 graphics support and macOS 10.14 or later with Metal support. |
| What it does | FilmBox converts camera-film negatives into digital photos using a smartphone and offers backup and computer access. | FilmLab converts digital captures of film negatives into color or black-and-white photographs using a custom processing engine intended to reproduce darkroom-like tones. |
Plans
FilmBox by Photomyne
- FilmBox BasicFree
- Unlimited (Monthly)$9.99 a month
- FilmBox membership$19.99, paid once
- Unlimited (Yearly)$39.99 a year
- Unlimited scanning (2 years)$49.99, paid once
- Scanning Suite$59.99 a year
- FilmBox One-Shot MembershipPrice not published
FilmLab
- EducationFree
- Monthly$7.99 a month
- Annual$59.99 a year
- Lifetime$199.99, paid once
In their own words
FilmBox by Photomyne
FilmBox by Photomyne turns film negatives into digital photos with a smartphone. The app guides users to hold a strip vertically in front of a backlight and capture it; its scanning algorithm reverses the negative colors and enhances the image. A computer screen can supply the light, or users can open Photomyne’s web backlight source. FilmBox supports iOS and Android, and Photomyne says photos can also be accessed on a computer. A free option covers limited scanning, with the App Store listing describing the first few photos as free. Paid memberships add unlimited scanning, saving and sharing in print quality, backup, enhancements, and access on other devices and online. Membership is billed yearly; the One-Shot plan is a single upfront payment valid for two years. Photomyne says most information is saved to the cloud for backup, using AWS systems in the United States and Ireland. Support is listed at [email protected].
FilmLab
FilmLab converts digital captures of film negatives into color or black-and-white images with a processing engine designed for darkroom-inspired tones. Desktop apps open raw files from popular DSLR and mirrorless cameras, along with raw DNG and TIFF files from scanners. Adjustment tools cover exposure, color balance, contrast, brightness, cropping, rotation, and perspective correction. Users can batch-edit and copy or paste settings across images. Editing leaves original scans unchanged and saves processing instructions in adjacent `.fprc` files. Mobile apps can preview negatives, create proof sheets, review older negatives, and make quick scans for sharing. FilmLab is standalone and does not require other software. Listed export formats include JPEG, TIFF, and JPEG XL. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The paid plans offer full access after a 14-day trial: $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year; lifetime membership is $199.99 once and includes future updates and features. Free education licenses are available by request to qualifying educators. Desktop does not support collaborative real-time editing, and nonrenewing customers can still access images and metadata they created.