Crestools vs LightDrop
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Crestools
This app helps developers and integrators manage Crestron devices via SSH or Telnet. It offers features like project grouping, file management, network scanning, and a built-in terminal for communication. Debug SimplWindows programs and share reports with ease.
- Project grouping for devices
- SFTP file management
- Network device discovery
- SSH/Telnet terminal
- Command reporting and sharing
- SimplWindows program debugging
- Cresnet device tree view
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Crestools is designed for developers and integrators who work with Crestron products using SSH or telnet. # FEATURES • PROJECTS Group your devices by project name to easily retrieve them and keep your workflow clean • FILE MANAGER Manage your devices files using SFTP • BROWSER Scan for devices on local network to discover all the compatible devices around you • TERMINAL Communicate in SSH , SSL or CTP to any of your devices using the built-in terminal • REPORTS Create reports or use the default ones to send multiple commands at the same device in a single touch • SHARING Share your reports via any messenger app • ADDRESS BOOKS Share or import your devices by address books • FAVORITES Save your favorite commands • SIMPLWINDOWS PROGRAM DEBUGGER Debug any SimplWindows program. Modify and visualize in real time signal • CRESNET DEVICE TREEVIEW Scan for Cresnet devices connected to processors. • BACKUP iCloud backs up all your data # SUPPORT If you need any help, contact us on our Facebook page, our website https://crestools.app or at support@crestools.app. We will answer you shortly! # Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
LightDrop
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LightDrop transfers files by QR between two devices running LightDrop. One screen displays QR frames and the other device’s camera reads them. File transfer needs no shared network, Bluetooth, cable or app account. WHEN YOU NEED IT • An air-gapped or locked-down machine that will never join your network. • A work computer where USB ports are disabled and cloud drives are blocked. • Guest Wi-Fi that isolates every client, or a hotel network you would rather not trust. • A second screen nearby when email, cloud drives, and cables are not an option. • Anywhere a file has to cross an air gap and email is not an option. HOW IT WORKS • Pick text or a file on the sending device. LightDrop turns it into an animated QR stream. • Point the receiving device's camera at that screen. Fragments land continuously and the progress grid fills in. • Fountain coding means order does not matter and a dropped frame never restarts the transfer — keep the camera pointed and it completes. TURBO TRANSFER (PRO) • A binary QR fountain carries file bytes directly, without text encoding. • Adjustable playback up to 30 frames per second. Actual speed depends on the screen and camera. • LightDrop to LightDrop. Standard mode stays on as a compatible fallback, and the receiver recognises both automatically with nothing to configure. PASSWORD ENCRYPTION (PRO) • Encrypt the payload with a password before it ever reaches the screen. • Use a strong password and share it separately; it is not included in the QR stream. • Standard AES-GCM. Nothing leaves your device to make it work. IMAGES, HANDLED • Selected files are transferred as their original bytes, without automatic photo recompression. • Preview received images. Save to Photos on iPhone and iPad, or save a file on Mac. • Images are detected by file content, not by file extension. LIGHTDROP PRO Sending and receiving require LightDrop Pro, available as an in-app purchase. GOOD TO KNOW • Transfer speed depends on the sending screen's size and brightness, the receiving camera, and how steady you hold the device. Keep both screens clean and reasonably close. • Large files take real time. LightDrop estimates the duration before you start, so the decision is yours. — Privacy Policy: https://yangworks.dev/lightdrop/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: LightDrop at every 3 weeks against Crestools's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Crestools sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year and LightDrop sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Crestools ships an update every 4 months, LightDrop every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Crestools | LightDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (31 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 31 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mehdi Boulhalfa | 杨 高 |
In-app purchases
Crestools
- Crestools One$19.991 Year
- Crestools Pro$22.99
- Crestools Pro macOS$22.99
LightDrop
- LightDrop Pro — Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
- LightDrop Pro — Lifetime$19.99
Questions
Is Crestools free?
Is LightDrop free?
Do Crestools or LightDrop have ads?
Which is updated more often, Crestools or LightDrop?
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