# MagicStrip vs HiLighting

MagicStrip and HiLighting both sit at 2.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 35% of MagicStrip's written reviews are positive against 25% of HiLighting's. MagicStrip also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.6 for MagicStrip against 2.5 for HiLighting. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 988 and 586 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 35% of MagicStrip's written reviews are positive against 25% of HiLighting's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MagicStrip | HiLighting |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.6 (988 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magicstrip/id1190522748/reviews)** | [2.5 (586 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hilighting/id1562092453/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **988** | 586 |
| Positive reviews | **35.3% of reviews** | 25.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 56 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [玲玉 代](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180882677) | [Shenzhen Jianjiaweidu Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740454119) |

## What reviewers say

### MagicStrip

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magicstrip/id1190522748)

Control LED lights with vibrant colors and adjustable brightness. Synchronize your lights with music or sound using built-in modes. Explore dynamic lighting effects to enhance your environment.

**Highlights:** 16 million color choices, 256 brightness levels, Music synchronization, Microphone sound mode, Adjustable speed, Multi-language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to connect
- 👍 Customizable colors
- 🚀 Responsive app
- 👍 Reliable connection
- 👍 Good lighting quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems
- 🐛 Buggy app
- 🐛 Music feature not working
- 🐛 Lights not syncing properly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when playing music
- Lights disconnect randomly
- Inconsistent color display
- Remote control not working
- Bluetooth connectivity problems

**Requested features**

- Add Spotify support
- Allow custom gradients and patterns
- Implement timer/scheduling feature
- Improve music integration
- Add more preset color options


### HiLighting

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hilighting/id1562092453)

Manage your LED devices remotely via Bluetooth.  Monitor your device's status in real-time and access fast, efficient customer service for any issues.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth LED device management, Real-time device status check, Fast customer service

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Responsive app
- 💡 Good color options
- 🎨 Customizable lighting
- ⏱️ Useful timer feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔌 Unreliable remote control
- 🎵 Music sync problems
- ⚠️ Frequent app crashes
- 🔧 Lack of customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to detect or connect to LED lights
- Lights get stuck on one color after disconnection
- Music mode not working as expected
- Timers not functioning properly
- DIY lighting options not saving correctly

**Requested features**

- Add Spotify music integration
- Improve DIY lighting customization
- Implement voice control (Alexa, Google Assistant)
- Enhance timer and automation features
- Provide better troubleshooting guides


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MagicStrip free?

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

### Is HiLighting free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MagicStrip or HiLighting?

MagicStrip is rated higher. MagicStrip averages 2.6 out of 5 from 988 ratings, while HiLighting averages 2.5 from 586 ratings.

### Do MagicStrip or HiLighting have ads?

Neither MagicStrip nor HiLighting shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MagicStrip or HiLighting?

MagicStrip ships an update every 2 months, and HiLighting every 2 months. Most recently, MagicStrip was updated on September 24, 2026 and HiLighting on September 25, 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.*