# Photon vs Stellar by ARRI

Photon and Stellar by ARRI both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 42% of Photon's written reviews are positive against 31% of Stellar by ARRI's. Photon also leads on iOS requirement (10 vs 13.1). Stellar by ARRI's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photon sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Stellar by ARRI sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Photon against 4.5 for Stellar by ARRI. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 27 and 41 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 42% of Photon's written reviews are positive against 31% of Stellar by ARRI's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and August 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photon | Stellar by ARRI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-dmx-light-controller/id1198023297/reviews) | **[4.5 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellar-by-arri/id1429030664/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 27 | **41** |
| Positive reviews | **41.7% of reviews** | 30.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10** | 13.1 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Photon Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/449592177) | [ARRI Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/733009342) |

## What reviewers say

### Photon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-dmx-light-controller/id1198023297)

Control DMX lighting wirelessly for events, clubs, and theaters. Create sequences, synchronize lights to music with beat tracking, and manage fixtures with a user-friendly interface. Offers advanced features via in-app purchase.

**Highlights:** Wireless Art-Net/sACN DMX control, Multi-touch interface optimized for iPad, Light group management, Scene and animation creation, Beat tracker for music synchronization, Fixture database and creator, Sequencer with timeline editing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Light Sequencer | $24.99 | one-time |


### Stellar by ARRI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellar-by-arri/id1429030664)

This app simplifies professional lighting control for film and studio productions. It automates complex DMX settings, offers intuitive interfaces for color adjustments, and seamlessly connects ARRI and third-party fixtures. Organize setups, manage fixtures, and create custom looks with ease.

**Highlights:** Project and scene organization, Automatic fixture discovery (RDM), Auto Layout for DMX management, Advanced color control (CCT, HSI, RGBW, x,y), Fixture grouping and control, Import light plot diagrams, Export/Import projects and scenes

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stellar Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Stellar Yearly Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Stellar Unlimited | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photon free?

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

### Is Stellar by ARRI free?

Stellar by ARRI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Photon or Stellar by ARRI?

Stellar by ARRI is rated higher. Photon averages 4.4 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Stellar by ARRI averages 4.5 from 41 ratings.

### Do Photon or Stellar by ARRI have ads?

Neither Photon nor Stellar by ARRI shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Photon or Stellar by ARRI?

Photon ships an update every 6 weeks, and Stellar by ARRI every 6 weeks. Most recently, Photon was updated on June 1, 2026 and Stellar by ARRI on August 31, 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.*