# Star Tri vs Spec

The clearest difference is update cadence: Star Tri at every 3 months against Spec's every 17 months. Spec's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Star Tri ships an update every 3 months, Spec every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Star Tri | Spec |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-tri-color-programmer/id1453220424/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 17 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 50 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Grote Industries, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1199733567) | [Spec-Rite Systems, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1492185722) |

## What reviewers say

### Star Tri

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-tri-color-programmer/id1453220424)

Easily program Star Signal Tri-Color lights using your iOS device. This app uses your phone's flash to send data to the light's sensor, allowing quick setup and customization of patterns, colors, phase, and functionality.

**Highlights:** Program patterns for 3 enable wires, Select colors per enable wire, Adjust phase settings, Set functionality (steady burn, cruise, auto-dim), Preview patterns before programming, Uses phone flash for data transmission

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Spec

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spec-rite-mobile/id1608849982)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Star Tri free?

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

### Is Spec free?

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

### Do Star Tri or Spec have ads?

Neither Star Tri nor Spec shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Star Tri or Spec?

Star Tri ships an update every 3 months, and Spec every 17 months. Most recently, Star Tri was updated on October 14, 2026 and Spec on October 7, 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.*