# FluvalSmart vs BRIGHTLUX

The clearest difference is update cadence: FluvalSmart at every 2 months against BRIGHTLUX's every 16 months. FluvalSmart also leads on ratings volume (540 vs 20) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). BRIGHTLUX's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 27%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

FluvalSmart holds the better App Store score, 2.5 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FluvalSmart has 540 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 27% of FluvalSmart's written reviews are positive against 50% of BRIGHTLUX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

FluvalSmart ships an update every 2 months, BRIGHTLUX every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FluvalSmart | BRIGHTLUX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.5 (540 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fluvalsmart/id1179249357/reviews)** | [2.3 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightlux/id1643739113/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **540** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 27.1% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 16 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 12 MB | 203 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rolf C Hagen Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1321403702) | [American Lighting](https://appshunter.io/developer/1087171698) |

## What reviewers say

### FluvalSmart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fluvalsmart/id1179249357)

Control Fluval Bluetooth LED aquarium lights with your iOS device. Adjust colors, create custom lighting schedules, and simulate dynamic effects like cloud cover and storms. Compatible with various Fluval LED models.

**Highlights:** BLE 4.0 control, Manual, Auto, Pro modes, Independent color channel control, Preset lighting configurations, Dynamic lighting effects

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great light
- 🌟 Customizable lighting
- 💡 Helpful app features
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app
- 🤯 Confusing UI
- 🕰️ Difficult to set precise times
- 🔌 Unreliable Bluetooth connection

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during firmware updates
- Saved settings get reset unexpectedly
- Bluetooth connection issues after power cycles

**Requested features**

- Add ability to turn lights off completely at night
- Allow more customization of sunrise/sunset colors
- Implement weekly scheduling options
- Improve app stability and responsiveness


### BRIGHTLUX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightlux/id1643739113)

Enhance your living space with smart home device integration and customizable lighting effects. Schedule lighting changes and control multiple devices simultaneously for a personalized ambiance.

**Highlights:** Connect smart home devices, Customizable lighting effects, Schedule timers, Group device control, Multiple lighting modes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FluvalSmart free?

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

### Is BRIGHTLUX free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FluvalSmart or BRIGHTLUX?

FluvalSmart is rated higher. FluvalSmart averages 2.5 out of 5 from 540 ratings, while BRIGHTLUX averages 2.3 from 20 ratings.

### Do FluvalSmart or BRIGHTLUX have ads?

Neither FluvalSmart nor BRIGHTLUX shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FluvalSmart or BRIGHTLUX?

FluvalSmart ships an update every 2 months, and BRIGHTLUX every 16 months. Most recently, FluvalSmart was updated on November 2, 2026 and BRIGHTLUX on November 3, 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.*