# StageLight vs Ctrl Player v1

The clearest difference is review sentiment: StageLight at 84% against Ctrl Player v1's 0%. Ctrl Player v1's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StageLight sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Ctrl Player v1 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StageLight | Ctrl Player v1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagelight-dmx-controller/id1118851633/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | **84.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 32 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marko Seifert](https://appshunter.io/developer/1118851632) | [ON LX Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1216537447) |

## What reviewers say

### StageLight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagelight-dmx-controller/id1118851633)

This professional lighting control app allows users to manage and control lighting fixtures via Art-Net (DMX512 over IP). It offers a flexible interface, fixture libraries, MIDI integration, and the ability to record and playback cues and cue lists.

**Highlights:** Art-Net (DMX512 over IP) control, Up to 10 DMX universes, Fixture library based on Open Fixture Library, MIDI controller integration, Record and playback Cues and Cue Lists, Ableton Link synchronization, CITP and OSC protocol support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade S to XL | $12.99 | one-time |
| Premium S | $19.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade L to XL | $24.99 | one-time |
| Premium L + MIDI | $29.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade S to XL | $34.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade XL to Ultimate | $34.99 | one-time |
| Premium XL + MIDI + CITP | $49.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade L to Ultimate | $59.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade S to Ultimate | $69.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate + MIDI + CITP | $79.99 | one-time |


### Ctrl Player v1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrl-player-v1/id1403735500)

This app centralizes control of audio, entertainment, video, and lighting systems. It allows users to interact with custom interfaces for managing complex equipment, making automation and device control intuitive for any technical skill level. Multiple devices can connect to the same installation for synchronized control.

**Highlights:** Centralized control of audio, entertainment, video, and lighting, Interact with custom Ctrl Suite interfaces, Intuitive buttons, sliders, and steppers, Supports MIDI, OSC, UDP, HTTP(S), TCP, MQTT, Serial, KNX, Telnet, Timecode, Connect multiple devices for synchronized control, Customizable interface with images and colors

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StageLight free?

StageLight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ctrl Player v1 free?

Ctrl Player v1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do StageLight or Ctrl Player v1 have ads?

Neither StageLight nor Ctrl Player v1 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StageLight or Ctrl Player v1?

StageLight ships an update monthly, and Ctrl Player v1 monthly. Most recently, StageLight was updated on September 23, 2026 and Ctrl Player v1 on June 1, 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.*