# LightShow®SmartLights vs Arcade1Up

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Arcade1Up at 67% against LightShow®SmartLights's 23%. Arcade1Up also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.0) and ratings volume (4.5K vs 4). LightShow®SmartLights's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Arcade1Up holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Arcade1Up has 4.5K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of LightShow®SmartLights's written reviews are positive against 67% of Arcade1Up's.

LightShow®SmartLights ships an update every 2 months, Arcade1Up every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightShow®SmartLights | Arcade1Up |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightshowsmartlights/id1115496422/reviews) | **[4.8 (4.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade1up/id1633227704/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **4.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 23.1% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Gemmy Industries Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/889851671) | [The Wish Factory LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1633227856) |

## What reviewers say

### LightShow®SmartLights

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightshowsmartlights/id1115496422)

Control your holiday light displays directly from your smartphone. This app allows you to customize effects, colors, and themes for your lighting products, making holiday decorating easy and personalized.

**Highlights:** Smartphone control, Dozens of effects and colors, Multiple holiday themes, Customizable lighting options, Easy setup and management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Arcade1Up

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade1up/id1633227704)

Enhance your retro arcade experience with this companion app. Track leaderboards, connect with other fans, register for warranties, and get exclusive news and game strategies.

**Highlights:** Track online leaderboards, Register for extended warranty, Connect with friends and community, Discover game secrets and strategies, Get latest news and offers, Add arcades to collection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nostalgic arcade experience
- 👍 Great for home entertainment
- 👍 Excellent game selection
- 👍 Seamless online connectivity
- 👍 Helpful community features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Prone to crashing
- 🐛 Login issues
- 🐛 Incomplete cabinet database
- 🔧 Requires maintenance and repairs

**Reported bugs**

- Logging in issues
- Crashing and freezing
- Inconsistent QR code recognition

**Requested features**

- Add support for Partycades and Countercades
- Ability to add custom cabinets to the app
- Improved app stability and reliability
- Expand game selection and content updates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightShow®SmartLights free?

LightShow®SmartLights is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Arcade1Up free?

Arcade1Up is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, LightShow®SmartLights or Arcade1Up?

Arcade1Up is rated higher. LightShow®SmartLights averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Arcade1Up averages 4.8 from 4.5K ratings.

### Do LightShow®SmartLights or Arcade1Up have ads?

Arcade1Up shows ads; LightShow®SmartLights does not.

### Which is updated more often, LightShow®SmartLights or Arcade1Up?

LightShow®SmartLights ships an update every 2 months, and Arcade1Up every 3 months. Most recently, LightShow®SmartLights was updated on October 26, 2026 and Arcade1Up on October 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*