# Lightbow — user reviews > 127 indexed App Store user reviews of Lightbow by Peter Rapp, rated 4.20/5 from 273 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightbow/id695235159/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightbow/id695235159.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 193 · 4★ 28 · 3★ 11 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 35 ## What do users think of Lightbow? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 👍 Charming pre-built effects - 🚀 Outstanding light animations - 👍 Excellent mood lighting and sensual vibe - 👍 Variety of light spectacles for different moods and occasions - 👍 Preset of the Day feature is cool - 👍 Works well with Hue lights - 👍 Flexible lighting control - 👍 Intuitive user interface once learned - 👍 Responsive Wemo control - 👍 Powerful and customizable **Cons** - 🐛 Issues opening and editing pre-built presets - 🔧 Confusing and difficult to use - 💰 Expensive in-app purchases for presets - 🐛 Crashes and presets getting deleted - 🐛 Disconnects from lights and requires reconnection - 🐛 Doesn't work as advertised with Nanoleaf - 🐛 Doesn't work with latest LIFX bulbs - 🐛 Transitions don't work with LIFX - 🐛 Alarms don't work unless app is running - 🐛 Buggy and unstable - 🐛 Abandoned by developer **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes on launch - Presets getting deleted - Lights not staying in groups - Alarms not working - Incompatibility with latest firmware/iOS versions **Most requested features** - Ability to open and edit pre-built presets - Organize presets by room or user - Trigger presets via IFTTT or schedules - Support for more light brands (e.g., LimitlessLED) - Ability to control individual lights or groups separately - Home screen widget integration - Better instructions and documentation ## Newest reviews (10 of 127) ### 4/5 — I want to love it *2023-07-14* Many of the pre built effects are charming, others are awfully garish but we all have our own tastes. I can’t tell if this is because I don’t have some of the information I need, or if they have intentionally disabled it, but I cannot figure out how to reliably open up presets to edit them. Especially those that were pre-built. For instance, I want to build a preset based off of one that they already built, and I cannot seem to find a way to open it to start making changes to a duplicate. Essentially, they have a lovely sea preset that I would like to shift colors in to see if I could create some thing like a forest, but so far I have not been successful. ### 2/5 — Presets keep getting deleted *2021-03-08, version 3.3.3* The app crashes and the presets I creat get deleted every time I reload the app. Otherwise I have enjoyed this app ### 1/5 — Not really full version *2020-04-30, version 3.3.3* I didn’t realize when I paid for this app that the light scenes are NOT included. They are an additional add on price per pack. Not worth the money I paid for it. ### 1/5 — No response from Designer *2020-01-25* One of the main reasons I got this app was because it was one of the few hue apps that work with Shortcuts. However, the Shortcut commands do not work for me. When i select them, they simply open the Lightbow app and then they end their routine at that point without activating scene. This is really frustrating for me since I would never have purchased the app in the first place had I realized this was going to be an issue. I wasn’t too put out since the developer offers a contact page within the app. I reached out to the developer about 3 weeks ago and have not received a response. I received an auto-response at the time of the message saying “I’ll respond when i have time” (paraphrased) I get that app designers are only a single person a lot of the time and often they have day jobs that prevent them from responding in a timely manner. But if you’re a developer who can’t actually address problems with your app due to time constraints, then in my honest opinion, your app is not finished. I spent good money on this app with no hope of ever receiving a refund and most likely communication. It’s frustrating and I want people to know about it before they spend hard earned money here. ### 2/5 — No longer worth it *2020-01-13* I loved this app and have been a subscriber for a few years. My main complaint is the animations default to one specific group of lights in my living room. If I try to run it on one light or a different group, like my bedroom, it doesn't work. This was not the case up until a few months ago. Additionally, there hasn't been any content added in months. I shouldn't have to pay this much for a broken app. ### 1/5 — Very poor app *2020-01-11, version 3.3.3* What a waste of money! Just goes to show that the star ratings are unreliable as a guide to the usefulness of an app. This app is unnecessarily convoluted and certainly not user friendly. What is most irritating is that I paid and downloaded this expecting the free app by LIFX ( which had a poor star rating) not to be good enough. It is, however, perfectly useable and does everything I’d expect, reliably and easily. This app does not! ### 3/5 — Great presets, but no way to limit presets to a subset of lights *2019-10-31* First, the good. Lightbow has a lot of preset configuration and does a very good job animating the lights with music. The subscription is a little pricey, but it does come with a lot. The problem with Lightbow is it isn’t easy to run an animation on a single light, or even a single light group. When you start running any of the subscription presets, it runs them on all lights, or seems to pick lights at Random - not good if you have a lot of Hue lights. The only way that I’ve been able to do this, and even this isn’t 100% reliable, is to shut off all of the lights, except those that I want to control. I then start the preset and then I can turn on any other lights that I want to. The functionality that should be there is to be able to pick a light group, which should take you to a place where you can pick the preset, thereby limiting the effects to only that group. ### 4/5 — Amazing but... *2019-07-14, version 3.2.2* The app is great except really expensive if you want all the sounds. Wish we could do more with that but we love the app! ### 1/5 — Wow *2019-02-21, version 3.1.3* If you need another app you crash your phone or not do what it says. Feel free to spend your money here. This company will be happy to take it with no regrets. ### 3/5 — Was working good *2019-02-03* Was working fine for a few months but now it won’t connect with any of the LIFX lights they say there connected but you can’t turn them on or off and the presets aren’t working also I was kinda disappointed because I thought this app was going to let us make theme lights like the LIFIX app has when really all it lets you do is have colors cycling I’d like to be able to have multiple colors on one strip so until a fix is issued 3 stars ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — IMMEDIATE REGRET *2022-10-20* I expected animations/video on the TV but this is actually worse than some of the ios apps where at least you can turn off the tv to enjoy the lights. Instead you get an ugly static image and mediocre lights show. There are free apps for your phone that are much better. This is a total rip off for 5 bucks ### 1/5 — Dead app *2022-07-28, version 3.3.3* The developer gave up on this app 4 years ago, it’s not worth downloading. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t say on. *2021-11-02, version 3.3.3* Doesn’t stay on. Waste of money. ### 1/5 — Does not work with Nanoleaf as advertised *2021-11-01, version 3.3.3* App description says you can control Nanoleaf lights, and you can’t. ### 1/5 — Does not work... *2021-02-16, version 3.3.3* They make you buy presets, and only then will you find out it doesn’t work. ### 1/5 — One color at a time on my LIFX z light strip. *2020-12-19, version 3.3.3* One color at a time on my LIFX z light strip. I have 3 strips connected and all three strips are always the same color. Wish I could assign the groups on the light. The Lifx app is the only one I have found so far that uses various colors at the same time. ### 1/5 — App turns itself on and overrides Hue app *2020-11-11, version 3.3.3* Downloaded it. Loved it and bought a year’s subscription. Then when it was time for bed, the lights would not turn off. Used the Hue app to turn lights off, and they turned right back on with Lightbow. Deleted Lightbow and canceled subscription, and the lights ARE STILL COMING BACK ON TO THE SCENE I SET. iOS user using current software. Fix your app. ### 1/5 — Abandoned app *2020-11-03, version 3.3.3* This app has clearly been abandoned. No longer works and doesn't support any new iOS feature. Don't pay for it! ### 1/5 — Still consistently crashes whenever opened *2020-09-04, version 3.3.3* Paid for Lightbow years ago but now it crashes each time it’s opened. Cannot update either. No customer support. Huge waste of $$$ & Ripoff. Find an app that works. ### 1/5 — Lightbow - don’t blow money *2020-05-11, version 3.3.3* It lets you use like 10 light settings. The rest you need to pay money for!!! What a scam. Just blew 5 bucks on this dumb app. Really bummed. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Outstanding! *2023-07-07, version 3.3.3* Ive used many light apps. None of them make my lights dance and move like Lightbow. Excellent App to have for lighting. ### 5/5 — Lightbow Light Show Host! *2022-11-18, version 3.3.3* I love Lightbow. It is my perfect mood lighting and goes well with my aroma therapy (ScentAir & Aroma 360 Machines) to create the perfect sensual vibe. I purchased the annual membership because I love to have a variety of light spectacles and it covers all moods , Holidays, and form of expression. It really relaxes me to see the color change and adds a little bit of theatrics to the night whether you listening to Music, watching a movie, talking on the phone, Djing, or reading a book, or just laying in bed, Light or adds the perfect touch. The Preset of the Day feature is the coolest feature for you to test out a preset if haven’t already purchased an annual which is rather cheap only $24.00 well spent. When I play my lights, I become the Host of the LightBow Night Show pairing sight, scent and sound to create the ultimate 3 Sensational Home experience. Thanks Lightbow! ### 5/5 — Lightbow for Hue Lights *2021-03-03, version 3.3.3* This is a must have app for your Hue Lights. So many different scenes and colours for different occasions. A bit hard to navigate at first but once I got the hang of it, was fairly user friendly. I had no idea my Hue lights could do half of this stuff. Neighbours txt me from across the road every night as they love watching the changing lights as much as do. Kids stop on the side of the road to check them out. Really is a spectacular app and well worth $35 a year. ### 5/5 — Beautiful, shiny app! *2019-05-21, version 3.2.1* Love this app. There’s a brilliant variety of presets and the accompanying sounds make it extra ambient. The ability to create presets is what makes Lightbow realy stand out over other light apps. The only thing I think could be improved is that the light greens seem to have changed. Colour 180 at saturation 50 and brightness 100 used to give me a cool aqua, but now it seems to come out as a weird yellowish-green, or colour 115 at saturation 5 and brightness 100 gave me a very subtle mint green, but now comes out pale yellow. It’s not my lights, because I’ve tried the same combinations in their own app and i they come out as expected. I’d like this back how it was originally, but perhaps that’s just me being picky. Otherwise, I really am impressed with the app, so it stays at five stars. Thank you. This is the app I use all the time. ### 5/5 — Won’t run in background *2019-04-28, version 3.2.1* Love the app... if it would run in the background ### 5/5 — Awesome app *2019-02-21* I own a lifx mini, a lifx (a19) bulb, and a lifx strip behind my mounted TV and this app works wonders with them. Gonna be my most used app now :) good job developers.. oh btw no setup which is awesome.. this app just found my lights automatically and was ready to use.. definitely recommend this app to the owners of smart bulbs especially if you want to set a mood.. ### 5/5 — Great product *2019-02-09* Honestly the best most flexible tool for creative use of these hue lights. This is hugely better than the hue app AND it integrates other items like Wemo into the mix. The biggest feature that I love is I can program transition time changes between lighting scenes. Keep supporting this app because this one is the best out there!! ### 5/5 — Owner *2018-12-25, version 3.1.2* They are great They are fun Good luck with this great product Larry ### 5/5 — Helping me through winter *2018-12-17, version 3.1.2* I adore my Lightbow settings for my Phillips Hue Lights. Instead of waking up to darkness on winter mornings, I enjoy the beautiful colours of my lights. Now I look forward to darkness outside so I can try out new settings. :-) Update Dec. 2018: Lightbow just keeps getting better and better. I feel so special now that I have my very own preset. LOL This is by far the best app available for Hue lights! ### 5/5 — Thanks Joan! *2018-12-16, version 3.1.2* Have to say... I really like the new “Joan” theme! Very simple and nice and easily blends in with the rest of my decor. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*