Comparison

SmartLite Director vs ARRI ECS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SmartLite Director

Control multiple smart lighting fixtures with intuitive gestures on your mobile device. Match ambient scene colors using your device's camera and save custom presets for dynamic lighting setups.

Highlights
  • Intuitive gesture-based fixture control
  • Adjust intensity and color with one/two-finger slides
  • Match ambient scene color with device camera
  • Create and save custom scene presets
  • Group control for multiple fixtures
  • Classic left/right fader interface
Features
Read full description

The next generation in smart lighting control from Litepanels Engineering is here! The innovative Director Interface allows you to intuitively adjust both the color and intensity of multiple connected fixtures: • Create a fixture control box, then slide up and down with one finger to adjust fixture intensity • Slide with two fingers to adjust color • Double tap the control box to deactivate that fixture • The group control box allows you to control the intensity of multiple fixtures all at once Use your iPad or iPhone camera to sense the ambient scene color: • Match the scene color with or without the impact of your Litepanels fixtures • Use with a mobile device stand and match in real time for color dynamic setups. Scene Presets: • Use built in factory color presets or create your own We’ve also retained the classic Devices Interface to allow you to control your fixtures with traditional left/right faders just like you would with the SmartLite!

About

ARRI ECS

Features
Read full description

The “ECS Sync” iPhone app functions as a direct communication platform between ARRI and users of ARRI’s Electronic Control System (ECS). Adaptable to any camera and any lens, ARRI ECS tools include wireless hand units and digital controllers, intelligent lens motors, and distance measurers. With the ECS Sync app, users can receive up-to-the-minute software updates, news, and answers to frequently asked questions relevant to these products. In addition, the ECS Sync app enables Bluetooth file sharing between ECS devices and the app via the new Hi-5 hand unit, without the need of a bulky laptop on set. Software versions can be synchronized, and transferred from the app to the connected devices. Lens files and user settings can be archived in the app, or forwarded on, including to the user’s Google Drive or Drop Box. Lens files can also be displayed graphically, contributing to the app’s usefulness as a portable and intuitive filmmaking tool. Features: • Save and load lens tables and user setup files to/from the Hi-5 hand unit via Bluetooth • Create a personalized lens data archive in the ECS Sync app • Update the Hi-5 hand unit and connected LBUS devices via the app • Get the latest news about ARRI ECS products • Distribute lens tables and user setup files from the app via email, WhatsApp, Dropbox, Google Drive and more

Screenshots

SmartLite Director4 screens
ARRI ECS3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: SmartLite Director at 9.0 against ARRI ECS's 15.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
SmartLite Director versus ARRI ECS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartLite DirectorARRI ECS
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.6 (25 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews9.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings25 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size137 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVidendum Production Solutions, Inc.ARRI Group

In-app purchases

None

SmartLite Director

No in-app purchases

None

ARRI ECS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmartLite Director free?
SmartLite Director is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ARRI ECS free?
ARRI ECS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SmartLite Director or ARRI ECS have ads?
Neither SmartLite Director nor ARRI ECS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmartLite Director or ARRI ECS?
SmartLite Director ships an update every 14 months, and ARRI ECS every 14 months. Most recently, SmartLite Director was updated on October 24, 2026 and ARRI ECS on September 19, 2026.

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