GMA WebRemote vs Photon 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GMA WebRemote
This tool enhances the grandMA2 console's web remote functionality by automatically discovering devices on your network. It also prevents your mobile device from sleeping, ensuring uninterrupted connections and offering features like auto-login and IP-based colorization.
- Device discovery on network
- Always-On mode to prevent sleep
- Auto-connect to last IP
- Auto-login with predefined credentials
- Colorize devices by IP address
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This tool provides a smarter way of using grandMA2 console's integrated web remote. The main advantage is the discovery of grandMA2 devices connected to the network - so you do not have to remember IP addresses. It also keeps the the mobile device awake so the connection does not get inerrupted by activating sleep/standby mode after some time. FEATURES: - Device discovery: See all active MANet2 devices (for instant connection) - Always-On mode: Prevents your device from going to sleep mode while the app is opened - AutoConnect on launch: Automatically connect to last IP on launch (*) - AutoLogin on connect: Automatically log in with your predefined username/password (*) - Colorize by IP: Colorize devices by last byte of IP address (*) FREE VERSION: The free version can always be used with a basic feature set. FULL VERSION (*): The full version unlocks settings and some extra features. And most important: Supports the development :-) IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS: A fast WiFi connection without multicast filtering is required for discovery! This app "wire-tap's" the grandMA2 network session, so there is always a small risk of losing discovery functionality with new software versions. This is NOT an official app from MA Lighting Technology or MA Lighting International.
Photon 2
This app provides a professional lighting console for controlling DMX and Philips Hue devices wirelessly. It allows users to create custom interfaces, manage lights, and synchronize effects to music for live events, performances, and filmmaking.
- Wireless Art-Net/sACN DMX control
- Philips Hue Entertainment integration
- Customizable user interface
- Scene and sequence creation
- Beat synchronization to music
- MIDI controller support
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Let's create your show with Photon 2. The next generation of professional DMX & Philips Hue lighting console has been rebuilt from the ground up for a better live experience. User-friendly and customizable, Photon 2 is perfect for musicians, nightclubs, live events, filmmakers, theater, stages… ◈ Wireless (Art-Net or sACN through WIFI) and ready to use, Photon reinvents the way to control DMX devices & Philips Hue*** with its single interface for all your lights. ◈ Create presets, combine them in sequences and synchronize your lights to music. Our beat tracker listens and animates your devices to the music rhythm. Live events will have no more secret for you. ◈ Want to turn your iPad into a real elegant personalized lighting control platform? The app features ground-breaking concepts that let you create your own user interface designed to make tasks practical and more intuitive. Connect external MIDI controllers like keyboards, pads, timecoders or others apps/softwares to control your fixtures. FEATURES (FREE VERSION) - 16 DMX channels - Multi-touch interface designed and optimized for iPad - Light group management. Link multiple lights together to perform the same action (colors, positions, brightness...) - Supports advanced controls (gobos/fog machine, focus) - Scene management: create presets, animate them in sequences - Create your dashboard and organize it as you wish - Art-Net/sACN/DMX channel monitor - Art-Net/sACN in multicast or unicast - Philips Hue Entertainment connection*** - Database with hundreds of pre-configured devices (fixtures) - Fixture creator to configure your devices STARTER (ONE-TIME PURCHASE) - 128 DMX channels - Create as many buttons (widgets) on your dashboard as you want - Enjoy the power of automatic BeatTracker and sync your lights to live music - Ableton Link support: sync your lights with your favorite DJ app or musical instruments - Background operation mode (Live Mode) PHOTON+ (SUBSCRIPTION) Everything in Starter included, plus: - 512 DMX channels (full universe) - Multi-Dashboard: create multiple dashboards to organize your widgets by lighting type, zone, or function. Swipe between them instantly during live performance - MIDI inputs: control dashboard buttons/faders with physical MIDI controllers (pads) or virtual ones (apps) - All next features on going * Requires an Art-Net to DMX bridge. Photon relies on Open Lighting Architecture (Open Lighting Project). *** Philips Hue Entertainment requires a Hue v2 or Pro bridge.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: GMA WebRemote at 5.0 against Photon 2's 4.5. GMA WebRemote also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 81%) and device support (3 vs 1). Photon 2's advantage is ratings volume (72 vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. GMA WebRemote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Photon 2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
GMA WebRemote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photon 2 has 72 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of GMA WebRemote's written reviews are positive against 81% of Photon 2's.
GMA WebRemote ships an update every 2 months, Photon 2 every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | GMA WebRemote | Photon 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better | 4.5 (72 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 80.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 72 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 46 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matthias Schoeffmann | Photon Studio |
Customer experience
GMA WebRemote
Photon 2
In-app purchases
GMA WebRemote
- Full Version$8.99
Photon 2
- Photon+ Founder$29.991 Year
- Photon+$59.991 Year
- Starter Plan$44.99
- Pro Plan$64.99
- Pro Plan$79.99
Questions
Is GMA WebRemote free?
Is Photon 2 free?
Which has better reviews, GMA WebRemote or Photon 2?
Do GMA WebRemote or Photon 2 have ads?
Which is updated more often, GMA WebRemote or Photon 2?
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