Comparison

Photon vs G3Link

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

Head to head
About

Photon

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
Read full description

Photon, the next generation of professional user friendly DMX lighting console perfect for night­clubs, musicians, live events, filmmakers, theaters... Wireless (Art-Net or sACN through WIFI) and easy to use, Photon reinvents the way to control DMX devices with its single interface for all your lights. Indeed, combine multiple presets to a sequence and synchronize your lights to music. Our beat tracker listens and animates your devices to the rhythm of the music. Live events will have no more secret for you. Features of the free version: - Multi-touch interface designed and optimized for the iPad. ⁃ Light group management. Associate multiple lights together to perform similar controls (colors, positions, brightness ...). - Classic DMX console for sophisticated controls (gobos/fog/focus...) ⁃ Managing scenes. Create and play animations/effects on your lights. ⁃ Smart color manager. ⁃ Art-Net /sACN / DMX output channel analyzer. ⁃ Complete control of an Art-Net universe with 512 channels. ⁃ Art-Net in multicast or unicast. ⁃ sACN in multicast or unicast. ⁃ Database with hundreds of pre-configured devices (fixtures). - Fixture creator to configure your custom devices. Features of the in-app purchase: ⁃ Sound analyzer : sync your lights to music. ⁃ Multi scene / multi group sequencer. Combine multiple cues to a sequence and animate it. ⁃ Edit your sequences as in a video editor with the timeline. ⁃ Automatic, manual or semi-automatic beat control for the sequencer. - Ableton Link support : Sync lights animations with your favorite DJ app or musical instrument. Link is a technology that keeps devices in time over a local network for a perfect synchronization between lights and music. ⁃ Management of the animation curve in/out. - Background mode * Requires an Art-Net (or sACN) Bridge to DMX. Photon is based on the open lighting architecture (open lighting project). ** Purchase of the "Sequencer" with the in-app purchase

About

G3Link

Control essential grandMA3 lighting console functions remotely from your mobile device. Ideal for lighting programmers and technicians to adjust fixtures, recall presets, and send commands while on stage during pre-production and setup.

Highlights
  • Select Groups instantly
  • Recall & update Presets
  • Send Macros & Commands
  • Check Patch
  • Align Buttons with live feedback
  • Status Feedback
Features
Read full description

Walk the stage. Focus your fixtures. No console babysitter needed. G3Link puts the essential grandMA3 controls in your hand – so you can move freely on stage while setting up, focusing, and checking fixtures. Built for lighting programmers and technicians who want to work smarter during pre-production. BUILT FOR PRE-FOCUS - Select Groups instantly – no walking back to the console - Recall & update Presets on the spot – incl. All 1 / All 2 - Send Macros & Commands directly from the stage - Check your Patch – sync, save and load offline - Align Buttons with live feedback - Status Feedback – connection state, highlight, and more PERFECT FOR - Pre-focus and fixture alignment - Rehearsals and tech runs - Fixture checks and troubleshooting on stage - Theatre, opera & touring setups HOW IT WORKS 1. Connect your device to the same network as your grandMA3 2. Enter IP address and session in the Config tab 3. Walk on stage and start working FREE & PRO The free version covers basic operation – great for testing. Unlock the full experience with a one-time Pro purchase. The optional Supporter subscription gives access to experimental features like Gamepad integration and Developer Mode. REQUIREMENTS - grandMA3 console or onPC - Same local network (LAN or Wi-Fi) - OSC Send & Receive enabled in grandMA3 settings DISCLAIMER G3Link is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by MA Lighting Technology GmbH. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

G3Link4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: G3Link at 5.0 against Photon's 4.4. G3Link also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Photon's advantage is ratings volume (27 vs 2) and iOS requirement (10 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Photon sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and G3Link sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

G3Link holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photon has 27 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Photon ships an update every 6 weeks, G3Link every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Photon versus G3Link: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhotonG3Link
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (27 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings27 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS10 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhoton StudioRoger Imhof

Customer experience

Photon

All ratings27 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative58.3%

G3Link

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Photon

One-time1
  • Light Sequencer$24.99
2 purchases

G3Link

Subscriptions1
  • Supporter$5.991 Month
One-time1
  • G3Link Pro$17.99

Questions

Is Photon free?
Photon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is G3Link free?
G3Link is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Photon or G3Link?
G3Link is rated higher. Photon averages 4.4 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while G3Link averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Photon or G3Link have ads?
Neither Photon nor G3Link shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photon or G3Link?
Photon ships an update every 6 weeks, and G3Link every 2 months. Most recently, Photon was updated on October 21, 2026 and G3Link on October 24, 2026.

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