# Tentacle Timebar vs starCTRL

The clearest difference is rating: Tentacle Timebar at 4.3 against starCTRL's 2.9. Tentacle Timebar also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 25%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Tentacle Timebar holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Tentacle Timebar's written reviews are positive against 25% of starCTRL's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tentacle Timebar | starCTRL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tentacle-timebar/id1318315303/reviews)** | [2.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starctrl/id6444952715/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **7** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 4 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tentacle Sync GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1133987689) | [Videndum Production Solutions, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/962154071) |

## What reviewers say

### Tentacle Timebar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tentacle-timebar/id1318315303)

Monitor the timecode, frame rate, battery status, and signal strength of your Bluetooth Tentacle Sync E and Track E devices. This read-only app prevents accidental misconfiguration, offering a safe way to view device information. Copy the current timecode to your clipboard with a simple press.

**Highlights:** Monitor timecode, View frame rate, Check battery status, See signal strength, Read-only configuration, Copy timecode to clipboard

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### starCTRL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starctrl/id6444952715)

Design custom lighting setups with this app. Connect and control compatible fixtures, adjusting color, intensity, and effects. Save presets and group lights for complex designs.

**Highlights:** Auto-discovery of compatible fixtures, Control lamp color and intensity, Adjust color temperature and green offset, Access built-in lighting effects, Group lights for larger designs, Save favorite colors and effects, Set smooth transitions with fade times

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tentacle Timebar free?

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

### Is starCTRL free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Tentacle Timebar or starCTRL?

Tentacle Timebar is rated higher. Tentacle Timebar averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while starCTRL averages 2.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do Tentacle Timebar or starCTRL have ads?

Neither Tentacle Timebar nor starCTRL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tentacle Timebar or starCTRL?

Tentacle Timebar ships an update every 6 months, and starCTRL every 6 months. Most recently, Tentacle Timebar was updated on October 22, 2026 and starCTRL on October 15, 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.*