# iLightShow for Philips Hue vs Hue Essentials

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iLightShow for Philips Hue at 71% against Hue Essentials's 38%. iLightShow for Philips Hue also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (7.2K vs 141). Hue Essentials's advantage is device support (5 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iLightShow for Philips Hue sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iLightShow for Philips Hue holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iLightShow for Philips Hue has 7.2K ratings behind it against 141, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of iLightShow for Philips Hue's written reviews are positive against 38% of Hue Essentials's.

iLightShow for Philips Hue ships an update every 3 weeks, Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iLightShow for Philips Hue | Hue Essentials |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (7.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ilightshow-for-philips-hue/id1247273887/reviews)** | [4.2 (141 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hue-essentials/id1462943921/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.2K** | 141 |
| Positive reviews | **71.2% of reviews** | 37.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 55 MB | 271 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Anjoran](https://appshunter.io/developer/1046005049) | [Thomas Vos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462943920) |

## What reviewers say

### iLightShow for Philips Hue

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ilightshow-for-philips-hue/id1247273887)

Sync your music from Spotify or Apple Music with smart lights like Philips Hue, LIFX, and Nanoleaf. Create dynamic visual experiences that match the rhythm and mood of your music for parties, dancing, or relaxation.

**Highlights:** Music integration with Spotify and Apple Music, Compatible with Philips Hue, LIFX, and Nanoleaf, Precision beat and mood synchronization, Customizable light effects and palettes, iOS Shortcuts integration

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FX+ Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro (annual) | $8.99 | per year |
| Pro (yearly) | $8.99 | per year |
| Lite (Annual) | $8.99 | per year |
| FX+ Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| FX+ Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro | $8.99 | one-time |
| FX+ | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Amazing app
- 🚀 Fantastic syncing with music
- 👍 Great support from developer
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Customizable settings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes or stops working
- 🐛 Connectivity issues with Bluetooth
- 💰 Subscription model/in-app purchases
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection

**Reported bugs**

- Lights not syncing properly with music
- Audio analysis issues/delays
- Compatibility problems with newer devices/iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Support for more music services (YouTube, SoundCloud, etc.)
- Background mode/ability to run app in background
- Ability to save custom presets
- Grouping/zoning of lights
- Apple TV app version


### Hue Essentials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hue-essentials/id1462943921)

Unlock the full potential of your smart lighting system. Create custom scenes, dynamic effects, and automate your lights with schedules and triggers. Control multiple smart home bridges and devices seamlessly for a personalized ambiance.

**Highlights:** Custom scenes and effects, Music and entertainment sync, Sunrise/sunset automation, Multi-bridge control, Device discovery and setup, Button and sensor automation, Away from home control

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Effects: Christmas | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Universe | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Wonders of nature | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Romantic | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Floral fantasy | $0.99 | one-time |
| Effects: Spooky | $0.99 | one-time |
| Multiple bridges | $4.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent Hue lighting control
- 👍 Works well with multiple bridges
- 💡 Customizable remote controls
- 🚀 Faster than official Hue app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔒 In-app purchases required for key features
- 👎 Poor execution and user experience
- 🔋 Widgets and Apple Watch app not working

**Reported bugs**

- Fade feature not working
- Saving automations not working
- Crashes when checking 'About' section
- Widgets and Apple Watch app issues

**Requested features**

- Repeat/loop function for automations
- Strobing/flashing effects
- Dark mode
- Alexa integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iLightShow for Philips Hue free?

iLightShow for Philips Hue is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hue Essentials free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iLightShow for Philips Hue or Hue Essentials?

iLightShow for Philips Hue is rated higher. iLightShow for Philips Hue averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7.2K ratings, while Hue Essentials averages 4.2 from 141 ratings.

### Do iLightShow for Philips Hue or Hue Essentials have ads?

Neither iLightShow for Philips Hue nor Hue Essentials shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iLightShow for Philips Hue or Hue Essentials?

iLightShow for Philips Hue ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. Most recently, iLightShow for Philips Hue was updated on October 28, 2026 and Hue Essentials on October 26, 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.*