Comparison

DMXcat® vs BTAir

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

Head to head
About

DMXcat®

Control, analyze, and test DMX lighting fixtures wirelessly from your smartphone. This system uses a hardware dongle and free mobile apps to simplify lighting control without complex consoles. It supports various functions like DMX and RDM control, fixture management, and DIP switch calculations.

Highlights
  • Wireless DMX and RDM control
  • Fixture control with built-in database
  • DMX analysis and testing
  • DIP switch calculator
  • Multi-language support
Features
Read full description

DMXcat® makes it easy for anyone to control, analyze, or test any DMX lighting fixture, whether it’s a simple LED PAR or a complex moving light. The system consists of a small hardware dongle (purchased separately) and a suite of free mobile applications. Together, they combine to bring wireless DMX and RDM control plus other useful lighting functions to the user’s smartphone. The DMXcat solves the problem faced by all users of modern lighting equipment: How to turn on and test DMX lighting gear without using a complicated lighting console. DMXcat app is now available in seven languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and English. Software Applications There are currently five apps available for use with the DMXcat system: •DMX Controller: A single universe (512) DMX channel controller with two user interfaces (sliders or keypad). •Fixture Controller: Controls multi-attribute fixtures from a built in database. •RDM Controller: For bi-directional communication and control of RDM enabled devices. •DMX Tester: Analyze and adjust settings for transmitting or receiving DMX. •DIP switch calculator: Simplifies the configuring of DIP switches used for setting DMX addresses. Hardware The DMXcat’s hardware interface is a compact battery powered device which fits easily in a pocket or tool pouch or may be worn on a belt. It uses Bluetooth LE technology for communication with the smartphone applications (up to 50’ range). Without the limitations of being physically connected, the user can move about the workspace as needed with their smartphone and run the various apps while still using the phone for on-the-job communication. The device’s five pin XLRF connector/cable assembly allows it to be connected to a point in a DMX data chain to test or control of the various DMX/RDM functions. It is charged using a standard USB to Micro-USB cable and charger. Other features include a built-in LED flashlight, an audible alarm for locating a misplaced unit, XLR5M to XLR5M Turnaround, LED status indicator, and a removable belt clip with a split ring safety point. Optional accessories include XLR5M to RJ45 Adapter, XLR5M to XLR3F Adapter, XLR5M to XLR3M Turnaround, and a Belt Pouch.

About

BTAir

Control CHAUVET DJ Bluetooth™ enabled lights directly from your phone or tablet. This app offers wireless lighting control without requiring any additional hardware, leveraging Bluetooth™ technology for seamless operation.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth™ wireless control
  • Control CHAUVET DJ lights
  • No additional hardware needed
  • Direct phone/tablet control
  • Cutting-edge lighting technology
Features
Read full description

CHAUVET DJ has a long history of developing cutting-edge lighting technologies. Once again CHAUVET DJ ushers in a new era of wireless lighting control with the introduction of BTAir, an app that uses Bluetooth™ wireless technology to control CHUAVET DJ Bluetooth™ enabled lights directly from a phone or tablet without any additional hardware needed.

Screenshots

DMXcat®4 screens
BTAir1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DMXcat® at 68% against BTAir's 18%. DMXcat® also leads on rating (3.9 vs 2.5) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 7 months). BTAir's advantage is ratings volume (82 vs 26) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DMXcat® holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 82 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of DMXcat®'s written reviews are positive against 18% of BTAir's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DMXcat® ships an update every 5 weeks, BTAir every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DMXcat® versus BTAir: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDMXcat®BTAir
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (26 ratings) — better2.5 (82 ratings)
Positive reviews68.4% of reviews — better17.6% of reviews
Number of ratings2682 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCity Theatrical, IncChauvet Professional

Customer experience

DMXcat®

All ratings26 ratings
Positive73.1%
Neutral3.8%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive68.4%
Neutral5.3%
Negative26.3%

BTAir

All ratings82 ratings
Positive22.0%
Neutral20.7%
Negative57.3%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive17.6%
Neutral22.1%
Negative60.3%

Bugs and requests

DMXcat®

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

BTAir

Reported bugs

63 issues
  • Playback organizer is buggy
  • App doesn't pair properly
  • App doesn't work with latest OS
  • App crashes 80% of the time
  • Zone chase option not working
Show 58 more
  • App doesn't run in background
  • Fade option doesn't work
  • Cannot rename or delete saved scenes
  • Latency in scene changes
  • White text on white background for editing
  • Bluetooth has weak signal
  • App keeps shutting down or refreshing
  • Sometimes doesn't find fixtures
  • App freezes during pairing
  • Will not pair at all
  • App drops out often
  • Has to be rebooted every service
  • Always have to repair lights
  • Takes a long time to connect to each light
  • App consistently crashes
  • Unreliable app
  • App shuts down at times
  • Controls rarely work correctly
  • Can't erase colors and start fresh
  • App shuts down or refreshes
  • Doesn't find fixtures
  • App freezes during pairing
  • Will not pair at all
  • App drops out often
  • Has to be rebooted every service
  • Always have to repair lights
  • Takes a long time to connect to each light
  • App consistently crashes
  • Unreliable app
  • App shuts down at times
  • Controls rarely work correctly
  • Can't erase colors and start fresh
  • Latest update is buggy
  • App drops out randomly
  • Struggles to find lights
  • Does not work on Android devices
  • Non-responsive design on iPhone
  • Crops buttons at the bottom on iPhone
  • Not intuitive that long presses allow more info
  • Broke with iOS 13
  • Cannot pair with any fixtures after iOS 13 update
  • App is not compatible with iOS 13
  • App is not compatible with new iPad iOS
  • App crashes when opening
  • Sound activated crashes
  • App crashes when selecting sound activated
  • App keeps crashing
  • App immediately shuts down
  • Color picker does not work on iPhone 5s
  • Zone chases do not work
  • Cannot choose certain sections and mix colors
  • Sound activated is delayed
  • Three-zone functionality not working
  • App closes out immediately on sound activated
  • Zonechase selection serves no purpose
  • Stuck on previous selected function
  • App crashes when opening
  • App crashes on sound activated setting

Requested features

27 requests
  • Control EZPar-56s, Par-56s, moving heads
  • Slower fade speed
  • Save fixed colors
  • Back button for prior color
  • Crossfade between fixed colors
Show 22 more
  • Allow app to run in background
  • Type in BPM for speed control
  • Landscape mode for iPad
  • Edit, rename, and delete scenes
  • Split screen functionality
  • Improve playback mode for rearranging scenes
  • Allow scenes to be edited instead of delete or rename
  • Color code scene icons
  • Improve color picker
  • Add preset colors
  • Improve color accuracy
  • Add tempo tap for effects
  • Three-zone functionality
  • Display three different colors simultaneously
  • Fade between color combinations
  • Access to onboard light programs
  • Live color wheel reaction
  • Fade option for fixed tab and scene playback
  • Fade between function selection
  • Improve sound activated feature
  • Add fade between function selection
  • Video tutorial for instructions

In-app purchases

None

DMXcat®

No in-app purchases

None

BTAir

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DMXcat® free?
DMXcat® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BTAir free?
BTAir is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DMXcat® or BTAir?
DMXcat® is rated higher. DMXcat® averages 3.9 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while BTAir averages 2.5 from 82 ratings.
Do DMXcat® or BTAir have ads?
Neither DMXcat® nor BTAir shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DMXcat® or BTAir?
DMXcat® ships an update every 5 weeks, and BTAir every 7 months. Most recently, DMXcat® was updated on September 9, 2026 and BTAir on September 20, 2026.

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