# STM Patch Editor vs Light Captain

The clearest difference is price: Light Captain at Free against STM Patch Editor's $19.99. Light Captain also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months). STM Patch Editor's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Light Captain is free to download; STM Patch Editor costs $19.99 up front. Light Captain sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. STM Patch Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.

STM Patch Editor ships an update every 5 months, Light Captain every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STM Patch Editor | Light Captain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Positive reviews | — | 43.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 53 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.3 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Josef Stoppacher](https://appshunter.io/developer/1416730372) | [Steinigke Showtechnic GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/510305640) |

## What reviewers say

### STM Patch Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stm-patch-editor/id1416730373)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Light Captain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-captain-dmx-controller/id1578664460)

Control DMX lighting systems for parties, concerts, and theater. Suitable for beginners and professionals, it offers intuitive scene creation, advanced programming, and fixture libraries. Requires a specific interface for operation.

**Highlights:** DMX lighting control, Scene and chase programming, Music synchronization, Fixture library, Password-protected mode, Color and effect control, Moving light control

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic Light Captain | $22.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade Light Captain | $22.99 | one-time |
| Full Version Light Captain | $44.99 | one-time |
| ArtNet - Add On | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STM Patch Editor free?

STM Patch Editor costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Light Captain free?

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

### Do STM Patch Editor or Light Captain have ads?

Neither STM Patch Editor nor Light Captain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, STM Patch Editor or Light Captain?

STM Patch Editor ships an update every 5 months, and Light Captain every 5 weeks. Most recently, STM Patch Editor was updated on September 16, 2026 and Light Captain on September 19, 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.*