Comparison

Timecard Buddy vs Blackout Next (Legacy)

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

Head to head
About

Timecard Buddy

This app digitizes timecard submission, eliminating paper forms. It offers pre-loaded templates for various payroll companies, signature pads, and autofill features for efficient and convenient timecard management.

Highlights
  • Paperless timecard submission
  • Pre-loaded timecard templates
  • Signature pad integration
  • Autofill templates
  • Support for multiple payroll companies
Features
Read full description

Timecard Buddy is an overdressed form filling app with the express purpose of filling and submitting timecards without using paper. The original scanned timecards for supported payroll companies are provided with an easy to use interface including Signature Pads and Autofill Templates. Currently supported timecards: - Entertainment Partners - Pixpay - Cast & Crew - EASE - CAPS - BTL - Media Services - Greenslate - Jacobson Group Timecard Buddy is not affiliated with these payroll companies Timecard Buddy is not guaranteed to be accepted by your payroll department Timecard Buddy is free for evaluation purposes but does contain ads and may be limited in its feature set For an ad-free and fully featured experience, Timecard Buddy offers a subscription that ensures support for updated timecard templates, new mobile devices and operating systems, and further feature development Terms of Use: http://newendian.com/tcbuddy-policies

About

Blackout Next (Legacy)

This professional lighting console app offers an intuitive interface for controlling DMX, Art-Net, and sACN lighting systems. It features a vast cloud fixture database, custom fixture creation, and a robust multi-cuelist platform for organizing lighting looks.

Highlights
  • Cloud Fixture Database
  • Custom Fixture Creation
  • Intuitive Fixture Controls
  • Multi-Cuelist Platform
  • Dynamic Effects Engine
  • MIDI Support
Read full description

Blackout is a revolutionary professional Art-Net/sACN DMX Lighting Console app for the iPad. Redefine your lighting with our incredibly intuitive interface and powerful effects engine. Features: - Cloud Fixture Database: Access over 44,000 fixture profiles licensed from Carallon, the leader in fixture profile services. - Create Custom Fixtures: Utilize our Fixture Creation Wizard to design your own profiles, perfectly matching your specific lighting needs. - Fixture Patching Made Simple: Effortlessly categorize and label LED fixtures with a streamlined Patch interface, ideal for batch management. - Intuitive Fixture Controls: Adjust parameters with ease in Fixture Controls and experience our NEW multi-dimensional color picker. - Robust Multi-Cuelist Platform: Organize and save lighting looks within Sequences, complete with customizable fade times, delays, and links. - Presets for Quick Access: Save and recall fixture parameters instantly, streamlining batch changes across multiple fixtures through our Favorites. - Dynamic Effects Engine: Explore limitless creative possibilities with our advanced Effects Engine, featuring intensity chases, color loops, and more. - Macro Functionality: Simplify complex lighting tasks into single-button actions for maximum efficiency. - Enhanced Data Visibility: Experience our reworked UI with new view states for displaying data in various formats, aiding quicker analysis and decision-making. - Advanced MIDI Support (Input & Output): Gain tactile control over your lighting with MIDI compatibility, suitable for both wired and wireless controllers.

Screenshots

Timecard Buddy3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Blackout Next (Legacy) at 5.0 against Timecard Buddy's 4.2. Blackout Next (Legacy) also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 64%). Timecard Buddy's advantage is device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Timecard Buddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year and Blackout Next (Legacy) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blackout Next (Legacy) holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34 and 21 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Timecard Buddy's written reviews are positive against 100% of Blackout Next (Legacy)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Timecard Buddy ships an update every 3 weeks, Blackout Next (Legacy) fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Timecard Buddy versus Blackout Next (Legacy): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTimecard BuddyBlackout Next (Legacy)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (34 ratings)5.0 (21 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34 — better21
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB359 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNew Endian LLCBlackout Lighting Console Inc.

Customer experience

Timecard Buddy

All ratings33 ratings
Positive75.8%
Neutral12.1%
Negative12.1%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral18.2%
Negative18.2%

Blackout Next (Legacy)

All ratings21 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Timecard Buddy

Subscriptions1
  • Timecard Buddy Subscription$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Ad Free$7.99
1 purchases

Blackout Next (Legacy)

One-time1
  • Basic Plan$799.99

Questions

Is Timecard Buddy free?
Timecard Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Blackout Next (Legacy) free?
Blackout Next (Legacy) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Timecard Buddy or Blackout Next (Legacy)?
Blackout Next (Legacy) is rated higher. Timecard Buddy averages 4.2 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Blackout Next (Legacy) averages 5.0 from 21 ratings.
Do Timecard Buddy or Blackout Next (Legacy) have ads?
Neither Timecard Buddy nor Blackout Next (Legacy) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Timecard Buddy or Blackout Next (Legacy)?
Timecard Buddy ships an update every 3 weeks, and Blackout Next (Legacy) fortnightly. Most recently, Timecard Buddy was updated on October 22, 2026 and Blackout Next (Legacy) on October 16, 2026.

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